MetBioCat
ERC Advanced Grant Project

News

Please find below all relevant news regarding our Group.
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Second in a row: another collaborative article, this time at Org. Lett., is now available on-line

11/10/2023
Once again in a week, we are so happy to share another manuscript in collaboration with I. Fernández group is available through the journal website

We are really glad to announce here that another collaborative article accepted at Org. Lett., entitled "Cobalt(I)-Catalyzed (3 + 2 + 2) Cycloaddition between Alkylidenecyclopropanes, Alkynes, and Alkenes" and authored by E. da Concepción, C. Lázaro, I. Fernández, J. L. Mascarenas and F. López, is already available through the journal website.

Abstract: Cobalt(I) catalysts equipped with bisphosphine ligands can be used to promote formal (3 + 2 + 2) intramolecular cycloadditions of enynylidenecyclopropanes of type 1. The method provides synthetically appealing 5,7,5-fused tricyclic systems in good yields and with complete diastereo- and chemoselectivity. Interestingly, its scope differs from that of previously reported annulations based on precious metal catalysts, specifically rhodium and palladium. Noticeably, density functional theory calculations confirm that the mechanism of the reaction is also different from those proposed for these other catalysts.


External link: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.orglett.3c03511

A new article at Adv. Synth. Catal. is already available on-line

11/06/2023
So happy to announce our last manuscript concerning "Cobalt-catalyzed Intramolecular Cycloadditions" is available through the journal website

We are very glad to share here that our article at Adv. Synth. Catal., entitled "Cobalt-catalyzed Intramolecular Cycloadditions of Alkenylidenecyclopropanes with Alkenes and Dienes" and authored by E. Da Concepción, I. Fernández, J. L. Mascarenas and F. López, is already available through the journal website.

Abstract: Low-valent cobalt complexes equipped with phosphorous type of ligands can promote the intramolecular (3+2) cycloaddition of alkylidenecyclopropanes (ACPs) with alkenes and with allenes. Dienes can also be used as partners, but they afford seven-membered cycloadducts. The reactions are fully diastereoselective and, in some cases, we also observed moderate enantioselectivities, especially when using chiral phosphite ligands




External link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adsc.202301040

After summer-brake, our last article "Axially Chiral 2-Hydroxybiaryls by Palladium-Catalyzed Enantioselective C–H Act" is now available on-line

10/16/2023
This new manuscript at ACS Catal. is already available through the journal website

We are very glad to share here that our article at ACS Catal., entitled "Axially Chiral 2-Hydroxybiaryls by Palladium-Catalyzed Enantioselective C–H Activation" and authored by P. Losada, L. Goicoechea, J. L. Mascarenas and M. Gulías, is already available through the journal website.

Abstract: This article describes the discovery and development of a palladium-catalyzed asymmetric C–H olefination of 2-hydroxybiaryls. The strategy allows a direct assembly of optically active, axially chiral 2-substituted-2′-hydroxybiaryls from readily available precursors and demonstrates that the native hydroxy unit of the substrates can work as an efficient directing group for the C–H activation. This represents a substantial advantage over other approaches that require the preinstallation of metal coordinating units. The simplicity of the approach and versatility of the products allow a practical and efficient synthesis of a broad variety of optically active binaphthyl derivatives

External link: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acscatal.3c03867

Goodbye Jose M. Glez and Edu Da Concepción

07/31/2023
José Manuel González González and Eduardo Da Concepción Vicente have left the group to pursue their postdoctoral careers. Good luck to you both!

José Manuel González González and Eduardo Da Concepción Vicente, two students that started almost together at the group some years ago to pursue their PhDs, have just left MetBioCat willing to start both postdoctoral careers.

Best of luck José and Edu!


Our PI has been officially recognized as a RAFG Member in a fantastic event at the 'Antigo Hospital de San Roque'

07/04/2023
Yesterday, the Royal Academy of Pharmacy of Galicia (RAFG) has recognized Prof. Mascareñas as a new Numerary Member of the academy

Yesterday evening, Prof. José Luis Mascareñas Cid has been recognized as a new Numerary Member of the Royal Academy of Pharmacy of Galicia (RAFG), during a marvelous event at the "Antigo Hospital de San Roque", head office of the Academy.

Prof. Franco Fernández has replied to the joining speech and many authorities were attending the celebration as, for instance, the Conselleiro de Sanidade D. Julio García Comesaña.

