Cascade Reactions in Natural Products Synthesis and New Photoswitches to Dynamically Control Biological Pathways (B08)

• Subject Area: Biological and Biomimetic Chemistry ; Biophysics
• Term: from 2011 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 27112786

A biomimetic synthesis of the complex yet racemic pyrogallol dimer epicolactone is proposed. We also intend to synthesize colorants from the fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) using a biomimetic oxidative cleavage of L-DOPA. This amino acid also underlies the formation of melanin, the partial structure of which we would like to investigate. Finally, we propose to develop new photoswitches, with which to control a receptor-linked guanylyl cyclase (the ANP receptor) and with which to tune the strength of the streptavidin-biotin interaction.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 749: Dynamics and Intermediates of Molecular Transformations
• Applicant Institution: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Dirk Trauner, until 2/2018