Organic chemistry

Design of new biologically active heterocycles

Prof. Victor V. Dotsenko is the research group leader. The interest of organic chemistry research group is focused on the design and synthesis of biologically active heterocyclic molecules. The main direction of studies is the identification of leader compounds using in silico methods – evaluation of bioavailability parameters, calculation of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters – ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, toxicity), binding to target proteins. Also the group has a significant experience working with the agrochemical sector and we directing our efforts toward the patentable series of new agrochemicals, namely, plant growth regulators for corn, wheat and sunflower, and 2,4-D herbicide antidotes. The studies of the agrochemical potential are experimental, and are carried out in cooperation with the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Plant Biological Protection.

Figure 1. Binding model of one of our compounds for the best docked pose in the human Ephrin type-A receptor 2 active site

Development of new synthetic methodologies toward the synthesis of low-weight S,N,Se-heterocyclic molecules

The research group of Kuban State University has developed a number of perspective areas of heterocyclic chemistry and has achieved success in some directions. Thus, the key factors affecting the regioselectivity of Mannich type aminomethylation in the series of S,N-binucleophilic substrates (thioamides, pyridin-2(1H)-thiones and -2-thiolates) were identified;

An effective methodology for the preparation of heterocyclic ensembles based on the Mannich-type multi component and/or one-pot methods has been developed, starting from active methylene thioamides. The libraries of new S,N-containing heterocyclic compounds were prepared.

A series of new cascade reactions and re-cyclizations occurring during the aminomethylation of S,N-binucleophilic substrates have been discovered.

A number of new low weight building blocks based on active methylene thioamides have been prepared and introduced into the common synthetic practice

The research group has been quite active researching in the area of Mannich-type multicomponent reactions (MCRs). The other direction of our studies is the chemistry of thieno[2,3-b]pyridines and related polyheterocyclic structures. Of the particular interest to us is that these directions give rise to rare, unusual or hitherto unknown heterocyclic systems.

Fig. 2. The scope of Mannich-type reactions developed by Dotsenko group.