Harnessing Copper-Linked Pathways to Build Complex Heterocycles
Official title: Leveraging σ-alkyl Metal Complexes for the Cascade Synthesis of Heterocyclic Scaffolds
Funded at New York University · NIH-11423759 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A project at NYU will develop new copper-catalyzed methods to rapidly assemble oxygen- and nitrogen-containing ring systems that appear in many medicines and natural products.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $392,356 |
| NIH project number | 1R35GM165397-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11423759 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with interests in advanced medicinal chemistry and who may benefit indirectly from faster creation of new therapeutics.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefit is not guaranteed; the project is a foundational chemistry effort that may influence future therapies.
What this research studies
This research aims to create fast, efficient ways to build intricate heterocycles by using copper to trigger cascade reactions that combine C–H activation, group shifts, and ring formation. The team has already shown that σ-alkyl copper intermediates can enable radical migrations and that aziridines and epoxides can couple to form spirocycles without extra oxidants. The approach could provide versatile scaffolds with handles for further modifications, potentially speeding drug discovery. The work blends novel chemistry with practical routes to bioactive compounds, aiming to expand access to advanced molecular architectures.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from faster development of new medicines built on these diverse heterocycles.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary results show promising radical relay strategies and intermolecular/intramolecular couplings, suggesting potential for practical application.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tomanik, Martin — New York University
- Study coordinator: Tomanik, Martin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Adolescent girls in Uganda: a long-term look at how money empowerment and family support affect HIV prevention, care, and mental health
A long-term study in rural Uganda will test whether an intervention that combines economic empowerment and family strengthening can help HIV-negative and HIV-affected adolescent girls move safely into young adulthood.
-
Long-term HIV prevention and mental health support for adolescent girls and young women in Uganda
A long-term program in rural Uganda tests if combining economic support and family strengthening helps teenage girls stay HIV-free and improve mental health as they grow into young adults.
-
SNEngage: How Social Networks and Supports Shape Mental Health Care for Black and Latino Individuals with Serious Mental Illness
A long-term study following Black and Latino individuals with serious mental illness to learn how their social networks affect engagement with mental health services and overall well-being.
-
Endosomal signaling and cancer pain control in oral cancer
A study to understand how signals inside nerve cells and supportive cells contribute to pain in people with oral cancer.
-
Accelerating hydroxyurea use for sickle cell disease in Nigeria
A pragmatic study in Nigeria aims to help doctors use hydroxyurea more consistently for people with sickle cell disease.
-
Preventing youth violence by better delivering proven programs to middle schools
A large study in middle schools will test practical ways to help teachers implement a well-known social-emotional learning program so it reaches students as intended.
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.