Photocatalysis under Visible Light as an Enabling Technology for Biomolecule Modification

• Grant number: 24/17806-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: February 28, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Márcio Weber Paixão
• Grantee: Natalí Pires Debia
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The present research project aims at developing a catalytic methodology in aqueous medium for the selective arylation of the indolic nitrogen of L-tryptophan in peptide chains. The C(sp²)-N(in) coupling allows for the modification of biomolecules, such as peptides and proteins, aiming at the synthesis of new bioactive compounds or the simplification of the synthesis of already known products. This coupling can be achieved by combining organometallic catalysis with photocatalysts to promote the activation of nickel complexes. Initially, the best organometallic complexes, ligands, and photocatalysts will be studied so that the arylation reaction of L-tryptophan can be promoted in aqueous medium. Subsequently, the methodology will be applied to more complex systems for biomolecule modification.