Project description
Light-driven chemical synthesis for drug discovery
Many biologically active molecules exist as mirror-image pairs. However, typically only one form produces the desired therapeutic effect. Producing a single mirror-image form, known as an enantiomer, with high efficiency remains a central challenge in pharmaceutical chemistry. Light-driven chemical reactions offer a powerful but underexplored strategy for achieving this selectivity. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the EnphoCypro project will exploit light to control the chemistry of a class of small ring-shaped molecules, steering reactions towards a single mirror-image product using specialised catalysts. Researchers will develop two complementary light-based approaches to build complex molecular structures. These methods will expand the toolkit available for synthesising chiral building blocks relevant to drug discovery.
Objective
In this proposal, we aim to explore the photochemistry of cyclopropene derivatives to access enantioenriched cyclopropenes and polycyclic fused rings with multiple stereocenters. Cyclopropenes can be photochemically excited to form intermediates, depending on the mode of excitation: triplet excitation leads to a diradical intermediate, while singlet excitation leads to a vinyl carbene intermediate. This project is divided into two parts.
In the first part, we will utilize deracemization through selective singlet excitation of cyclopropenes using chiral Lewis acid catalysts. Deracemization converts a racemic mixture into a single enantiomer with 100% efficiency, unlike classical resolution techniques. Cyclic deracemization involves selectively racemizing one enantiomer, leading to the accumulation of the opposite enantiomer. The chiral Lewis acid, coordinated to the ester group of the cyclopropene via two-point binding, will enable selective excitation of one enantiomer into a singlet state. This excited singlet state will collapse into an achiral vinyl carbene, which can cyclize to reform the racemic starting material, driving the mixture toward enantioenriched cyclopropene.
In the second part, we will explore the triplet excitation of cyclopropenes. Triplet excitation activates the olefin rather than the σ-bond, forming a triplet (1,2-diradical) intermediate. We plan to generate this intermediate using a chiral thioxanthone catalyst developed by the Bach group. The chiral environment provided by the catalyst will block one face, allowing selective reaction from one face, leading to enantioenriched bicyclo[2.1.0]pentanes.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences physical chemistry photochemistry
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
80333 Muenchen
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.