Due to the rise of antibiotic resistance, there is a need for new antibiotics with different molecular structures and modes of action. The discovery of anthracimycin, a novel macrolide natural product, is a major advance in the field of antibiotics. It has potent antibacterial activity against many strains of drug-resistant bacteria, low toxicity to human cells, and a novel mechanism of action. Prof. Rongbiao Tong and his team have developed a 10-step asymmetric total synthesis of anthracimycin and anthracimycin B, which provides a supply of anthracimycins for further studies and allows for the preparation of a library of analogues. The synthetic anthracimyins have not only exhibited similar antibacterial potency as the naturally occurring anthracimycins against Gram-positive strains but also inhibited MRSA biofilm formation with 60 times lower minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) than vancomycin. Total Synthesis of Potent Antibiotic Anthracimycins (PI: Prof. Rongbiao TONG) ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY Characterizing Organosulfate Compounds in Atmospheric Aerosols (PI: Prof. Jianzhen YU) The Earth's atmosphere is a giant reactor where a wide range of chemical reactions occur. The atmosphere's role as a reactor is crucial in regulating the Earth's climate and impacting air quality. Organosulfates, which are organic compounds containing sulfate groups, play a significant role in the atmosphere's chemistry, especially in the formation of secondary organic aerosols that contribute to air pollution and climate change. The lack of authentic standards for organosulfates derived from terpenes had hindered the study of their atmospheric chemistry. Prof. Jianzhen Yu and her team have achieved the first concise chemical synthesis of these standards, thus enabling discovery of previously unrecognized transformation pathways in their formation and the quantification of their presence in four Chinese cities. Anthropogenic chemical factors were found to outcompete terpene emissions from nature in the formation of these organosulfates. This knowledge is crucial for developing effective strategies to mitigate the adverse impacts of air pollution and climate change. DRUG SYNTHESIS AND DEVELOPMENT 14
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