Photochemical synthesis of new drug-like scaffolds

Our laboratory is interested in the application of enabling technologies, such as continuous flow[1] and photochemistry,[2] for the synthesis of useful functional molecules such as drugs, agrochemicals and materials. Advantageously, these continuous-flow photoreactors are easier to use and control than their batch-wise predecessors. Photochemical reactions behave in an orthogonal manner from thermally-allowed reactions and offer a unique route to unusual scaffolds. The construction of these unusual scaffolds is of interest to commercial drug-discovery programmes as they have not be tested on drug targets and offer new opportunities to target diseases. During this project we will develop novel photochemical strategies towards new biologically-interesting molecules with a view to synthesizing small libraries for further testing.

In addition to the flow-photochemical equipment the Department of Chemistry possess state-of-the-art equipment for the characterization of these compounds through the Chemical Analysis Facility (CAF http://www.reading.ac.uk/caf) including: NMR up to 700 MHz; molecular spectroscopy (Raman, UV/Vis, IR and fluorescence); gas- and liquid-chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS and LC-MS); single-crystal and powder X-ray analysis; thermal analysis (TGA); and electron microscopy.

This project will involve training in flow chemistry and organic synthesis and as such will allow you to develop excellent practical and theoretical skills in synthetic chemistry.