It has been a very special moment and a really emotive event. Congratulations, José Luis






External link: https://www.usc.es/ciqus/en/news/ciqus-scientific-director-jose-luis-mascarenas-new-numerary-member-royal-academy-pharmacy

See photo gallery

Second in a row: another brand new article, this time at RSC Chem. Biol., is now available on-line

05/19/2023
Once again... so happy to share our last manuscript, in collaboration with M. Orozco group, is available through the journal website

We are really glad to announce here that our last collaborative article at RSC Chem. Biol., entitled "Molecular dynamics modelling of the interaction of a synthetic zinc-finger miniprotein with DNA" and authored by J. Rodríguez, F. Battistini, S. Learte-Aymamí, M. Orozco and J. L. Mascarenas, is already available through the journal website as a Gold-open access paper.

Abstract: We report the modelling of the DNA complex of an artificial miniprotein composed of two zinc finger modules and an AT-hook linking peptide. The computational study provides for the first time a structural view of these types of complexes, dissecting interactions that are key to modulate their stability. The relevance of these interactions was validated experimentally. These results confirm the potential of this type of computational approach for studying peptide–DNA complexes and suggest that they could be very useful for the rational design of non-natural, DNA binding miniproteins.


External link: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2023/CB/D3CB00053B

Our brand new article at Chem. Sci. is already available on-line

05/19/2023
So glad to announce our last manuscript concerning "Ruthenium-Catalyzed Intermolecular Couplings" is available through the journal website

We are very glad to share here that our article at Chem. Sci., entitled "Ruthenium-Catalyzed Intermolecular Alkene-Alkyne Couplings in Biologically Relevant Media" and authored by A. Gutiérrez, D. Marcos, L. Cool, F. López and J. L. Mascarenas, is already available through the journal website.

Abstract: Cationic cyclopentadienyl Ru(II) catalysts can efficiently promote mild intermolecular alkyne-alkene couplings in aqueous media, even in the presence of different biomolecular components, and in complex media like DMEM. The method can also be used for the derivatization of aminoacids and peptides, therefore proposing a new way to label biomolecules with external tags. This C-C bond-forming reaction, based on simple alkene and alkyne reactants, can now be added to the toolbox of bioorthogonal reactions promoted by transition metal catalysts.



External link: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2023/SC/D3SC01254A

Another review, now at Trends in Chemistry, is already available on-line

04/29/2023
So glad to announce another review concerning "Metal-promoted synthetic chemistry within living cells" is available through the journal website

We are very happy to share our most recent review at Trends Chem., entitled "Metal-promoted synthetic chemistry within living cells" and authored by J. Miguel-Ávila, M. Tomás-Gamasa and J. L. Mascarenas, is already available through the journal website.

Abstract: The ability to perform 'new-to-nature' chemical reactions within living cells and organisms is transforming the way in which scientists interrogate and/or manipulate biological processes. In recent years, the toolbox of bioorthogonal and cell-compatible reactions has been enriched with the incorporation of transition metal-mediated processes. Whereas the efficiency of these reactions is still low, the breadth and generality of organometallic catalysis promises to significantly impact the field of bioorthogonal chemistry. Particularly attractive is the possibility of using organometallic catalysis for performing bond-forming, synthetically relevant reactions, as this could allow assembly of biorelevant products at specific biological sites.


External link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589597423000916

Our last paper at Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. is drawing plenty of attention

02/26/2023
We are very happy to share our most recent paper at ACIE has been one of the most accessed articles over January

The Early view article at Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. "Iridium-Catalyzed ortho-Selective Borylation of Aromatic Amides Enabled by 5-Trifluoromethylated Bipyridine Ligands" was one of the January's most-accessed publications in this beggining of 2023.

So glad, extremelly happy!!


External link: https://twitter.com/angew_chem/status/1628756815558111233?t=hGIZNltqhjtCr0n2JAAX4A&s=19

See photo gallery

Our brand new review at Helvetica Chimica Acta is already available on-line

01/31/2023
Happy to announce our last review concerning "Ruthenium Catalysis in Biological Habitats" is available through the journal website

We are very glad to share here that our review at Helv. Chim. Acta, entitled "Ruthenium Catalysis in Biological Habitats" and authored by A. Gutiérrez, F. López and J. L. Mascarenas, is already available through the journal website.

Abstract: Recent years have witnessed a considerable progress in research aimed at merging transition metal catalysis with chemical and cell biology. Therefore, a crescent number of metal-catalyzed transformations have been shown compatible with biological media and even with living settings. Of the different transition metals used to build these biocompatible catalysts, ruthenium has demonstrated to be particularly powerful, in part because the resulting complexes exhibit a very good balance between reactivity and biological stability. Indeed, ruthenium complexes have demonstrated utility to promote a great variety of reactions in biologically relevant contexts, from deprotection and redox processes to cycloadditions or photocatalytic transformations. Many of these reactions may enable the development of new type of biological tools and pharmacological strategies.


External link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/hlca.202300001