All posts by Javier García Marín

New Team Members

The QuiBio Group is welcoming two new members, Marina and Lorena!

The Biological Chemistry Research Group is thrilled to have two new PhD students join the team as project research associates. Marina will be working with Dr. Javier García Marin on new protein-protein interaction disruptors to fight against fibrosis, while Lorena will be under the supervision of Dr. Ángela Martín-Serrano to discover bifunctional molecules as antibody-recruiting agents.

We wish them both the best of luck with their doctoral theses and are excited to see the contributions they’ll make to our research!

Adv. Synth. Cat. 2025

Synthesis of 3,4-Dihydroquinazolinones via Base-Promoted Formal [4 + 2] Cycloadditions

Sergio Torres-Oya, Manuel A. Fernández-Rodríguez, Mercedes Zurro*

Compounds containing tricyclic bridgehead carbon centers are privileged structures in drug discovery. In this work, two different polycyclic scaffolds containing this substructure have been accessed by divergent gold-catalyzed cycloisomerizations of o-cyclopropylidenemethyl-o′-alkynylbiaryls. Selectivity towards one or the other scaffold is mainly controlled by temperature. The electronic nature of the arene group at the alkyne also plays a significant role, which is explained based on the proposed mechanism.

Adv. Synth. Cat. 2025
DOI: 10.1002/adsc.202500244

Org. Chem. Front. 2025

Divergent synthesis of two polycyclic frameworks containing tricyclic bridgehead carbon centers by gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of o-cyclopropylidenemethyl-o′-alkynylbiaryls

Lucía Sánchez, Adrián Gargantiel, Manuel A. Fernández-Rodríguez,* Patricia García-García*

Compounds containing tricyclic bridgehead carbon centers are privileged structures in drug discovery. In this work, two different polycyclic scaffolds containing this substructure have been accessed by divergent gold-catalyzed cycloisomerizations of o-cyclopropylidenemethyl-o′-alkynylbiaryls. Selectivity towards one or the other scaffold is mainly controlled by temperature. The electronic nature of the arene group at the alkyne also plays a significant role, which is explained based on the proposed mechanism.

Org. Chem. Front. 2025
DOI: 10.1002/adsc.202500244

XL Reunión Bienal de la RSEQ

Our group was well-represented at the XL Meeting of Chemistry of the RSEQ in Bilbao! We’re proud to announce that our team presented posters, flash communications, and two oral communications, sharing our latest research.

 

– Oral:
· Regiodivergent transformations of alkynylazobenzenes
Estíbaliz Merino

· Visible-Light Mediated Phenylalanine Modification in Oligopeptides by Debenzylation/Amination Process
Guillermo Morales-Ortega, Iván Pérez, Enrique Gómez-Bengoa, Arkaitz Correa, Javier Carreras

– Flash:
· Acid-mediated cationic cyclization of o-acryloyl-o’-alkynylbiaryls for the synthesis of fluorescent functionalized polycycles
Alex Hipólito-Barriuso, Jaime Mateos, Patricia García-García, Manuel A. Fernández-Rodríguez

 

– Poster:
· Light-induced C–C bond cleavage/C–N formation in homobenzylic
sulfonamides with N-iodoimides

Guillermo Morales-Ortega, Estíbaliz Merino, Javier Carreras

– Poster:
· Exploring the potential of scaffolding activation of ilk using small molecules
Marta Durán Martínez, Mercedes Griera Merino, José Luis Aceña,1 Laura Calleros, Sergio de Frutos García, Diego Rodríguez Puyol, Javier García Marín

–  Poster:
· Synthesis of 2,4,6-trisubstituted pyridines by Heterocyclization of TosMIC Derivatives
Jose Antonio García-García, Jose Luis Aceña Bonilla, David Sucunza.

– Poster:
· Enantioselective copper (ii) catalysed (4+1) cycloaddition of Aza-o-quinone methides and bromomalonates: facile access to chiral Indolines
Sergio Torres-Oya, Manuel A. Fernández-Rodríguez, Mercedes Zurro

Dr. Julia Altarejos and Dr. Clara Mañas Extraordinary Doctorate Awards

Dr. Julia Altarejos and Dr. Clara Mañas, researchers from the Chemical Biology Group, have been awarded the prestigious Extraordinary Doctorate Award by the University of Alcalá for the 2023-2024 academic year.

This annual honor recognizes the most exceptional doctoral theses presented at the university. Dr. Altarejos completed her doctoral studies under the supervision of Dr. Javier Carreras & Dr. David Sucunza, while Dr. Mañanas was supervised by Dr. Estibaliz Merino.

The Chemical Biology Group congratulates both researchers on this significant achievement, which recognizes the outstanding quality and impact of their work.

Congrats Clara and Julia!!