At the Université de Namur’s Unité de Chimie Organique (UCO), researchers are developing innovative methods to synthesize complex nitrogen-containing molecules with high pharmaceutical potential.Lionel-Marie Van Geesbergen has recently started his doctoral research under the supervision of Professor Steve Lanners. Using a strategy called temporary tethering, molecules are physically linked to increase reaction efficiency in cycloadditions—a key process in organic chemistry for building complex polycyclic structures. This approach allows faster, more selective synthesis of compounds such as tropanes and other nitrogen-containing polycycles, which have important applications in medicine, biochemistry, and agrochemistry.The project also explores Beckmann rearrangements on cycloaddition products, opening avenues for synthesizing phlegmadines—natural products previously inaccessible by synthetic methods—and potentially contributing to oncology research through new KRAS inhibitors.The four-year PhD project is supported by Phoenix Capital
Source: UNamur
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