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Practical matters How to find us prof. dr. ir. A.J. (Adriaan J) Minnaard

Research interests

The group of Minnaard is active in organic chemistry, specifically in organic synthesis, focussing on the ability to chemically prepare complex molecules, based on in-house developed catalysis methodology. Parts of his work are carried out in close collaboration with other groups in chemistry (Codée, Bickelhaupt), biology (Gilleron, CNRS Toulouse, and Yamasaki, Osaka University), and medicine (Moody, Harvard Med School, Seshadri, U. Washington).

By working together with leading groups in tuberculosis research, the group makes fundamental discoveries in the immunology of this disease and unravels how tuberculosis bacteria survive in macrophages. The research spans the entire chain from fundamental science to novel diagnostics and antibiotics to combat TB. The fundamental research is funded by NWO, and the NIH. The more applied research is funded by the Gates Foundation and industry. With the planned launch of a novel diagnostic test for TB worldwide by Minnaard’s initiated UG spin-off company, its mission is on its way to being accomplished.

With the development of highly selective catalysis recently also in photoredox catalysis and electrosynthesis, Minnaard’s group has joined the new and rapidly growing community that studies the selective modification of complex molecules. Minnaard holds the world record in selective oxidation of hydroxyl groups (one out of 27 hydroxyl groups in the molecule) and has recently demonstrated the selective modification of currently used aminoglycoside antibiotics (in just 2 steps!) in such a way that bacterial resistance is circumvented. This novel synthesis methodology is also the basis for the total synthesis of extremely complex molecules, in particular complex glycolipids. By showing that these compounds can be chemically prepared, the field is pushed forward.

Four years ago, the Minnaard group was the first worldwide to show that photoredox catalysis can be applied successfully on unprotected carbohydrates (2018), and this year (2022) they renewed this claim for electrochemical oxidation of secondary alcohols in unprotected carbohydrates. These findings catch significant attention, and boosts the application of carbohydrates as renewable starting materials (in the context of ARC-CBBC). The group applies readily available carbohydrates as renewable starting materials for the pharma and coating industry.

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Publications

Aggregation pheromones have a non-linear effect on oviposition behavior in Drosophila melanogaster

A terpene nucleoside from M. tuberculosis induces lysosomal lipid storage in foamy macrophages

Divergent Total Synthesis of Fornicin A, Fornicin D, and Ganodercin D, Meroterpenoids from Ganoderma Mushrooms

Site-Selective Electrochemical Oxidation of Glycosides

Synthesis of Methylene Tetrahydrofurane-Fused Carbohydrates

π-Facial selectivity in the Diels-Alder reaction of glucosamine-based chiral furans and maleimides

CD4 and CD8 co-receptors modulate functional avidity of CD1b-restricted T cells

Characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Mycolic Acids by Multiple-Stage Linear Ion-Trap Mass Spectrometry

Late-Stage Modification of Aminoglycoside Antibiotics Overcomes Bacterial Resistance Mediated by APH(3') Kinases

Palladium-Catalyzed Oxidation of Glucose in Glycopeptides

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Press/media

Paddosynthese instabiel

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