Taking advantage of all expertises and facilities available, the specific aims are:

• Increase the number of new bioactive small molecules leading to new “hit" compounds;
  
  
• Synthesis of novel compounds based on xanthonic and flavonic scaffolds using different strategies:
  • Classical
  • Biomimetic
  • Parallel
  • Microwaves
  • Heterogeneous catalysis
  • Solid-phase synthesis
  
  
• Application and optimization of cleaner synthetic methodologies to reduce negative environmental impacts in the synthetic procedures.

Relevant publications:

Antitumor Activity of Some Prenylated Xanthones
Castanheiro RAP, Silva MAS, Campos NAN, Nascimento MSJ, Pinto MMM
Pharmaceuticals, 2(2), 33-43 (DOI:10.3390/ph2020033). 2009

Synthesis of Prenylated Xanthones: An Overview
Pinto MMM, Castanheiro RAP
Curr. Org. Chem., 13(12), 1215-1240 (DOI: 10.2174/138527209788921747). 2009

Bromoalkoxyxanthones as Promising Antitumor Agents: Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Effect on Human Tumor Cell Lines
Sousa E, Paiva A, Nazareth N, Gales L, Damas AM, Nascimento MSJ, Pinto M
European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 44, 3830–3835 (DOI:10.1016/j.ejmech.2009.04.011). 2009

Improved Methodologies for Synthesis of Prenylated Xanthones by Microwave Irradiation and Combination of Heterogeneous Catalysis (K10 clay) with Microwave Irradiation
Castanheiro RAP, Pinto MMM, Cravo SMM, Pinto DCGA, Silva AMS, Kijjoa A
Tetrahedron, 65, 3848-3857. 2009

Substituted pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines: Microwave Assisted, Solvent Free Synthesis and Biological Evaluation
Oliveira-Campos AMF, Sivasubramanian A, Rodrigues LM, Seijas JA, Vázquez-Tato MP, Peixoto F, Abreu CG, Cidade H, Oliveira AE, Pinto M
Helv. Chim Acta., 91, 1336-1345. 2008

Patent:

Xantonas sulfatadas e análogos xantónicos sulfatados com actividade anticoagulante e processos para a sua preparação
Pinto M, Sousa ME, Carvalho Guerra M, Marques F, Carvalho F
Portuguese Patente nº 104739 (pending)

Projects:

Molecular and nanotechnology-based approaches to improve the antitumor activity of small molecules
Project I&D em todos os Domínios Científicos - 2008 PTDC/SAU-FCF/100930/2008, 3 years, 2009

Synthesis of Flavonoids with Antitumoral Activity
Multidisciplinary Project, University of Porto, in collaboration with undergraduate students, 15 mounths, 2009

Optimização multidimensional de moléculas farmacologicamente activas: modificações moleculares, parâmetros físico-químicos, actividade biológica
Multidisciplinary Project, University of Porto, in collaboration with undergraduate students, 15 mounths, 2009

Two small molecules as potent inhibitors of human tumor cell lines: Synthesis, evaluation of physicochemical and biological properties and incorporation in nanosystems
Multidisciplinary Project, University of Porto, in collaboration with undergraduate students, 15 mounths, 2009

Small Molecules as Antitumor and Anti-infective Agents
Bilateral Cooperation between Research Center of Medicinal Chemistry of the University of Porto /Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Porto and Department of Chemistry of University of São Carlos, Brazil, GRICES/CAPES, 2 years, 2008

Synthesis, Structure Elucidation and Evaluation of Xanthone Amines for Dual Activity: Antitumor and P Glycoprotein Modulation
Multidisciplinary Project, University of Porto, in collaboration with undergraduate students and Institute of Pathology and Molecular Imunology of the University of Porto (IAPTIMUP), (2007-2008)

Search for natural and synthetic bioactive compounds: isolation and synthesis, structural characterization, evaluation of biological activity and elucidation of mechanism of action
Project in Medicinal Chemistry of Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia of Portugal, R&D 226/94, (2003-2008)