Research led by School of Chemistry researchers published in Nature Chemistry Researchers in the School of Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh have achieved the first chemical synthesis of a natural insecticidal alkaloid called brevianamide A. This molecule was isolated over 50 years ago from Penicillium brevicompactum and has puzzled chemists and biologists ever since. Researchers in the Lawrence research group, Robert Godfrey and Dr Nicholas Green, devised a new synthetic strategy towards brevianamide A, inspired by how the fungus itself may produce the substance. To read more, check out their recently published article in Nature Chemistry. The new chemistry developed by Rob (Dr Robert Godfrey) and Nick (Dr Nicholas Green) to solve this decades old problem, will now enable us to prepare a vast array of closely related and biologically active molecules. This will facilitate important collaborative research with biologists, biochemists and medicinal chemists. Ultimately, we hope this will lead to new knowledge and understanding, and may facilitate the development of new drugs to treat a variety of diseases. Dr Andrew Lawrence Publication date 14 Apr, 2020
