ELECTRO-ASYMMETRIC · Electrochemical stereoselective radical cascades for accessing natural-like compounds

Electrochemical stereoselective radical cascades for accessing natural-like compounds

Identifying successful lead drug candidates is a significant and current challenge to society. The ELECTRO-ASYMMETRIC project seeks to provide some solutions through assisting the development of more effective drug discovery technologies. Specifically, we aim to use electricity-driven organocatalytic cascade processes for the stereocontrolled synthesis of chiral lactones and polyfunctionalized heterocycles, which are common motifs in biologically active molecules. Asymmetric organocatalysis and electrochemistry, two powerful strategies of modern chemical research, have extraordinary potential for sustainably preparing the novel organic molecules required for driving innovation in the pharmaceutical industries. However, the control of enantioselectivity in electrochemical radical processes poses a fundamental scientific challenge. ELECTRO-ASYMMETRIC asks whether asymmetric organocatalytic electrochemical cascades could be an effective tool for rapidly synthesising novel chiral nature-inspired building blocks with high stereocontrol. The chiral molecules prepared in this project will be screened for biological activity in a multidisciplinary collaboration with Janssen, increasing the probability of success in identifying successful drug candidates. Overall, while the initial results were promising, the target of using electrochemistry to develop asymmetric radical processes was only partially successful. Despite the challenges, the insights gained from these experiments have provided a valuable foundation for understanding the complexities involved in such systems. The knowledge and data collected during this research are critical stepping stones that will inform and guide future developments in this area. Although the immediate goals were not fully realized, the groundwork laid here will undoubtedly contribute to the refinement and optimization of these processes. Future researchers in the host group are well-positioned to build upon these findings, potentially leading to breakthroughs in the application of electrochemistry to asymmetric radical reactions. In parallel, significant strides were made in the photochemical Birch reduction project. This project is nearing completion, with the final experiments focused on refining the optimal reaction conditions. We are currently in the process of finalizing the manuscript, which will soon be submitted for publication. The promising results and novel methodology developed through this work are expected to make a substantial contribution to the field, highlighting the innovative potential of photochemical reductions. All relevant results and data have been compiled and are available as part of the Supporting Information for a manuscript currently under preparation, titled “Harnessing New Organic Catalysts to Activate Inert Molecules as Potent Reductants,” in accordance with the Data Management Plan (D4.3).

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