IIT Delhi Visible-light Unnatural Amino Acid Synthesis

Researchers at the IIT Delhi, led by Prof Ravi P. Singh of the Department of Chemistry, have developed a visible-light-driven chemical strategy for the precise synthesis of unnatural amino acids (UAAs) and peptides. The method uses visible light and a chiral copper catalyst-ligand system to control chirality, addressing a key challenge in producing single enantiomers. Demonstrated with 43 examples, the approach starts from natural amino acid building blocks and enables the introduction of new chemical groups. This could expand the repertoire of building blocks for designing next-generation medicines, protein engineering, and advanced biomaterials. Several approved drugs, including bortezomib, octreotide, and baclofen, already use modified amino acids, highlighting the potential impact.