After finishing my thesis in the USA, I returned to Spain and started working on a new line of research in Dr. Fernando García Tellado's group at the IPNA-CSIC. In these more than 20 years the research line has become consolidated in the group and is an important pillar of all the projects we have been carrying out. This line is based on: synthetic methodology, organocatalysis, diversity-oriented synthesis and domino processes.
Major achievements: We have defined and developed new conceptual models for the generation and control of chemical reactivity, as well as new reaction patterns to generate molecular diversity and structural complexity (innovation).
Scientific milestones: the most important steps in our project during this period were:
- Design, development and formalization of a new concept of chemical reactivity: transformation of bimolecular into multicomponent reactions. Concept of chemo-differentiating ABB' multicomponent reactions. Selected publications: Chem. Soc. Rev. 2007, 36, 484.
- Development and formalization of a new concept in generating chemical reactivity: a good nucleophile (kinetic concept) generates a strong base (thermodynamic concept). Application to organocatalytic generation of conjugated alkynide anions and their productive use in chemo-differentiating ABB' processes. Selected publications: Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2009, 48, 2090; Chem. Eur. J. 2007,13, 1201; J. Org. Chem. 2007, 72, 5454; Chem. Commun. 2006, 2667; Chem. Eur. J. 2005, 11, 3502; Chem. Eur. J. 2003, 9, 3122; J. Org. Chem. 2003, 68, 3363; Org. Lett. 2001, 3, 1905.
- Design and development of a new strategy for diversity-oriented modular construction: coupled domino processes. Selected publications: Org. Lett. 2011, 13, 4422; J. Org. Chem. 2005; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 8390.
- Pluripotent molecular platforms: introduction of the concept and its transformation into a synthesis tool. Development of prototypes based on activated alkyne-enol systems (propargyl vinyl ethers) or on conjugated 1,4-diine systems (alkyl 4-aryl-4-acyloxy-hepta-2,5-diinodioate). Application to the structural diversity-oriented synthesis of small molecules of chemical/biological interest. Construction of chemolibraries. Selected publications: Chem. Eur. J. 2017, 23, 10048-10052; Acc. Chem. Res. 2016, 49, 703; Org. Lett. 2016, 18, 2770; Chem. Eur. J. 2015, 21, 18280; J. Org. Chem. 2014, 79, 10655; J. Org. Chem. 2013, 78, 3457; Chem. Eur. J. 2012, 16, 3468; Chem. Eur. J. 2011, 17, 9571; Chem. Eur. J. 2011, 17, 3318; Org. Lett. 2011, 13, 4422; Chem. Eur. J. 2010, 16, 3276; Chem. Eur. J. 2010, 16, 428; Chem. Eur. J. 2009, 15, 838; J. Org. Chem. 2005, 70, 1042; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 8390.
- Study of propargyl Claisen rearrangement and its application in organic synthesis. Selected publications: Chem. Soc. Rev. 2013, 42, 458; Acc. Chem. Res. 2016, 49, 703.
- Discovery of a new family of DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors using the structure-targeted library concept. Small molecule approach to discovery of drugs and chemical probes. Selected publications: J. Med. Chem. 2010, 53, 3835.
Synthesis methodologies, organocatalysis, diversity-oriented synthesis and domino processes.
- B.Sc. in chemistry from the University of Nevada, USA. (1994)
- Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Tennessee, USA (1998).
- Postdoctoral fellow associated with the FEDER project "Natural and Synthetic Products with Anticarcinogenic, Anticholesterolemic and Multidrug Resistance Reversing Activities", FEDER-CICYT (FD97-0747-C0401), IUBO "Antonio González", University of La Laguna, (10/1999-12/2001).
- Postdoctoral fellow of the Canarian Institute of Cancer Research, (2002-2005).
- Postdoctoral fellow, I3P, CSIC (2/2005-6/2007).
- Senior Scientist at the CSIC (6/2007-present).