Novel carbonylation homologation strategies for peptide bond formation

About the Project

Supervisors: Dr Philip Miller (Imperial College London) and Dr Christan Holtze (BASF)

Home Department: Departments of Chemistry at Imperial College London, Molecular Sciences Research Hub White City Campus

Novel peptide therapeutics are experiencing burgeoning growth in the pharmaceutical sector. One of the chief challenges, however, in the peptide market is their high production costs. This is a direct result of the various protecting group strategies and reagents that mediate amino-carboxylic acid coupling. Challenges therefore remain in the efficient production of peptides, including low atom economy due to the protecting group strategies, excess use of reagents and vast amounts of solvents needed for purifications.

This project seeks to explore new strategies for peptide synthesis via amide formation using novel catalytic carbonylative coupling methods. Historically, carbonylation reactions have been conducted using high pressures of carbon monoxide and a transition metal catalyst at high temperatures, however, recent advances in catalytic directing group chemistry, C-H activations and photocatalysis have opened alternative routes to efficient amide bond formation. This project will focus on novel catalytic strategies that exploit new photocatalysts, have different mechanisms and can be conducted under milder reaction conditions. We will seek to exploit emerging chemical strategies for peptide bond formation and to leverage advances in flow chemistry for performing and scaling up these reactions.

We are seeking an ambitious and highly motivated candidate with experience of synthetic chemistry (organic or inorganic) who is willing to work with industry partners. You will investigate a range of catalytic and photocatalytic reaction processes primarily for the insertion of carbon monoxide for the preparation of small organic carbonyl molecules and peptides.

The Industry Case (IDLA) PhD student will join an interdisciplinary cohort of students working under the umbrella of the IConIC Prosperity Partnership. An internship of min. 3 months will be facilitated and sponsored by BASF- Chemetall for the utilization of specific infrastructure and technology transfer.

To apply, please complete an application form Application process | Study | Imperial College London.  Informal enquiries about the post and the application process can be made to Genevieve Prescott (iconic-pp@imperial.ac.uk)

Funding Notes

To be eligible for support, applicants must be “UK Residents” as defined by the EPSRC. The studentship is for 4 years starting as soon as possible and will provide full coverage of standard tuition fees and an annual tax-free stipend of approximately £21,240. Applicants should hold or expect to obtain a First-Class Honours or a high 2:1 degree at master's level (or equivalent) in any relevant chemical engineering or science subject. Funding is co-funded through Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and BASF.