Princeton
University Invention # 10-2570
Researchers in the Department of Chemistry, Princeton University have
developed a concise and efficient way to create an expanded set of compounds
with features of pleuromutilin. This pathway for synthesis is capable of
giving access to compounds that could never be constructed from the natural
product pleuromutilin by semi-synthetic methods.
The invention utilizes commercially available chemicals and several
classical and contemporary chemical reactions in syntheses of the
pleuromutilin-like compounds. In principle, the chemical pathway described in
this invention could be adapted to large scale syntheses of new,
pleuromutilin-like compounds.
Fermentation and semi-synthetic methods are the current means for
producing pleuromutilin pharmaceutical agents. Since pleuromutilin is
rapidly metabolized by mammals, there is an interest in new variants that are
more robust and yet retain the antitubercular and antimicrobial
properties.
Princeton is currently seeking licensees for this technology for its
further development and commercialization. Patent protection is
pending.
References:
Liu J, Lotesta SD, Sorensen EJ, A Concise Synthesis of the
Molecular Framework of Pleuromutilin, ChemComm, November 16, 2010, on
line
Further references are available under appropriate confidentiality
agreements.
Principal Inventor:
Erik A Sorensen, Arthur Allan Patchett Professor in Organic Chemistry
Department of Chemistry, Princeton University
For more information on Princeton University invention # 10-2570
contact:
Laurie Tzodikov
tzodikov@princeton.edu