NU 2007-143 

Inventors

Margaret Biddle   

Raymond Bergan   

Karl Scheidt* 

Short Description

Innovative method for synthesis of flavanone and chromanone compounds for drug discovery applications

Abstract

Northwestern University scientists have developed a novel chemical synthesis method for production of flavanones and chromanones. Both of these types of compounds are found in natural products and have been extensively studied for their anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activitiesthat have been investigated as selective estrogen receptor modulators and TNF-Œ± inhibitors. Unfortunately, there are few synthetic strategies that are available for generation of these compounds in high yield. The Scheidt group has invented a method to accomplish high yield synthesis of both flavanones and chromanones while using mild reaction conditions. Importantly, this novel approach also has high enantioselectivity so no additional steps are needed to separate reaction products. Thus, this novel synthetic method could enable generation of a wide variety of novel biologically active compounds and reinvigorate drug discovery efforts in the cancer and inflammatory disease fields. 

Applications

• Synthesis of biologically active molecules
• Drug discovery

Advantages

• High enantioselectivity and yield (up to 97%)

Publications

Biddle MM, Lin M, Scheidt KA (2007) Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of Flavanones and Chromanones. Journal of the American Chemistry Society. 129: 3830-3831. 

IP Status

Issued US Patent No. 7,851,640. A PCT application has been filed.