Our 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. While they posses a variety of unique structural features they also exhibit fascinating and significant biological properties. These include 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 compounds 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.
Our approach will utilize our 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 will ultimately deliver a total synthesis of the core heterocyclic structure of the lamellarins.
This project will significantly increase the synthetic efficiency compared to current strategies, as well as providing an excellent training platform to the prospective PhD candidate in our new state-of-the-art laboratories here at Loughborough.
Supervisors
Primary supervisor: Dr Marc C. Kimber
Email: [Email Address Removed]
Tel: +441509 222570
Entry requirements for United Kingdom
Applicants should have or expect to achieve at least a 2:1 honours degree (or equivalent international qualification) in chemistry.
English language requirements
Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Further details are available on the International website.
Find out more about research degree funding
How to apply
All applications should be made online. Under programme name, select School of Science - Chemsitry. Please quote the advertised reference number: CM/MK-Un1/2023 in your application.
To avoid delays in processing your application, please ensure that you submit the minimum supporting documents.
Apply now
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