Enantioselective Photocatalysis in Continuous Flow Applied to the Synthesis of Bioactive Compounds and APIs

• Grant number: 22/15574-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: May 01, 2023
• End date: April 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Júlio Cezar Pastre
• Grantee: Marcelo Straesser Franco
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/06661-5 - Enabling technologies for the sustainable chemical synthesis of platform molecules, new chemicals and bioactive compounds, AP.BIOEN.JP2
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/01314-6 - ASYMMETRIC PHOTOCATALYSIS USING CHIRAL-AT-METAL LEWIS ACIDS: ENANTIOSELECTIVE GIESE-TYPE ALKYLATION AND AZETIDINE SYNTHESIS, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

The expansion of sustainability demands, mainly due to the awareness of modern society regarding its dependence on fossil resources, has motivated research centers and industries, including pharmaceuticals, to investigate and implement technologies that facilitate the elaboration of essential products, such as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), from renewable sources. In this context, this research proposal is aligned with the axes of the general proposal of the JP-2 Project, coordinated by Prof. Julio Cezar Pastre, which aims to explore the use of enabling technologies for the synthesis of relevant bioactive compounds and APIs from biomass derivatives. The present project is composed of 3 strands of work, namely: 1) Stereocontrolled synthesis of ±-amino acid derivatives, via enantioselective photocatalysis in a continuous flow regime, using derivatives of natural products as building blocks; 2) Synthesis of ²-substituted ³-aminobutyric acid derivatives, via enantioselective photoredox catalysis associated with the continuous flow regime, for the preparation of APIs (R)-Baclofen and (S)-Pregabalin; 3) Development of a methodology for asymmetric catalytic dearomative [2+2] photocycloaddition, between coumarins and alkenes, using technologies that facilitate chemical synthesis to obtain a library of coumarin derivatives with potential pharmacological properties. This project, therefore, aims to use well-established knowledge in the group of Prof. Pastre refers to the synthesis of compounds with high added value from raw materials obtained from natural sources using enabling technologies such as flow chemistry and also implementing the use of visible light to promote reactions in a more sustainable way. In addition, it is important to highlight that the candidate is interested in developing part of this research abroad (request for a BEPE internship at an opportune time), which will contribute significantly to their professional training.