Organic Chemistry at UCLA has always set trends in understanding chemical reactivity and has now established a preeminent program in the design, synthesis and exploration of the properties and applications of novel organic materials and devices. This unique program is complemented by bioorganic chemistry, natural products synthesis and methods development, and a top program in theoretical organic chemistry. Organic Chemistry at UCLA is the Organic Materials and Chemical Biology of the future. The faculty members are leaders in all areas of organic chemistry, including bioorganic chemistry; molecular recognition, natural product synthesis, organic materials science; organometallic chemistry; photochemistry; physical organic chemistry, polymer chemistry, synthetic methods, synthesis of theoretically interesting molecules and theoretical organic chemistry. Additional research opportunities arise from collaborations and interdisciplinary research programs within our department and with other departments. Facilitating interdepartmental programs, the Molecular Biology Institute, the Life Sciences Building, the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the UCLA Medical School adjoin our department.

The Sigman laboratory has modified carbonic anhydrase by the addition of a sulfonamide-1, 10-phenanthroline-copper complex. The resulting derivative was used to study the mechanism of oxidative scission of the peptide bond.

The Stoddart laboratory has synthesized this branched
catenane consisting of seven interlocking rings.