Express method for synthesising biologically active molecules developed by UNN researchers
Lobachevsky University сhemists have proposed an efficient method for producing cis-stilbenes, biologically active molecules that are widely used in pharmaceutics and fundamental research.The substance is synthesised in a flow microreactor under LED light or natural daylight. The photochemical approach accelerates the production of cis-stilbenes more than tenfold compared to conventional industrial methods.
“We obtain cis-stilbenes from trans-stilbenes, their more common isomers, by altering their geometry. In industrial processes, such transformations take hours and require precious metals like ruthenium or iridium as catalysts. The resulting product needs high-tech, resource-intensive purification. The presence of metals in the synthesis is particularly critical for pharmaceutical production. By using photochemical methods, where the substance continuously moves through a system of thin tubes and the transformation occurs under ordinary light, we make the reaction more accessible, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective,” explained Alexander Nyuchev, co-author of the study and head of the research laboratory for the chemistry of natural compounds and their synthetic analogues at the UNN Faculty of Chemistry.
The photochemical method allows the yield of the finished product to be increased to over 80 %, and the organic photocatalyst can be reused multiple times in new reaction cycles. Scientists obtained 26 types of cis-stilbenes, which are used in a wide variety of research fields: from modelling the behaviour of medicinal drugs to studying the mechanisms of photochemical reactions.
”Besides, cis-stilbenes serve as building blocks for modern pharmaceuticals, including in antitumour therapy. For instance, combretastatin A4 is known as a potent inhibitor of cell division, capable of suppressing tumour growth. Today, scientists are developing antitumour agents based on it. Our study demonstrates the effectiveness of modern photochemical technologies in addressing key challenges in organic and pharmaceutical synthesis,” commented the study’s co-author Yegor Boronin, a junior researcher at the research laboratory for the chemistry of natural compounds and their synthetic analogues.
“Our chemists’ new development result is a prime example of how fundamental research finds practical application in pharmaceuticals and green chemistry. We are constructing a full cycle from a scientific idea to implementation, and this work clearly showcases our technological potential. It is particularly significant that this research was carried out by young scientists, indicating continuity and instilling confidence in the future. We expect our young researchers to collaborate with industry partners on major projects that will strengthen Lobachevsky University’s position in global science,” said Oleg Trofimov, Rector of Lobachevsky University.
The study was performed by the youth research laboratory for the chemistry of natural compounds and their synthetic analogues at the UNN Faculty of Chemistry under the state assignment “Development of effective methods for obtaining biocompatible compounds with physiological activity, and study of their physicochemical and biological properties.” The project also involved scientists from the Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia), the Weizmann Institute (Israel), the University of Adelaide (Australia), and the University of Amsterdam (Netherlands). The results were published in the international scientific journal Organic Chemistry Frontiers in 2026.
