THEME 1

Photoredox catalysis to reliably synthesize libraries of biologically relevant moieties

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Photoredox catalysis has arisen in the last decade as a revolutionary tool for organic synthesis. In this type of catalysis, visible light drives the catalytic cycle in a simple and safe way towards high-energy mechanistic pathways, in particular, towards the generation of free radicals or triplet-triplet energy transfers.

 

One major factor for the exponential rise of photoredox catalysis in academia and industry is that it can be used in tandem with traditional transition metal catalysis. This new type of dual catalysis, named metallaphotoredox, has revolutionized cross-coupling reactions by enabling the combination of unprecedented combinations of coupling partners.

 

In our group, we wish to exploit the new possibilities that allow photoredox/metallaphotoredox catalysis to access large libraries of compounds that are challenging to prepare, but share a biologically relevant moiety. This goal can be reach using two approaches:

• Developing new chemical reactions to give more straightforward access to moieties of interest.

• Expanding the scope of existing reactions by optimizing the conditions to fit more challenging substrates.

 

 

 

THEME 2

Total synthesis of local natural products and their analogs

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Although natural product chemistry is a subject of global interest, most of the research work done in this field has been focused on a limited number of geographical regions, such as the tropics. Some parts of the world, such as Canada and Quebec, remain scarcely studied.

 

Fortunately, some research groups have begun in recent years to explore the molecular diversity in various Quebecois and Canadian ecosystems, such as the Arctic regions. Some promising bioactive molecules have been isolated, though biological studies on those compounds remain limited due to the small quantities isolated.

 

In our group, we are developing synthetic pathways to produce certain promising local natural products. We are working with collaborators to study natural products’ potential as antimicrobial and therapeutic agents or cosmeceutical ingredients. As we develop the synthetic pathways to targeted moleules, we are preparing small libraries of analogs, to perform structure-activity relationship studies.

 

 

 

THEME 3

Valorisation of local biomass for sustainable, high added value applications

 

Eastern Quebec has significant primary industry, such as wood and marine products. Although the products generated by this industry are economically important, their overall value can be quite low. Furthermore, these primary industries tend to generate significant volumes of by-products whose management can be problematic.

 

In our group, we are working to develop innovative solutions to valorize local biomass while proposing sustainable alternatives to traditional polymers. On the one hand, we are looking to find high-added-value applications to use underexploited biomass, such as microalgae. On the other hand, we are looking to transform by-products such as brewer’s spent grain and shrimp shells into useful high-value materials.