Targeted synthesis and study of the biological activity of terpene compounds with heterocyclic structural units

This project aims to solve the fundamental problem of organic and bioorganic chemistry related to the design and synthesis of chiral compounds with advanced functionalisation for various practical applications. Specifically, it is dedicated to the development of convenient synthetic approaches towards new compounds with original structures,containing terpene and heterocyclic moieties, by classical and unconventional methods of fine organic synthesis and the evaluation of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The scientific idea lies in the use of natural terpene compounds: norlabdane compounds and their derivatives, for the synthesis of functionalized chiral molecular hybrids with a combined, terpenic (norlabdanic), thiosemicarbazone and heterocyclic (1,3,4-oxadiazole) skeleton with a complex of useful properties. The 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives are considered heterocycles of particular interest due to their relevant pharmacological activities. It has also been established that thiosemicarbazones represent a privileged pharmacophore, frequently found in compounds with important pharmacological properties. The relevance of the project consists in the use of transformation products of the natural labdane diterpenoid (-)-sclareol to obtain molecular hybrids, which exhibit selective biological activity and reduced toxicity due to their natural origin. The overall objective of the project is to develop design and synthesize directed chiral molecular hybrids with a combined fragment: terpenic (norlabdane), thiosemicarbazone and heterocyclic (1,3,4-oxadiazole), obtained from the natural and accessible diterpenoide (-)-sclareol, which can be isolated from local and renewable raw materials. The proposed syntheses represent a novelty in the field, which would add "added value" to the project, whose focus lies in the domain of "natural compounds with biological activity" and "renewable raw materials," fitting perfectly within the scope of "environmentally friendly products (green chemistry)". The project is fundamental, with practical applications, and its strengths include a new synthetic route in the series of biocompatible molecular hybrids, characterization using physicochemical analysis methods, and testing biological activity. The innovative character of the project consists of the preparation, from local and renewable raw materials, of a series of molecular hybrids with relevant therapeutic potential.