We develop new synthetic methods which are highly selective and efficient as well as ecologically and economically benign. Thus, we have introduced the concept of domino reactions and used it in the synthesis of natural products as alkaloids, steroids, terpenes, antibiotics, cytotoxic compounds, spinosyns and carbohydrates. In addition, also materials especially molecular switches are prepared using this approach. Domino reactions allow the formation of complex structures starting from simple substrates in a straight forward way. Moreover, we have developed a highly selective procedure for the allylation of aldehydes and ketones to give enantiopure homo-allylic ethers.
In our work in the field of a selective cancer therapy we develop new glycosidic prodrugs which can be used in the prodrug monotherapy (PMT) and antibody directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT). In the latter approach a conjugate of a tumour-selective monoclonal antibody and an enzyme which liberates a highly cytotoxic compound from a non-toxic prodrug is used. In addition, also photocleavable prodrugs and antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) are developed.