organic chemistry

Catalysis plays an essential role in the synthesis of organic compounds, fully aligning with the ninth principle of sustainable chemistry. In recent years, nanomaterials have emerged as promising catalysts, offering stability, recyclability, and high efficiency. Among the most widely used catalysts in organic synthesis are those derived from palladium (Pd), a highly effective but costly and scarce metal.

In recent decades there has been uprising interest in the medicinal properties of organoselenides. These ubiquitous structural have their wide applications in material sciences, in catalysis and modern organic transformations. Research studies have led to important discoveries regarding selective C–Se bond formation and in this context a notable approach is direct selenylation. In this regard, nitrogen- or oxygen-containing arenes with organoselenides have appeared as a very important class of molecules, with diverse applications in the biological sciences.

Supported metallic and bimetallic nanocatalysts were synthesized and characterized. They were employed in different steps of the synthesis of a variety of bioactive compounds, taken in place the high atom economy and the sustainability of the process. The recoverability and reusability of the nanocatalysts was studied. The nanocatalyst were used particularly in C-H activation reaction, through a cross dehydrogenative coupling reaction (CDC), to form new C-C and C-heteroatom bonds.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), an opportunistic pathogen, is responsible for tuberculosis (TB), one of the deadliest infectious diseases. The mycomembrane of Mtb contributes to its resistance against many broad-spectrum antibiotics due to its lipid-rich structure, primarily composed of mycolic acids. Inhibiting the biosynthesis of mycolic acids is a promising strategy in TB drug discovery, as this pathway is enriched with essential enzymes that could serve as selective drug targets.

Neglected tropical diseases, such as Chagas disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, remain a critical global health problem, particularly in underprivileged communities. Our research aims to develop potential therapeutic agents by synthesizing and characterizing analogues of aureothin, a polyketide with known antiparasitic activity.

Heterocyclic ring systems are essential in drug design, serving as core structures in many approved drugs. Nitrogen- and oxygen-containing heterocycles, in particular, have become increasingly significant in recent years. Despite the availability of efficient synthetic methods, there is an ongoing need for new approaches that offer higher molecular complexity, better functional group compatibility, and atom economy, using readily available starting materials under mild conditions.