Light-powered method resurrects 'dead-end' compounds for drug discovery
Throughout the drug development process, which can take a decade or more, tens of thousands of chemical compounds are produced that never go on to become medicines. A Florida State University researcher is part of a team that has discovered a new way to give some of these "dead ends" a second chance at becoming the foundation for tomorrow's blockbuster drugs.
In the drug discovery process, hundreds of thousands of chemical compounds are synthesized, many of which never become viable medications. A Florida State University chemist and his colleagues have devised a novel light-powered technique to resurrect previously discarded compounds called sulfonamides. Assistant Professor Bryan Kudisch and his collaborators transformed these once-inert sulfonamides into valuable aniline building blocks, opening up new possibilities for creating tomorrow's blockbuster drugs.
By using a photochemical reaction to remove a critical sulfur atom, the researchers were able to repurpose sulfonamides, which are central to many existing medications, into novel compounds with potential therapeutic applications, including cancer treatments. This innovative method, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, could revolutionize the way chemists approach the challenges of drug development, offering a powerful tool to reshape molecules and develop more effective medicines.
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