As the discovery program advances, a revolutionary chemical-creation platform centered on cubic molecules is being uncovered. This innovative technology could prove instrumental in rejuvenating worn-out drugs and agrochemicals, potentially unlocking new possibilities for their use.
According to Professor Craig Williams of the University of Queensland, the collaboration with CSIRO has produced a platform that is providing chemists with a thrilling range of tools. This breakthrough is particularly significant as chemists have often been faced with limited options when it comes to novel chemical building blocks. With the emergence of this platform, however, chemists can now explore new avenues of chemical discovery with greater ease and efficacy.
“Chemists have often relied on hydrocarbons, substances like petrochemicals, throughout history to build new critically important chemicals for society,” Professor Williams said.
“But one key hydrocarbon that’s been historically missing from this mix is cubane—a synthetic hydrocarbon in the shape of a cube.
“Cubane traditionally was overlooked, as there was no way to synthesize this molecule on a large scale and so its application was limited.
“This has since changed as Australian chemists at CSIRO reported a kilogram scale synthesis, which is now in production at Boron Molecular in Melbourne, that enabled a significant upsurge of cubane research in the twenty-first century.”
In a groundbreaking achievement, the UQ team has managed to introduce a nitrogen atom into a chemical structure closely related to cubane. This is a significant milestone as it has the potential to enhance the qualities of these molecules, making them more suitable for use in biological systems. This is the first time such an incorporation has been achieved, underscoring the pioneering nature of the team’s work and the potential it holds for future advancements in the field of chemistry.
“Hydrocarbons find success within a wide selection of drugs, but the nature of an all-carbon atom core can impede some biological interactions and restrict their application in drug and agrochemical discovery,” Professor Williams said
“Elements like nitrogen can facilitate biologically desirable interactions that are unavailable to hydrocarbons.
“In fact, the biological demand for nitrogen is so great that most US FDA-approved drugs contain at least one nitrogen atom.
“Substituting nitrogen atoms into pharmaceutically proven hydrocarbon scaffolds, like cubane, is an underutilized but attractive strategy to upgrade their biological potential.
“The synthesis and study of 1-azahomocubane in collaboration with the University of Chicago and Queensland University of Technology pushes the boundary of what is possible.”
Dr. Paul Savage, Deputy Director of CSIRO Manufacturing, has a longstanding partnership with Professor Williams, which has proved to be immensely beneficial for their work. Dr. Savage’s team has a wealth of experience in transforming laboratory innovations into processes that can be scaled up for commercial production. This expertise is particularly crucial for the success of this project as it ensures that the platform’s potential can be fully realized and that the benefits of this breakthrough can be shared with a wider audience. Together, the partnership between Professor Williams and Dr. Savage highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in driving scientific progress.
Dr. Savage said the research team are excited about what’s next.
“This groundwork may lead to better treatments for disease, or day-to-day chemicals that vastly improve our quality of life and the environment,” Dr. Savage said.
“To be clear, these are all future aspirations—and could be a long way off—but this work is fundamental to providing new options to chemists around the globe, and we’re thrilled to have been able to make a contribution towards this goal.”
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