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Research Objectives / Activities
Our group is involved in the design and synthesis of organic compounds. The targeted molecules are mainly natural products or designed analogues with the aim to develop novel synthetic strategies, explore the potential of new synthetic methods, and prepare and study novel compounds with interesting and/or improved biological activity and possible pharmaceutical applications. Modern synthetic methods and techniques, including combinatorial chemistry, are exploited for their preparation (either in solution or on solid support) and the evaluation of their biological activity is performed through collaboration with specialized laboratories. In parallel, the expertise of the team in the design and synthesis of complex organic molecules is exploited for the preparation of organic molecules with possible technological applications (e.g. photoresist etch enhancement additives, linkers for the preparation of polymers) or molecules with interesting supramolecular behavior.
Indicative accomplishements of the group are the total synthesis of Trichodimerol (TNF-α inhibitor), Bastadins (a family of marine natural products that modulate Ca2+ homeostasis and have antiangiogenic activity), Oxazinins (marine toxins related to “red tide” insidents), and the efficient and short synthesis of the pharmacophoric core of Scyphostatin (selective inhibitor of Neutral Sphingomyelinase, N-SMase).
Current Funded Projects
Publications
Group Members
Present and past international collaborations and participation in networks
Prof. Ei-ichi Negishi (Purdue University, W. Lafayette, Indiana, USA)
Prof. A. Giannis (University of Leipzig, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Leipzig, Germany)
Dr. Joe Lewis (Chemical Biology Core Facility, EMBL Heidelberg, Germany)
Prof. J.W. Lazarewicz (Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland)
Prof. E. Fattorusso (University of Napoli, Italy)
Prof. K.C. Nicolaou (The Scripps Research Institute & University of California, San Diego, USA)
COST Action CM0804 "Chemical Biology with Natural Products"
COST Action CM0602 "Inhibitors of angiogenesis: design, synthesis and biological exploitation (ANGIOKEM)"
The Sphingolipid Club
Infrastructure
Polarimeter, HPLC, parallel synhtesizer
Contact
Dr. E.N. Pitsinos
Research Directors
NCSR "DEMOKRITOS"
Institute of Physical Chemistry
P.O. Box 60228
GR-153 10 Aghia Paraskevi
Greece.
Web page: http://ipc.chem.demokritos.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=70&Itemid=70%E2%8C%A9=en
E-Mail: pitsinos"at"chem.demokritos.gr
Tel.: +30-2106503789
FAX: +30-2106511766
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