K. Grant Taylor, Ph. D.

Professor of Chemistry

Phone Number: (502) 852-5970 (Office)
Fax Number: (502) 852-8149
Email kgtaylor@louisville.edu

Mailing Address:
Department of Chemistry
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292

 

Additional Appointments:

  • Professor of Organic Chemistry, University of Louisville

Education:

  • 1957 B.A.   Calvin College
  • 1963 Ph.D. Wayne State University

 

Research Focus:

CARBOHYDRATE CHEMISTRY

Synthesis of glucosyl transferase inhibitors
Oligosaccharide synthesis and conformation
carbohydrate-protein interactions
Oral bacterial adhesions
Sucrose chemistry

 

FREE RADICAL CHEMISTRY

Diacylperoxide thermolysis mechanisms
Structural probes of radical pair and ion pair mechanisms
Molecule-assisted homolysis and heterolysis
SN2/SET induction of O-O bond cleavage

 

CARBENES, CARBENOIDS AND STRAINED RINGS

Strained cyclic diallenes
Thermal and catalyzed allene oligomerization
Diastereomeric carbenoid reactions
Enantioselective recognition

 

Professor Taylor’s past work on peroxide chemistry enabled their use as structural probes of radical and ionic reactions on models of nucleic acids.  His work in carbohydrate chemistry yielded, with R. J. Doyle (deceased), the discovery of agents having prophylactic activity versus dental caries.  Recently, collaborative work with W. M. Pierce has led to the discovery of several small molecules active versus bone diseases in animal models (US Patent no. 7,196,220). He is, with Dr. Pierce (President and CEO), a cofounder of Pradama, Inc. a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of products to treat bone diseases.  Professor Taylor has received the Outstanding Performance Award for Academic Management and is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

 

Selected Publications:

  • Albayati ZA, Sunkara M, Schmidt-Malan SM, Karau MJ, Morris AJ, Steckelberg JM, Patel R, Breen PJ, Smeltzer MS, Taylor KG, Merten KE, Pierce WM, Crooks PA. Novel Bone-Targeting Agent for Enhanced Delivery of Vancomycin to Bone. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2015 Dec 14;60(3):1865-8. doi: 10.1128/AAC.01609-15. PMID: 26666918

 

Recent Patents & Licenses:

  • International Patent Application No. PCT/US2013/032650 (In the Name of: The Regents of the University of California) "NOVEL OXYSTEROL ANALOGUE, OXY149, INDUCES OSTEOGENESIS AND HEDGEHOG SIGNALING AND INHIBITS ADIPOGENESIS" 09/2013
  • Provisional Application for Patent; Serial No. 61/643,776 (In the Name of: The Regents of the University of California) "NOVEL OXYSTEROL ANALOGS LINKED TO BONE TARGETING MOIETY, INCLUDING OXY149, ARE SYSTEMICALLY DELIVERED TO BONE AND INDUCE OSTEOGENESIS AND HEDGEHOG SIGNALING AND INHIBIT ADIPOGENESIS" 10/2012
  • Patent Award: No. US 7,196,220 (With William Pierce and Leonard Waite) "BONE-TARGETING COMPOUNDS FOR DELIVERING AGENTS TO THE BONE AND FOR INTERACTION THEREWITH" 12/2011