Our research activities are mainly focused in two areas:
1. Development of catalytic systems using Earth-abundant metals
The development of sustainable, more efficient, and selective organic synthesis is one of the fundamental research goals in chemistry. In this respect, catalysis is a key technology, since the majority of chemical and pharmaceutical products are made by catalysts. We are developing new catalytic systems using Earth-abundant metals (Mn, Fe, Ni, Mo, and W) and simple ligand systems for their application in a variety of catalytic reactions including hydrosilylation, transfer hydrogenation, borrowing hydrogen and acceptorless dehydrogenative processes, and catalytic methods for the valorization of CO2. As an example, we have developed a new family of manganese complexes bearing N-heterocyclic carbenes that showed excellent efficiency in the catalytic activation of CO2. Our final goal is to contribute to green chemistry and sustainable development.
2. Development of metallodrugs
The development of drug-based metal-containing compounds offers many advantages due to the ability of metals to coordinate ligands in a three-dimensional configuration. This allows to build a wide variety of structures that can be designed for a defined molecular target. The oxidation state of the metal is also important in the design of coordination compounds, since it allows its participation in biological redox chemistry, and it plays an influential role in the optimal dose and bioavailability of the agent administered. In our group, we are developing new organometallic compounds with anticancer activity for the types of cancer that cause most deaths in the world such as ovarian, breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer, among others. The anticancer activity of the new complexes is evaluated in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, the activity is evaluated against specific human tumor cells, and in vivo using the zebrafish embryo model. We are also involved in the synthesis of new metal complexes, in particular Ir, Ru, and Mn-based compounds bearing N-heterocyclic carbene and/or azole ligands as antimicrobial agents.
O desenvolvimento de novos catalisadores para a síntese de moléculas orgânicas tem um grande impacto na indústria farmacêutica e na química fina. Em particular, os catalisadores organometálicos permitem desenvolver processos muito eficientes e seletivos. O nosso grupo de investigação trabalha na síntese de compostos organometálicos baseados em metais abundantes na terra, baratos e no tóxicos (Mn, Fe, Ni, Mo, e W) para sua aplicação como catalisadores em diversas reações químicas, tais como hidrosililação, transferência de hidrogénio, de(hidrogenação), oxidação e valorização do CO2 através de reações catalíticas.
Nosso grupo trabalha também no desenvolvimento de novos compostos organometálicos com aplicações farmacológicas. Estamos a desenvolver complexos metálicos para o tratamento do cancro. A avaliação de suas atividades citotóxicas é feita in vitro (contra determinadas células tumorais humanas) e em vivo (usando o modelo de embrião de peixe-zebra). Também estamos envolvidos na síntese de complexos metálicos, em particular compostos de Ir, Ru, e Mn contendo ligandos carbenos N-heterocíclicos e/ou azole para sua aplicação como agentes antimicrobianos.
