Reference number : GC-2017-Q1-02801, amendment number : , agreement type : G, recipient legal name : Orellana, Arturo (York University)|Orellana, Arturo (Université York), recipient country : CA, recipient province : nan, recipient city : Ontario, recipient postal code : nan, program name english : Discovery Grants Program - Individual, program name french : Programme de subventions à la découverte - individuelles, program purpose english : Our research focuses on finding new and improved ways of making value-added organic molecules from simple chemical feedstocks. Although the new technology we develop will most directly impact the discovery and development of pharmaceuticals, the fundamental knowledge gained in the process will be broadly useful. Specifically, we aim to take poorly understood and undeveloped chemical processes and transform them into practical methods to make useful organic compounds. With this as a guiding principle we will tackle the following challenges: 
 I &ndash; Develop New Silver Catalysts for Heterocycle Synthesis. Nitrogen heterocycles are cylic structures made of carbon and at least one nitrogen atom, and are particularly important in pharmaceutical discovery, with most drugs having at least one such ring. Often, making these heterocycles can be challenging, slowing down drug development. We will use recent discoveries in my group to make new silver catalysts that will facilitate the synthesis of nitrogen heterocycles, allowing the rapid generation of small molecule libraries for biological testing, and thereby accelerating drug discovery and development. 
 II &ndash; Develop New Antibiotics. Antibiotics underpin modern medicine. Unfortunately, while antibiotic resistance continues to rise unabated, only two new classes of antibiotics have been developed in the last twenty years. We will use our previous research in highly strained organic molecules to develop new antibiotics. This will require the development of new methods to prepare innovative organic molecules that will interfere with cell-wall biosynthesis in bacteria. To test their antibiotic activity we will collaborate with experts in bacterial research, who will provide valuable data on active compounds. Using this feedback mechanism, we will design and prepare new molecules to arrive at new and desperately needed antibiotics. 
 III &ndash; Develop a New Way of Making Cycloheptanes. Cycloheptanes are seven-membered rings composed of carbon and are found in many naturally occurring compounds with very useful biological activity. Unfortunately, there are not many effective ways to prepare these rings, and therefore they are not widely used in drug discovery. We will develop a new reaction to make these rings in one step from simple building blocks, and demonstrate its utility by making new molecules approaching the complexity of those found in nature. 
Overall, our research stands to make valuable contributions to fundamental organic chemistry and will find application in the pharmaceutical sector, potentially leading to new intellectual property and new therapeutics. In addition, this research will be an integral part of the training of over 20 young scientists., program purpose french : Our research focuses on finding new and improved ways of making value-added organic molecules from simple chemical feedstocks. Although the new technology we develop will most directly impact the discovery and development of pharmaceuticals, the fundamental knowledge gained in the process will be broadly useful. Specifically, we aim to take poorly understood and undeveloped chemical processes and transform them into practical methods to make useful organic compounds. With this as a guiding principle we will tackle the following challenges: 
 I &ndash; Develop New Silver Catalysts for Heterocycle Synthesis. Nitrogen heterocycles are cylic structures made of carbon and at least one nitrogen atom, and are particularly important in pharmaceutical discovery, with most drugs having at least one such ring. Often, making these heterocycles can be challenging, slowing down drug development. We will use recent discoveries in my group to make new silver catalysts that will facilitate the synthesis of nitrogen heterocycles, allowing the rapid generation of small molecule libraries for biological testing, and thereby accelerating drug discovery and development. 
 II &ndash; Develop New Antibiotics. Antibiotics underpin modern medicine. Unfortunately, while antibiotic resistance continues to rise unabated, only two new classes of antibiotics have been developed in the last twenty years. We will use our previous research in highly strained organic molecules to develop new antibiotics. This will require the development of new methods to prepare innovative organic molecules that will interfere with cell-wall biosynthesis in bacteria. To test their antibiotic activity we will collaborate with experts in bacterial research, who will provide valuable data on active compounds. Using this feedback mechanism, we will design and prepare new molecules to arrive at new and desperately needed antibiotics. 
 III &ndash; Develop a New Way of Making Cycloheptanes. Cycloheptanes are seven-membered rings composed of carbon and are found in many naturally occurring compounds with very useful biological activity. Unfortunately, there are not many effective ways to prepare these rings, and therefore they are not widely used in drug discovery. We will develop a new reaction to make these rings in one step from simple building blocks, and demonstrate its utility by making new molecules approaching the complexity of those found in nature. 
Overall, our research stands to make valuable contributions to fundamental organic chemistry and will find application in the pharmaceutical sector, potentially leading to new intellectual property and new therapeutics. In addition, this research will be an integral part of the training of over 20 young scientists., agreement title english : Exploiting Neglected Reactivity to Develop New Tools for Organic Synthesis and Medicinal Chemistry, agreement title french : Exploiting Neglected Reactivity to Develop New Tools for Organic Synthesis and Medicinal Chemistry, agreement number : RGPIN, agreement value : 225000.0, agreement start date : 2017-05-10, agreement end date : nan, description english : nan, description french : nan, expected results english : nan, expected results french : nan, additional information english : Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year. (2017-2018 to 2022-2023), additional information french : Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier. (2017-2018 à 2022-2023), owner organization : nserc-crsng, owner organization title : Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada | Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada