Atom-swapping in complex molecules to create new drug-like candidates
Official title: Atom-swapping reaction sequences enabled by decarbonylation and decarboxylation
Funded at Iowa State University · NIH-11378375 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A scientist-led project at Iowa State University aims to develop new chemical methods to swap a single atom inside core molecules, potentially giving WiTH new drug-like features for medicines.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Iowa State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ames, United States) |
| Project start | July 5, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $362,544 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM146854-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11378375 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patient recruitment; preclinical chemistry research with potential downstream applications in drug discovery.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient benefit at this stage; results are early-stage foundational chemistry.
What this research studies
This project explores a general approach called atom swapping, using oxidation and metal-catalyzed steps to replace carbon atoms with oxygen or nitrogen inside complex molecules. By focusing on decarbonylation and decarboxylation, researchers hope to create derivatives of natural products and pharmaceutical scaffolds that were previously hard to access. The work involves discovering catalysts and reaction conditions that enable these core modifications without extensive reworking of the molecule’s overall structure. The outcomes could broaden the toolbox for medicinal chemists seeking new properties in drug candidates.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this chemistry could enable faster creation of novel drug-like molecules and help tailor biological activity.
How similar studies have gone: Previous methods often modify peripheral parts of molecules; this project aims to access forbidden core substitutions and has shown promising initial strategy development in related methods.
Where this research is happening
-
Iowa State University
Ames, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Junqi — Iowa State University
- Study coordinator: Li, Junqi
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.