SYNCAT
Synthèse & Catalyse Asymétrique
The main research axis of the Synthèse & Catalyse Asymétrique group concerns the asymmetric synthesis of chiral molecules and biologically active compounds.
The objectives of our research team are divided into three main topics:
1) The total synthesis of biologically active compounds. Our major ambition is to adress unsolved and persisting challenges in the synthesis of complex organic scaffolds hence allowing preparation of biologically relevant compounds and their analogues. We recently focused on complex pimaranes such as momilactones or neoclerodanes belonging to the salvinorin family, using innovative strategies for the construction of their skeleton. Particular attention is paid to the critical stereoselective installation of their respective quaternary centres. Cyclophanes represented by (+)-myricanol or (M)-isoplagiochin C/D are also targeted, and the challenging atropostereoselective ring closure of their seco-precursors is studied and performed using new methodologies.
2) Medicinal Chemistry with the synthesis of selective low molecular weight inhibitors of VEGFR as antiangiogenic products and of CDC25 phosphatases as anti-cancer compounds. Very recently, we designed new antagonists and agonists of the hedgehog pathway for cancer stem cells inhibition and their synthesis is currently underway in our group. Another axis focuses on the preparation of fluorinated analogs of pristinamycin IA to provide better pharmacokinetic parameters of these important antibacterial agents.
3) The development of new stereoselective methods towards the control of axial or central chirality: Following an urgent need for more performant and environmetally benign transformations, SYNCAT team focuses major effors on the development of original synthetic solutions for asymmetric catalysis. The first research axis in this field concerns the metal-catalyzed asymmetric C-H functionalization. Moreover targeting challenging C-C couplings, a dual catalysis merging C-H activation and visible-light induced photocatalysis is explored; the combination of these two complementary modes of activation of organic molecules, well adapted to each of the coupling partners should allow generation of highly reactive species under mild reaction conditions. For the most recent news about our research, follow the link to our personal pages.
The objectives of our research team are divided into three main topics:
1) The total synthesis of biologically active compounds. Our major ambition is to adress unsolved and persisting challenges in the synthesis of complex organic scaffolds hence allowing preparation of biologically relevant compounds and their analogues. We recently focused on complex pimaranes such as momilactones or neoclerodanes belonging to the salvinorin family, using innovative strategies for the construction of their skeleton. Particular attention is paid to the critical stereoselective installation of their respective quaternary centres. Cyclophanes represented by (+)-myricanol or (M)-isoplagiochin C/D are also targeted, and the challenging atropostereoselective ring closure of their seco-precursors is studied and performed using new methodologies.
2) Medicinal Chemistry with the synthesis of selective low molecular weight inhibitors of VEGFR as antiangiogenic products and of CDC25 phosphatases as anti-cancer compounds. Very recently, we designed new antagonists and agonists of the hedgehog pathway for cancer stem cells inhibition and their synthesis is currently underway in our group. Another axis focuses on the preparation of fluorinated analogs of pristinamycin IA to provide better pharmacokinetic parameters of these important antibacterial agents.
3) The development of new stereoselective methods towards the control of axial or central chirality: Following an urgent need for more performant and environmetally benign transformations, SYNCAT team focuses major effors on the development of original synthetic solutions for asymmetric catalysis. The first research axis in this field concerns the metal-catalyzed asymmetric C-H functionalization. Moreover targeting challenging C-C couplings, a dual catalysis merging C-H activation and visible-light induced photocatalysis is explored; the combination of these two complementary modes of activation of organic molecules, well adapted to each of the coupling partners should allow generation of highly reactive species under mild reaction conditions. For the most recent news about our research, follow the link to our personal pages.
Permanent staff
