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Total Synthesis and Medicinal Chemistry of Natural Products

Our research is centered on the chemical synthesis of bioactive natural products/natural product analogs and their biological characterization. Major objectives of our work are (i) the total synthesis of bioactive natural products and their profiling; (ii) the elucidation of the structural requirements for biological activity; (iii) the assessment of opportunities for structural simplification and molecular editing of complex natural products; and (iv) in selected cases, mechanism of action and structural studies. Ultimately, all of these efforts aim at the identification of new leads for drug discovery or potential drug candidates, with a main focus on cancer and infectious diseases. The work in the group is largely chemistry-based, while biological questions are addressed in collaborations with appropriate partners.

Research news

Our most recent paper describes much of our synthetic work on 3-deoxy-12,13-trans-epothilone A analogs and the investigation of their biological activity. This work has revealed some surprising insights into the chemistry of these systems as well as the structural requirements for biological activity. The work is published online in Helv. Chim. Acta as an Accepted Paper: Downloadhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hlca.201900078

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Teaching

The main teaching responsibilities of the professorship are (1) in the education of pharmacy students in pharmaceutical biology; and (2) the education of medical students in basic general and organic chemistry. The teaching in pharmaceutical biology covers basic aspects of the structure and biosynthesis of plant constituents and the pharmacological effects and therapeutic applications of biogenic drugs of plant origin (extract-based herbal medicines; isolated natural products). At the practical level it includes the microscopic analysis of plant material (pharmacopoeia), the chromatographic analysis of medicinal plants, extraction methods, qualitative/quantitative determination of medicinal plant constituents, and the isolation of natural products. The teaching for medical students addresses the most important fundamental concepts in chemistry (atomic structure, chemical bonds, thermodynamics and kinetics of chemical reactions, acid-base equilibria, types and reactivity of organic compounds, stereochemistry, biomolecules) and highlights connections between chemical processes and medically important biochemical, physiological, and pharmacological questions. In addition, we are also involved in Master level courses on medicinal chemistry and drug discovery. For more information please consult the course catalog of the ETH Zürich.

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