Synthesis of non-proteinogenic amino acids and modification of peptides using photocatalysis

• Grant number: 22/04597-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): November 01, 2022
• Effective date (End): August 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Márcio Weber Paixão
• Grantee: Emanuele Ferrari Pissinati
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The development of sustainable methodologies for the synthesis of biologic relevant molecules is of great importance for both academia (especially in organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry) and pharmaceutical industry. Thus, the use of visible light in synthesis of new compounds and systems with high degree of structural complexity has allowed the design of new methodologies. A special emphasis can be given to the use of photocatalyzed reactions in synthesis of unnatural amino acids and in modification of macromolecules.For these reasons and the efforts of our research group in development of photocatalytic process, the objectives of this project are the production of unnatural amino acids, through functionalization of natural tryptophan amino acid, followed by modification of peptides via organocatalytic methodologies, allowing us to obtain more economical, efficient and environmentally favorable strategies. Furthermore, we aim to carry out photocatalytic modifications of 2H-azirines with the insertion of radicals to olefin in C3, in a way of Giese addition.The development of this project will have collaboration of international researchers, and BEPE-internship will be requested to enable the application of the methodology in complex systems. Thus, it is important to emphasize that the planned inclusion of unnatural amino acids in peptides and proteins can alter their structural characteristics and so improve their biological properties and stability, factors of great interest to the pharmaceutical industries.