What novel chemical compounds have UC Davis chemists developed, and what makes them distinctive?

UC Davis chemists led by Jared T. Shaw and Dean J. Tantillo have developed a new method to synthesize rare five-membered cyclic sulfonimidamides—heterocyclic compounds that are both aromatic and chiral. These compounds are distinctive because cyclic sulfonimidamides possess properties unlike standard heterocycles, and such five-membered aromatic, chiral variants were previously difficult to access due to the scarcity of synthetic routes.

Why are cyclic sulfonimidamides considered particularly intriguing for drug discovery?

Cyclic sulfonimidamides are considered particularly intriguing for drug discovery because sulfonimidamides—as a class—have gained popularity over the past decade as chemists explore novel molecular motifs for drug candidates; their unique structure features a central sulfur atom with a double bond to oxygen, a double bond to nitrogen, a single bond to another nitrogen, and a single bond to carbon, and the cyclic variants exhibit distinct properties compared to standard heterocycles—potentially enabling new pharmacological profiles.

Reaction Rounds Up Atoms into Unusual Cyclic Compounds

Jul 27, 2026

Chemists at UC Davis developed a new method to synthesize rare aromatic and chiral five-membered cyclic sulfonimidamides, enhancing drug candidate design options. The study was published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

cen

2026-05-20

This molecule lives on the brink of self-destruction

2026-07-27

Reaction Rounds Up Atoms into Unusual Cyclic Compounds

Reaction Rounds Up Atoms into Unusual Cyclic Compounds

FAQ