Molecules with atoms connected in rings are becoming increasingly relevant in the quest for novel active drugs in medicine. Such ring systems have features that make them particularly well suited for the production of active drugs, and they are driving the development of novel treatments for cancer, as well as neurological and infectious illnesses. Prof. Frank Glorius of the University of Münster has led a team of chemists to success in synthesising new and medically important tiny molecular rings, which are difficult to make due to their sensitivity. The results of the team's research were published in the journal "Nature Catalysis."
The synthesis of tiny ring systems from so-called aromatic chemicals is thought to be challenging by chemists. In addition, the procedure necessitates a significant amount of energy. Another stumbling block is that the energy must be delivered selectively to the source materials while avoiding heat-sensitive products. The team of Frank Glorius has now created an approach in which visible light is used to activate a photocatalyst, which accelerates the reaction. The light is absorbed by the photocatalyst, which then transfers its energy to the source materials. As a result, it is possible to carry out synthesis that is both efficient and gentle, with no or few unwanted side effects.
Dr. Jiajia Ma, the study's lead author, states, "We consider our discovery as a milestone in synthesis chemistry." "It demonstrates that light energy may be employed to create miniature ring structures in a targeted manner." The fact that we can build distinct ring systems by using different reaction partners opens up a lot of possibilities for active agent development." The chemists used only readily available, low-cost raw ingredients as their source materials.
Prof. Kendall Houk of the University of California, Los Angeles (USA), was involved in the research. Prof. Kendall Houk is a world-renowned expert on computer chemistry. Shuming Chen, a professor at the prestigious American undergraduate institution Oberlin College, assisted Houk with his computer computations (Ohio). The researchers were able to understand the underlying response mechanism by working together.
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