Our undergraduate Chemistry students Antonio, Ivana, Marcos and Miriam, are advancing their final year projects in our labs! Wishing them all the best and great success as they explore, experiment, and discover. Keep up the amazing work, you’re on your way to big achievements!
Big welcome to Hala Zohbi (Master Chemical Biology student from TU Dortmund, Germany), our new research intern joining us for a short-term stay! All the best!
Members of the ISQCH recently took group photos, including a shot highlighting the institute’s women scientists and their contributions to research. The images reflect the institute’s focus on collaboration, diversity, and the community aspect of scientific work.
On January 23, our colleague Christian Asacso, brilliantly defended his thesis, entitled “Development of Chemoenzymatic Cascades for the Production of High-Value-Added Products.” We congratulate him and wish him all the best for the future, especially now as he begins his postdoctoral stage at acib (Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology) in Graz.
Congratulations to Guillermo, Eduardo, Raquel and Conchita!
We have filed a European patent application to protect a new family of copper-based compounds that could be used in cancer treatment. So far, the studies we’ve conducted show that these new compounds display significant activity in animal models of breast, cervical, and pancreatic cancer.
Traditionally, cancer treatments have been associated with organic compounds. However, some current drugs already incorporate metals into their structure, although there are concerns about possible side effects. In this context, we believe copper could become an innovative and potentially safer alternative, opening the door to therapies with new mechanisms of action.
The project has been funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and the Agencia Estatal de Investigación through project PDC2022-133376-I00, within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan and financed by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
Thank you Juan Carlos for your effort and tenacity. Your tremendous work in the lab is starting to bear fruit in your adoptive home. Congratulations!
Morales-Solís, J. C.; Ordoñez, M.; Marqués-López, E.; Herrera, R. P. Asymmetric Pudovik Reaction as a Tool for Functionalizing 3-Formyl Chromones. Synthesis 2026, DOI: 10.1055/a-2815-1115.
Abstract. We report a preliminary proof of concept for the first asymmetric synthesis of a novel series of chromone-derived compounds via the Pudovik reaction, employing the chiral organocatalyst (DHQ)2Phal. Although only moderate enantiomeric excess values were obtained, the scope of the reaction using different electron-withdrawing and electron-donating groups on substituted 3-formyl chromones demonstrated the viability of this methodology. The absolute configuration of the final products was established through NMR analysis of diastereomeric derivatives with (S) Naproxen, complemented by computational calculations, including a study of the correlation between dipole moment and molecular polarity.
Congratulations!
Ardevines, S.; Marqués-López, E.; Herrera, R. P. Increasing Complexity: Enantioselective Multicatalyzed Multistep Reactions in Enantioselective Organocatalysis: Catalysts, Reactions, and Applications (Ed. Dalko, P.) Wiley-VCH; 2026, 1169–1200. Print ISBN:9783527353408, Online ISBN:9783527845552, DOI:10.1002/9783527845552.
Summary. This chapter presents an overview of enantioselective multicatalyzed multistep reactions as a powerful approach in modern synthetic chemistry. It focuses on the synergistic use of multiple catalysts, particularly combinations of two organocatalysts or an organocatalyst with either transition metal complexes or biocatalysts, to achieve high efficiency, selectivity, and stereocontrol in the synthesis of complex chiral architectures. Inspired by nature’s enzymatic strategies, these cascade and one-pot processes enable efficient access to structurally sophisticated molecules. Special emphasis is placed on organomulticatalysis, with detailed discussion of cooperative, relay, and sequential mechanisms. Pioneering examples illustrate the challenges and opportunities of integrating organocatalysis with biocatalysis or metal catalysis, as well as the use of distinct organocatalysts in tandem. Recent advances in asymmetric cascade reactions and one-pot methodologies are highlighted, revealing their practical relevance and contribution to enhancing molecular complexity, atom economy, and synthetic efficiency.
Congrats, especially to Sandra and thank you to Israel and his team!
Exploring the Role of Halogen Bond Donors in the Thiourea-Catalyzed Friedel–Crafts Alkylation Reaction, Ardevines, S.; González-Pinardo, D.; Fernández, I.; Marqués-López, E.; Herrera, R. P.; Chem. Cat. Chem. 2025. DOI: 10.1002/cctc.202501060.
Abstract. Halogen bonding (XB) has recently emerged as a powerful tool in organocatalysis, though asymmetric applications remain scarce. Here we report the first synergistic system combining a chiral thiourea and an inert XB donor. The iodine derivative enhances substrate activation via LP(I)→π*(C = C) interactions. Instead, a strong π–π interaction between the catalysts rules out direct thiourea activation. Applied to asymmetric Friedel–Crafts alkylation, iodoethynyl cocatalysts boost both reactivity and enantioselectivity. DFT calculations rationalize the crucial role of the XB donor, highlighting a new strategy to exploit non-covalent interactions in asymmetric synthesis.
Scope and synthetic applications of the aryl-alcohol oxidase from Streptomyces hiroshimensis (ShAAO), Ascaso-Alegre, C.; Cinca-Fernando, P.; Roberts, T.; López-Fernández, P.; Herrera, R. P.; Cosgrove, S.; Ferreira, P.; Mangas-Sanchez, J.; Org. Lett. 2025. DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.5c03814.
Abstract. The sustainable production of carbonyl compounds is of growing interest due to their broad academic and industrial interest. Herein, we explored the aryl-alcohol oxidase from Streptomyces hiroshimensis (ShAAO), mapping its activity across diverse alcohols, revealing a distinct profile from other natural AAOs. Integrated into tandem organocatalytic processes, ShAAO enabled the synthesis of various chiral compounds, including an intermediate for paroxetine. Gram-scale reactions delivered high yields and turnover numbers exceeding 65000. Immobilization further enhanced stability, highlighting ShAAO as an efficient and industrially relevant biocatalyst.
Congratulations to everyone, especially to Christian!
Organocatalysed C-2 and C-3 functionalisation of chromones, Morales-Solín, J. C.; Ordoñez, M.; Marqués-López, E.; Herrera, R. P.; Org. Biomol. Chem. 2025,advance article. DOI: 10.1039/D5OB01129A.
“Congratulations, especially to Juan Carlos!
Herrera-OrganoCatalisis Asimétrica Group 