Our research aims to generate applied knowledge in the areas of organic chemistry, catalysis and materials science. We seek to generate scientific knowledge through originality and multidisciplinarity.
As specialists in Organic Chemistry we aim to bring our vision to the creation of molecular complexity, all geared towards sustainability and efficiency in coherence with sustainable development goals. Specifically, our study focuses on:
- The design of new functional materials and the development of alternative applications in catalysis and energy.
- The use of MOF/COV-type systems that can generate high-density functional interfaces resistant to extreme environments.
- The development of new synthetic pathways for obtaining molecular complexity through processes in line with green chemistry.
- The use of hydrogen self-transfer processes to activate diols and generate new structures.
- The development of new structures for photovoltaic systems.
- The development of original methodologies to access polyaromatic compounds from simple structures and with catalysis.
The main objective of our research is the synthesis of new compounds with potential biological activity. Therefore, our work focuses on the development of new methodologies that lead to these molecules in a simple and selective way. In this context, the preparation of new organofluorine compounds has been one of the hallmarks of the group, since it is well known that the introduction of fluorine atoms in organic molecules often improves their chemical and pharmacological properties. In addition, we are interested in the design and synthesis of new peptidomimetics and other small molecules capable of activating or inhibiting specific therapeutic targets. The main lines are described below:
- Design, synthesis and reactivity of new fluorinated chemical entities containing the alkyne function.
- Study of the differential reactivity of fluorinated propargylic amines in gold-catalysed hydroamination and hydroarylation processes. Extension to tandem processes mediated by electrophilic fluorination agents.
- Synthesis of fluorinated propargylic acetates and preliminary evaluation of their reactivity towards gold salts (I).
- Development of a catalytic process for the synthesis of 1-fluoroalkynes from terminal alkynes.
- Diversity-Oriented Synthesis (DOS): application to the asymmetric synthesis of fluorinated and non-fluorinated benzofused compounds as new molecular entities in drug discovery.
- Asymmetric synthesis of benzofused compounds by tandem or one-pot processes.
- Application of fluorinated 2-iodo(bromo)benzyl 2-iodo(benzyl)amines as building blocks in the synthesis of optically pure fluorinated nitrogen heterocycles.
- Development of new enantioselective processes using organocatalysis, metal catalysis or a combination of both.
- Extension of the intramolecular aza-Michael intramolecular (AMI) organocatalytic reaction to conjugated esters as acceptors.
- Study of the asymmetric AMI reaction applied to desymmetrisation processes of prochiral compounds.
- Design of new organocatalytic tandem processes: aza-Henry-AMI and aza-Morita Baylis Hillman-AMI.
- Asymmetric synthesis of alcohols and cyclic amines using organocatalyst/transition metal binary systems (relay catalysis).
- Study of the catalytic enantioselective intramolecular catalytic allylation reaction.
- Target Oriented Synthesis (TOS): design, synthesis and biological evaluation of a new generation of peptidomimetics capable of inhibiting the RRE-Rev interaction of human immunodeficiency virus type 1.
We are a research group in the interface between inorganic and materials chemistry. We are part of the Institute of Molecular Science (ICMol) at the Universidad de Valencia.
Our research encompasses different targets ranging from the synthesis, characterization and nanostructuration of inorganic, porous materials. Built upon a thorough understanding of these basic principles we aim to enable environmentally relevant application based on these materials like catalysis, chiral separation, photocatalysis, electrocatalysis or energy storage. We collaborate nationally and internationally with renowned research groups, including scientists at ICIQ (Tarragona), Polymat (San Sebastián), ETH (Zurich), ICN2 (Barcelona), University of Liverpool, University of Warwick and IMDEA Nanoscience (Madrid). Our labs are located at the state-of-the-art facilities of ICMol.
The activity of the group focuses on the design, synthesis and characterisation of new molecular materials that present several properties of interest in the same material and whose properties can be modulated and adjusted at will. The ultimate goal will be the preparation of devices in which these multifunctional molecular materials represent an additional advantage thanks to the possibility of modulating these properties.
To this end, the group uses the usual tools of coordination chemistry for the synthesis of materials that combine different properties. The most common properties will be electrical, magnetic and optical. Among the first ones, electronic and ionic conductors and superconductors stand out. Magnetic properties include magnetic couplings, long-range magnetic arrangements, single-molecular magnets (SMM) or single-chain magnets (SCM) as well as switch systems such as spin transition systems (SCO) among others. Optical properties include luminescence and fluorescence, as well as chiral or photoisomerisable systems.
SCO systems also exhibit optical properties such as the blocking of a light-induced excited spin state (LIESST) where a transition to a metastable spin state occurs by light absorption. We will also focus on the preparation of materials that combine magnetic properties with porosity in order to design materials capable of interacting with host molecules and thereby changing their properties (chemical sensors).
The aim of this research group is to develop catalysts for the transformation of low-functional substrates into products of industrial interest by means of homogeneous catalysis. The preferred substrates are hydrocarbons and other compounds with high chemical inertness such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide. For catalysts, metal complexes of elements of the first transition series will be used.
Study of regio- and stereoselective organic reactions of interest in synthesis from the preparative and mechanistic points of view. The research focuses mainly on catalysed processes with organometallic systems for the construction of complex molecules, thermal and photochemical reactions of carbon dioxide functionalisation, reactions in carbon dioxide in the supercritical state, and the design of reagents and catalysts on inert solid support applicable in flow processes with conventional solvents and in supercritical carbon dioxide. The study focuses on the design of transformations with high synthetic interest, and on their mechanisms, paying attention to the impact on the efficiency of the reaction of the structural and electronic factors associated with the reagents and catalysts, and those derived from the medium and the reaction conditions.
The fundamental objective of the group is to produce new types of molecules with pharmacological activity and whose structure is based on that of known natural products, which are also bioactive. Of the many types of pharmacological activities described, the group's main focus is on cytotoxic, anti-angiogenic and telomerase inhibitory activities, because of the strong influence these activities exhibit on cell proliferation processes. This gives them potential interest in anti-cancer therapeutics. Another type of pharmacological action that will also be investigated is antimalarial activity.
The group was formed some years ago on the general line of synthesis of bioactive natural products. One of its members has been collaborating for years with another group at the Universitat Jaume I in Castellón, with which it has joint research projects. At the same time, the group collaborates with external groups to carry out and determine the biological activities of the aforementioned types.
One of these groups, led by Doctors Isabel Fernández and Fernando Díaz, carries out its scientific activity in Madrid at the Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB), an entity included within the CSIC. The topics currently being addressed concern the stereoselective synthesis and biological evaluation of non-natural analogues of two bioactive natural products, combretastatin A4 and colchicine. Both show a strong inhibitory effect on cell proliferation, which makes them products of application in anticancer therapy. The aim is to create non-natural analogues of these compounds with improved pharmacological properties.
The other group is a unit within the multinational pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKlyne and is involved in malaria research. Our group has signed an agreement with this company that allows for the evaluation, both in vitro and in vivo, of the antimalarial properties of synthesised compounds. This is of particular importance as the evaluation of bioactive products on live animals is particularly costly and not normally possible in academic facilities.
Synthesis of heterocyclic nitrogen compounds and subsequent study of their chemical reactivity. Study the ability of the prepared compounds to coordinate with different cationic and/or anionic species and study the possible applications of these interactions. Based on this knowledge, the possible pharmacological activity of the prepared compounds will be studied.
