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Photocatalysis in Drug Discovery - Asymmetric Preparation of Bioactive Chiral Lactones and Cyclohexanols

Project description

A new light in drug discovery

Basic chemical research is gaining ground in the complex path of pharmaceutical drug discovery. However, the chemical synthesis of chiral compounds sharing common motifs with biologically active molecules remains a challenge. The scope of the EU-funded PHOTO-CYCLE project is to develop a fast method for producing architecturally complex chiral natural-like compounds in a single step. Researchers are employing organic catalysis and photochemistry, two strategies of immense potential for the sustainable preparation of novel organic molecules. Combined with biological screening, the generated technological platform will increase the success in identifying drug-candidate structures and will contribute to pharmaceutical industry innovations.

Objective

We are in a changing era for drug discovery: the growing perception is that basic chemical research will play a greater role in pharmaceutical development. One current challenge is to develop a new kind of chemistry that yields a screening collection of optimal chiral molecules that increase the probability of success in identifying drug-candidate structures. PHOTO-CYCLE seeks to provide some solutions by developing effective technology to rapidly generate, in one single step, architecturally complex chiral natural-like compounds. Specifically, we will use photochemical organocatalytic cascade processes to synthesise polycyclic lactones and polyfunctionalized cyclohexanols, which are common motifs in biologically active molecules. We will combine asymmetric organocatalysis and photochemistry, two powerful strategies of modern chemical research. They have extraordinary potential for the sustainable preparation of novel organic molecules, which are needed to drive innovation in the pharmaceutical industry.
PHOTO-CYCLE aims to combine the fellow’s experience in allene chemistry and organocatalysis and the host’s experience in photo-triggered asymmetric processes to develop otherwise unachievable catalytic asymmetric cascade reactions. Specifically, we will focus on the rich reactivity of excited chiral iminium ions to activate readily available allenes and trigger cascade processes. The resulting strategies will be used as an ideal platform for assembling libraries comprising chiral polycyclic lactones and cyclohexanols, which, along with biological screening carried out in collaboration with Lundbeck A/S, will increase the probability of success in identifying drug-candidate structures.
The multi-cultural and intersectorial nature of this project will greatly contribute to broaden the fellow’s competencies and will place him in a competitive position for the next career move.

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MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019

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Coordinator

FUNDACIO PRIVADA INSTITUT CATALA D'INVESTIGACIO QUIMICA
Net EU contribution

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.

€ 160 932,48
Address
AVENIDA PAISSOS CATALANS 16
43007 TARRAGONA
Spain

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Region
Este Cataluña Tarragona
Activity type
Research Organisations
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Total cost

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.

€ 160 932,48
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