Synthesis of Lamellarin alkaloids using photoredox catalysis

Program Overview

This PhD program focuses on the synthesis of lamellarin alkaloids using photoredox catalysis. The program offers opportunities for careers in pharmaceutical research, medicinal chemistry, and natural product research.

Program Outline

Careers:

The program can potentially lead to careers in various fields related to the synthesis and development of pharmaceuticals and biologically active natural products. Graduates may find opportunities in areas like:

• Pharmaceutical research and development: Developing and researching new drugs and treatments for various diseases.
• Medicinal chemistry: Designing and synthesizing new drug candidates.
• Natural product research: Studying the chemical composition of plants and other natural sources to discover new bioactive molecules.
• Academic research: Conducting research and teaching in universities or other research institutions.

Other:

• The research group focuses on the synthesis of heterocycles, particularly using singlet oxygen and activation of enamides and allenamides.
This chemistry can be used for the rapid construction of biologically active natural products, and heterocycles of pharmaceutically relevance.
• More than 70 lamellarins and related pyrrole-derived alkaloids have been isolated and identified.
• These compounds exhibit fascinating and significant biological properties.
This includes cytotoxicity and antitumor activity, multidrug resistance (MDR), HIV-1 integrase inhibition, antibiotic activity, cell division inhibition, immuno-modulatory activity, antioxidant activity, and feeding deterrence.
• Traditional syntheses of this natural product class have centered on palladium coupling of pyrrole bromides with aryl boronic acids with subsequent alkylation of the pyrrole nitrogen or Diels-Alder reaction of a disubstituted alkynes with subsequent functional group manipulation.
• This program will utilize a recently reported photoredox mediated addition of radicals to enamides, followed by subsequent nucleophile trapping.
• This project will develop an intramolecular variant of this unique process that ultimately will deliver a total synthesis of the core heterocyclic structure of the lamellarins.

UK fee £4,712 Full-time degree per annum International fee £26,000 Full-time degree per annum University fees and charges can be paid in advance and there are several methods of payment, including online payments and payment by instalment. Fees are reviewed annually and are likely to increase to take into account inflationary pressures.