Chemical Reviews: SPbU’ scientists gave oxims to pharmacy
SPbU’ scientists have developed a methodology how we can use oxims to produce chemical compounds with the predetermined properties.
It can help develop antibacterial, anti-TB, and anti-inflammatory drugs and drug treatments for Alzheimer's disease. The research findings have been published in Chemical Reviews, the most influential and highly rated journal in chemistry worldwide.
The cover of the November issue features a picture of the SPbU scientists’ research to catch an eye to the most important article.
The chemists Dmitrii Bolotin, Marina Demakova, Nadezhda Bokach, and Vadim Kukushkin prepared an analytical review of the studies on the activating properties of the metals in relation to the relatively inert organic compounds.
Having analyzed what has been done in the area for the last 15 years (the review cites about 600 works), the scientists developed a unique methodology to use such simple compounds as oxims to produce the compounds with the predetermined properties. It can be used in developing antibacterial, anti-TB, and anti-inflammatory drugs and drug treatments for Alzheimer's disease.
The project “Antibacterial, anti-virus and anti-tumor heterocycles and their complexes produced from amidoximes” has been developed as part of the Strategy of Research and Engineering Development of Russia in relation to precision medicine and high-technology healthcare.
“We add a cation of the metal to the mixture of the organic substances and after the reaction is compete, we subtract it from the mixture and get an organic substrate, a heterocycle. Such processes do not occur in nature, and our methodology helps create new compounds”, — said the first author of the article, senior lecturer at SPbU Dmitrii Bolotin.
The young scientists, as SPbU’s Professor, Corresponding Member of the RAS Vadim Kukushkin says, develop the traditions of the University. “In the early 20th century, the University studied the fundamental processes in relation to the activating properties of the metals. Professor Chugaev, Academicians Grinberg, Cherniaev, Razuvaev, and Voronkov laid the grounds for the research that was later developed globally. At that time, the equipment did not allow us to delve into how the chemical processes occurred and today we are continuing their research on a new scientific and engineering level when the equipment can discover the finest details of how the processes occur”, — said SPbU’s Professor Vadim Kukushkin.
Such key documents as the Strategy of the Research and Engineering Development of Russia, Strategy of Development of the Research Foundations, and SPbU’s Strategic Plan, according to the Professor, primarily focuses on how we can apply the research findings in practice. “We are mostly concerned with how to synthesis new drugs and materials”, — said Professor Vadim Kukushkin.
The research was carried out by the scientists who have come to St Petersburg University from other cities and towns in Russia. “Nadezhda Bokach, a graduate of Vologda State University and postgraduate student at SPbU, is now Professor at SPbU and RAS, winner of the award of the President of the Russian Federation in science and innovations for the young scientists. In 2013, Marina Demakova came from Syktyvkar to become a postdoc at SPbU who is the first university in Russia to offer a post-doc programme. Dmitrii Bolotin is our graduate who left science for several years but now has returned and successfully defended his thesis in 2017 and won a grant from the RSCF. Now he can recruit young specialists himself to solve problems in science”, — said Professor Kukushkin.