During her PhD studies, Kim S. Mühlfenzl worked on the development of new methods for the efficient incorporation of carbon isotopes into drug-like molecules. Isotopically labeled drug candidates and their metabolites are crucial in the approval process of a new drug. However, challenges arise when using carbon-14 for radiolabeling due to high costs and handling of radioactive material. Therefore, expanding the available toolbox of radiolabeling strategies is highly valuable.

The new research findings describe three methods for incorporating carbon isotopes into various structural motifs commonly found in bioactive compounds. By using catalysts based on either enzymes or transition metals, carbon isotopes were successfully incorporated into cyclopropanes, amides, and ketones.

The PhD study was completed at the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Faculty of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Thursday, 14 December 2023 at 13.15
Place: Building 1427, room 246, Auditorium M2, Conference Centre, Aarhus University, Frederik Nielsens Vej 4, 8000 Aarhus C.
Title of PhD thesis: Incorporating Carbon Isotopes into Drug Candidates: New Methods for Radiolabeling
Contact information: Kim S. Mühlfenzl, e-mail: ksm@inano.au.dk, tel.: +46 72 2023930

Members of the assessment committee:
Dr. and Head Isotope Chemistry at Sanofi, Senior Distinguished Scientist Volker Derdau, Sanofi, Germany

Professor Mikael Bols, Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Professor Alexander Zelikin, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Denmark (chair)

Main supervisor:
Professor Troels Skrydstrup, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Denmark

Co-supervisor:
Dr. Charles S. Elmore, Pharmaceutical Sciences, AstraZeneca Gothenburg, Sweden

Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Natural Sciences/GSNS,

Jens Baggesens Vej 53, building 5221, 8200 Aarhus N.