Investigating a novel catalysis-based approach to access functionalised heterocyclic scaffolds

This is an industrial collaboration project with Eli Lilly Plc to explore leading-edge healthcare and medicine.

Heterocyclic motifs form the basis of many active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and new hit/lead molecules against disease targets. A novel transition-metal based reactivity mode discovered by the Davies group (formal cycloadditions using nucleophilic nitrenoids) provides efficient and convergent access to heterocyclic motifs that are of particular import in the pharmaceutical sector. Efficient methods to access functionalised and diverse heterocyclic motifs result in substantial improvements in process efficiency for the manufacture of complex molecules [and the generation of less waste with reduced energy and chemical resource demands], and also provide the framework for the discovery of new medicines.

This project will seek deeper understanding of the control factors in this new reactivity and explore the applicability of the method as a general tool for the preparation of high quality functionalised heterocyclic motifs to enable academic and pharmaceutical discovery and development activities.

This project will link the Davies group’s expertise in the discovery of efficient new catalysis-based methods with Lilly scientists expertise in applying catalysis-based methods to drug discovery and scale-up synthesis of APIs. More information about the Davies research group can be found here: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/chemistry/Davies/index.aspx

We are looking for a graduate with a 1st or high 2.1 in Chemistry (or a closely related subject) with a keen interest in transition metal catalysis and organic synthesis.

Informal enquires about the project can be directed to Dr Davies ([Email Address Removed])

How to apply:
• Apply directly via the University of Birmingham Postgraduate application system, the Postgraduate portal. (Apply button)
• Please detail the advertised supervisor and project title under the ’Research Information’ section of the application form.