For each molecule, a superb challenge. This is the motto of the Laboratory of Natural Organic Substances B2. Superb challenge that is expressed both in terms of Nature in the total synthesis of natural and/or biologically active molecules, and as well as the development of novel synthetic methodologies or paradigms in chemical catalysis. Nature carefully designs molecules that maintain a specific function, in many cases characterized by an extremely complex chemical diversity.
Molecular architectures are at the limit of understanding most modern systems of molecular investigation and sophisticated synthetic techniques are assembled by Nature with an almost absolute control of regio- and sterochemistry. Molecules containing multiple elements of stereogenicity, carbo- or heterocyclic rings are forged with high levels of efficiency. At the pinnacle of molecular Everest, palytoxin, which was brilliantly achieved in the early 1990s; now, new even more complex challenges await the synthetic organic chemists. Forging a natural molecule requires the orchestration and sychronization of various synthetic methods which include organocatalysis, transition metal catalysis, electrocatalysis, biomimetic cyclization, dearomatization reaction and modern asymmetric reduction / oxidation technologies. Retrosynthetic analysis, also aided by machine-learning systems, complete the spectrum available to the synthetic organic chemist for the compete with Nature. The Laboratory of Natural Organic Substances B2 serves as ready to tackle the aforementioned research challenges, with proficient human capital, equipment, and international collaborations both academic and industrial. If, in the approach to a new natural or biologically active molecule, there is no reaction capable of forging the key link or the reaction to strategically introduce a functional group, then the challenge arises for the development of new synthetic methodologies. Among these, noteworthy are the biomimetic cyclizations with a high "atom economy", mediated by "exotic" electrophiles such as iminium ions, metal-nitrenes, electrochemically generated cation-pools. Asymmetric dearomatization reactions or asymmetric desymmetrization reactions mediated by chiral gold or palladium complexes, enantioselective umpolung reactions of π-allyl-palladium complexes, are some of the new reactions developed, or in development, at the Laboratory of Natural Organic Substances B2. The development of a new paradigm in the recycling of electronic waste through the upcycling of rare earths completes the spectrum of challenges that the B2 Natural Organic Substances Laboratory is recently facing.
