PhD Position in Organic Synthesis/Glycochemistry – SILYSUGAR | Université de Poitiers

Research Group: Glycochemistry Group – Organic Synthesis

Project: SILYSUGAR – Harnessing the Ambiphilicity of Silyl Nitronates to Boost Aglycon Structural Diversity in Glycomimetics

Research Areas: Organic Chemistry | Glycochemistry | Glycomimetics | Organic Synthesis | Medicinal Chemistry | Chemistry-Biology Interface

The IC2MP at Université de Poitiers, in collaboration with the CNRS, is offering a PhD position in Organic Synthesis/Glycochemistry as part of the SILYSUGAR (ANR) project.

The project focuses on developing new synthetic strategies for C1-functionalized iminosugar glycomimetics by exploiting the ambiphilicity of silyl nitronates. The research aims to expand the structural diversity of glycomimetics and investigate their potential biological properties.

The successful candidate will work on the development of innovative synthetic approaches for C1-functionalized iminosugars and their biological evaluation.

The research will involve:

• Development of multi-step organic synthesis strategies.
• Synthesis of nitromethyl iminosugars.
• Functionalization of iminosugar scaffolds.
• Exploitation of the ambiphilicity of silyl nitronates.
• Structural and conformational analysis of synthesized molecules.
• Evaluation of glycosidase inhibition in collaboration with project partners.
• Investigation of structure–activity relationships at the chemistry-biology interface.

The project combines synthetic organic chemistry, glycochemistry, conformational analysis, and biological evaluation.

What You’ll Work On

The PhD researcher will develop and optimize multi-step synthetic routes toward novel iminosugar glycomimetics.

Key activities will include:

• Reaction design and optimization.
• Multi-step synthesis.
• Synthesis and modification of carbohydrate-derived molecules.
• Handling and optimization of synthetic intermediates.

The candidate will be responsible for purification and characterization of synthesized compounds using techniques such as:

• HPLC purification.
• Mass spectrometry (MS).
• Infrared spectroscopy (IR).
• Other standard organic chemistry characterization techniques.

The project will investigate the conformational properties of synthesized glycomimetics to understand how molecular structure influences their biological properties.

Selected compounds will be evaluated for their ability to interact with and inhibit glycosidase enzymes, in collaboration with research partners.

The research will connect synthetic chemistry with biological evaluation to investigate the potential of newly developed iminosugar glycomimetics.

Applicants should have a strong academic background in organic chemistry and practical laboratory experience.

Candidates should possess:

• A solid background in organic chemistry.
• Experience with multi-step organic synthesis.
• Practical experience obtained during an M1/M2 internship or equivalent research project.
• Experience with purification of organic compounds.
• Experience with silica-gel chromatography and/or HPLC.
• Experience with characterization techniques such as NMR, MS, and IR.
• Strong motivation for research in synthetic chemistry.
• Interest in the chemistry-biology interface.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative research team.
• Organic synthesis.
• Multi-step synthesis.
• Purification of organic compounds.
• Spectroscopic characterization.
• Mass spectrometry.
• Experience in glycochemistry.
• Knowledge of iminosugars or glycomimetics.
• Experience with conformational analysis.
• Interest or experience i