Laboratory of Catalysis & Fine Chemistry
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Laboratory of Catalysis & Fine Chemistry Coordinator
Maria Miguéns Pereira
Full Professor
The Catalysis & Fine Chemistry Laboratory (C&FC) belongs to the Medicinal Chemistry research group of the Coimbra Chemistry Centre (CQC) and is located at the Department of Chemistry of Coimbra University.
The C&FC Lab was founded in 2000 by Prof. Mariette Pereira, with the purpose of creating an innovative research and pedagogical area in the field of homogeneous catalysis applied to the implementation of sustainable synthetic processes of new chemical entities with relevance in medicinal, materials and environmental chemistry.
The overall goals of the C&FC Lab are focused on the development of catalytic reactions for synthesis of value-added products and environmental remediation, preparation of new hi-tech materials, and compounds for potential use in medicine.
This laboratory is composed of six permanent members: the lab coordinator, Mariette M. Pereira (Full Professor), one assistant professor, four auxiliary researchers and six PhD students, besides several MSc and BSc students.
Coordinator
Mariette M. Pereira
This laboratory develops processes for drug synthesis, namely photosensitizers and potential antibiotics to inactivate viruses and bacteria by photodynamic therapy. It also synthesizes radiopharmaceuticals and new chemical entities for medical imaging with continuous flow techniques. Its interests in medicinal chemistry synthesis with industrial sustainable processes are focused on the preparation of catalysts for transforming CO and CO2 into molecules with potential biological activity and for the photodegradation of antibiotics in the environment. It was here that the first photosensitizer licensed for clinical trials in Portugal was discovered - redaporfin - developed by the spin-off Luzitin SA.