Our research group operates in three main areas: synthesis and applications of peptides and peptidomimetics, organic synthesis of bioactive organic compounds, and development of new catalytic strategies.

Peptides and peptidomimetics (principal researchers: prof. Francesco De Riccardis and prof. Irene Izzo): 

our mission is design and synthesis of new peptides especially peptidomimetics. This field is a crucial area of medicinal chemistry that aims to preserve natural peptides' high selectivity and affinity for biological targets while overcoming their inherent drawbacks, such as poor metabolic stability, low bioavailability, and quick proteolytic degradation. More recently, our attention is also devoted to the synthesis of new azamacrocycles, which is a dynamic field for diagnostic and metal coordination applications.

​

Catalysis (principal researcher: prof. Giorgio Della Sala):

our goal is the development of novel methodologies in organic synthesis, mainly based on organocatalysis and phase-transfer catalysis, featuring high environmental and energy sustainability, as well as operational simplicity. Recently our interests are getting extend to include photocatalysis. Our activity is also devoted to the application of such metodology to the synthesis of biologically active natural products and their analogues.