Biography

Websites:
Website

Education:
Post-Doctoral Associate, Vanderbilt University
Ph.D., Chemistry, Louisiana State University
B.S., Chemistry, Southern University

Research Expertise:
Organic Chemistry | Natural Products | Carbohydrates | Method Development | Photocatalysis

My research program focuses on the development of new synthetic methodologies and the synthesis of biologically relevant natural products and derivatives as potential therapeutics. An area of interest is the development of unnatural glycopeptides with antimicrobial activity. We are studying the composition of natural and unnatural amino acids in linear peptide precursors to antibiotics. Another area of intense focus is on studying the effects of fluorination on morphine derivatives. Our aim is to improve drug efficacy while potentially reducing dependence.

Honors and Awards:
Excellence in Academic Student Support Award, College of Science and Mathematics, Rowan University, 2023

Professional Memberships:
American Chemical Society 
National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers 
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated

Selected Publications:
Quarels, R. D.; Bing, J. A.; Johnston, J.N. “Total Synthesis of (–)-Feglymycin Utilizing UmAS.” (in preparation)

De Silva, T. P. D.; Youm, S. G.; Tamas, G. G.; Yang, B.; Wang, C.-H.; Fronczek, F. R.; Sahasrabudhe, G.; Sterling, S.; Quarels, R. D.; Chhotaray, P. K.; Nesterov, E. E.; Warner, I. M. "Pyrenylpyridines: Sky-Blue Emitters for Organic Light-Emitting Diodes." ACS Omega, 2019, 4, 16867-16877.

Deveaux, K. D.; Quarels, R. D.; Du, S.; Fulton, A.; Reid, N. J.; Firesheets, A.; Ragains, J. R. "Protic Acid-Catalyzed Activation of Thioglycosides." Org. Lett., 2018, 20, 5181–5185.

Quarels, R. D.; Zhai, X.; KuruppuArachchige, N.; Garno, J. C.; Ragains, J. R. "Application of visible-light photosensitization to form alkyl-radical-derived thin films on gold." Beilstein J. Nanotechnol., 2017, 8, 1863-1877.

Verberne-Sutton, S. D.; Quarels, R. D.; Zhai, X.; Garno, J. C.; Ragains, J. R. “Application of visible light photocatalysis with particle lithography to generate polyphenylene nanostructures.” J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2014, 136, 14438-14444.