Science releases a big leap in the use of iron catalysts in pharmaceuticals

If a classroom is filled with transition metals, which can be used as catalysts for complex drug reactions, iron will be the most promising but also the most difficult member to control

However, researchers at the University of Rochester and the University of Maryland have created and characterized a new response

"This is a huge leap forward in developing effective and practical iron-based reactions that the pharmaceutical industry can take advantage of," said Michael Nedig, Marshall D.

Iron: a better catalyst than palladium in chemical synthesis

The so-called transition metal catalyzed cross-coupling reaction is one of the most widely used methods in chemical synthesis

Although iron is abundant, cheap, and relatively non-toxic, it has not been fully utilized.

Although most of the cross-couplings used in these reactions involve putting two molecules together, Lei Liu, the lead author of Gutierrez's group, managed to create a three-component coupling, increasing the reaction's potential to combine with multiple compounds

Part of Aguilera's work involves reproducing the precise crystal structure of the four "irons" used in the reaction—actually creating a picture of each type of iron

Doctoral student Maria Camila Aguilera is the co-lead author of a paper describing a novel iron-based cross-coupling reaction

"This is a very challenging project," said the fourth-year doctoral student who received a bachelor's degree in chemistry at the National University of Colombia (Universidad Nacional de Colombia) and then moved to the University of Rochester

Neidig said that Aguilera uses a series of spectroscopy tools and unique low-temperature infrastructure to enable laboratories to "study unstable organic iron compounds that few chemical laboratories in the world can do

A promising advance in drug development

What is the implementation prospect of drug development?

Neidg said: "I think this response is very attractive to pharmaceutical companies

"This response may require more adjustment and development," he added

Both Aguilera and Neidig praised the close working relationship established with the Gutierrez laboratory, especially considering the scarcity of laboratories willing to study iron-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions due to high risk and low return

"Osvaldo is an incredible collaborator," Aguilera said
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"He is very willing to share his knowledge, so it is a pleasure to work with him
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