Profile of the supervisor
Prof. dr. ir. Adriaan J. Minnaard is full professor, and head of the department of Chemical Biology of the Stratingh Institute for Chemistry. He has always been fascinated by the question “how molecules react” and together with his group he works on the synthesis and structure elucidation of complex molecules and the development of novel synthesis and catalysis methods, including photocatalysis and electrosynthesis. Together with two colleagues, he received the Ammodo Science Award 2024.
Expertise
Natural product synthesis, lipid and terpene (bio)synthesis, carbohydrate chemistry, photocatalysis, electrosynthesis.
Profile of the research group
The group consists of 6 PhD students and 4 postdocs and is part of the Chemical Biology group of the Stratingh Institute. Two research lines characterize the work ongoing in the group: The syntheses of cellular components of pathogenic bacteria and archaea. We developed the chemical synthesis of most of the known cell wall lipids of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. With the availability of these lipids, for researchers in tuberculosis immunology, this field is tremendously supported. Minnaard recognized fundamental evolutionary relationships at the molecular level between the cell membrane of tuberculosis bacteria, (pathogenic) Enterobacteriaceae, and that of the evolutionary distinct archaea. The selective modification of unprotected carbohydrates. We realized that catalysis has reached a level that allows the selective modification of (oligo)saccharides found in nature. This dramatically shortens the preparation of carbohydrates that are used in chemical biology. Moving away from protecting groups brings the field closer to the biosynthesis and evolution of carbohydrates as well. Chemistry tools for complex molecules synthesis. The group develops highly selective catalysis methods including metal-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions, photocatalysis, and electrosynthesis. The methods excel in full control over the spatial arrangement of the atoms in molecules.
