Principal investigator
Yagamare Fall Diop
María Generosa Gómez
Our research group is known for its contribution in the synthesis of natural compounds and other bioactive products using a new methodology based on singlet oxygen oxidation we coined the “furan approach”. We have also developed and patented a new synthetic method for the obtention of the so-called “Gemini” type analogues of calcitriol, known to exibit less calcemic effects then calcitriol, hence opening up new horizons for this important class of vitamin D analogues. We have had many frutfull collaborations with pharmaceutical companies such as: Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Betagenon, Dishman and Neuropharma (now Noscira). In collaboration with the Spanish pharmaceutical company Neuropharma we have patented and published the first enantioselective synthesis of Palinurin, a non-ATP-competitive inhibitor of GSK-3, involved in Alzheimer’s disease. We also filed 4 more patents on GSK-3 inhibitors. As another aspect of our involvement in the development of new methods for natural product synthesis, we recently entered the fascinating world of Ionic Liquids (ILs), which we use as green solvents, organocatalysts, or soluble supports. Two patents on the use of ILs as organocatalysts in the synthesis of valuable chiral building blocks have been filed by our research group. We are involved in the initiatives for the promotion of cooperation and mobility and have received in our research group Erasmus students from Italy and PhD students from Sénégal and Argentina.
We do believe that Synthetic Organic Chemistry has been lately unfairly treated and think that it should occupy the central stage it deserves in the scientific community. We urge Pharmaceutical Companies to get in touch with us, as we have the “know how”to design and synthesize any organic molecule of interest.
Sublines
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Synthesis and biological evaluation of Vitamin D analogues and metabolites
Hugo Santalla
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Natural Products synthesis
Fátima Garrido
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Development of new synthetic methodologies in organic chemistry
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Design and synthesis of new ionic liquids (ILs) and their application as solvent or catalysts in organic synthesis