Emerging Technologies in Drug Synthesis

The chemical synthesis of medicines has evolved significantly in recent decades, reflecting the growing demand for more efficient, economical, and eco-friendly processes. The development of new technologies in areas such as photochemistry, photocatalysis, electrochemistry, continuous flow chemistry, and biocatalysis has revolutionized the way chemical compounds, especially drugs, are synthesized.

These innovative technologies offer numerous advantages over traditional methods of organic synthesis. Photocatalysis and electrochemistry, for example, allow generation of radicals in a way inaccessible to traditional organic chemistry, unlocking new reactivities. Continuous flow chemistry facilitates large-scale production with safety, while biocatalysis offers a greener approach, using enzymes or microorganisms to enable mild conditions, minimize the formation of undesirable products, and obtain high levels of regio and enantioselectivity.

Students enrolled in this advanced training course will be trained in these emerging areas of chemistry. In each module, students will receive a theoretical introduction to the field from an international expert and will also undergo practical learning with problem-solving sessions and hands-on contact with various techniques and equipment in the laboratories of FFUL. The students will also deepen their knowledge on established methodologies such as metal catalysis and organo asymmetric catalysis. By the end of this course, students will be able to plan synthetic routes for medicines and organic molecules using newer, more efficient, and eco-friendly technologies adapted to the needs of the modern pharmaceutical industry. The practical component of this course will provide students with the skills to implement these different techniques in a laboratory setting.

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Course Start and End Dates: from 21 September 2026 to 9 October 2026.

Language of Instruction: the course will be taught in English.

Number of ECTS Credits: 6

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Coordination:

• João Rafael Campos do Vale, Junior Researcher, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon;
• Rafael Filipe Teixeira Arbuez Gomes, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon;
• Filipa Alexandra Delgado Siopa, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon.

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Legislation:

Regulamento n.º 638/2016 – Regulamento dos Cursos Não Conferentes de Grau da Faculdade de Farmácia da ULisboa

Mode of Delivery: On-site teaching.

Course Start and End Dates:

• Theoretical, practical and laboratory teaching: 21/09/2026 to 25/09/2026;

• Independent study for final assessment preparation: 26/09/2026 to 08/10/2026;

• Final assessment: 09/10/2026.

Number of ECTS Credits: 6

The training hours are distributed as follows:

• Theoretical training hours: 16 hours and 30 minutes;
• Practical hours: 6 hours;
• Laboratory hours: 5 hours;
• Tutorial guidance hours: 6 hours.

Schedule: Monday to Friday, from 09:00 to 12:30 and from 13:30 to 17:00.

Course Location: Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon.

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Course Program:

• Introduction to chemical synthesis of drugs: current trends and challenges;

• Emerging technologies in the synthesis of chemical compounds:

  • Photochemistry and photocatalysis: radical generation and new reactivities;

  • Electrochemistry applied to organic synthesis;

  • Continuous flow chemistry for safe and large-scale production;

  • Biocatalysis: use of enzymes and microorganisms with high selectivity.

• Methodologies established in the pharmaceutical industry:

  • Metal catalysis;

  • Asymmetric organocatalysis.

• Planning of synthetic routes for drugs and organic molecules;

• Practical application of techniques in the laboratory:

  • Hands-on sessions with state-of-the-art equipment and techniques;

  • Problem-solving applied to chemical synthesis.

Teaching Methodology:

The face-to-face part of the course will last for 1 week, with each day dedicated to a different chemical technology. The morning will be dedicated to theoretical training, taught by international experts in the field, either in person or virtually. The afternoon will be divided in: in-person sessions for solving synthetic problems related to the emerging technology; laboratory sessions where students will have hands-on experience with the laboratory equipment associated with the technique; and project preparation sessions with the assistance of the course instructors. Except for the theoretical classes, the students will be assisted by the course coordinators in the practical and laboratory sessions, as well as in the preparation of the project.

Learning Outcomes and Skills to be Acquired by the Student:

 At the end of the course, students should demonstrate integrated knowledge of the different chemical technologies used in pharmaceutical synthesis, such as metal catalysis, photocatalysis, electrochemistry, continuous flow chemistry, biocatalysis, and asymmetric organocatalysis. Students will have acquired the necessary skills to design synthetic routes for organic molecules, taking advantage of the benefits of these technologies. They will also have gained practical laboratory experience that will enable them to apply the techniques presented in their own pharmaceutical chemistry research.

Assessment Methodology:

 The evaluation of students attending the course consists of a 10-minute in-person presentation of a research project that aims to present a retrosynthetic strategy for a drug/substance, using the technologies covered throughout the course. The presentation will be made in groups of 2, followed by an additional discussion with the lecturer of approximately 10 minutes, and will be assessed according to the following parameters:

1. Timely use of the chemical technologies introduced during the course. (60%)
2. Mastery of practical concepts in the development of synthetic processes, such as the need for protecting groups, the order of addition, and precautions with problematic reagents, etc. (20%)
3. Scientific quality of the presentation and the discussion. (20%)

The evaluation committee comprises the 3 coordinators of the course.

Application period:  From 01 February 2026 to 21 August 2026.

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Target Audience:PhD students within the framework of their respective doctoral programmes. Professionals, lecturers, and researchers wishing to deepen their knowledge in the field of organic chemistry and pharmaceutical chemistry.

Admission Requirements:  Admission is intended for candidates holding a Master’s or Doctoral degree in relevant areas.

Scientific Area(s) or Specialization:  Pharmaceutical and Therapeutic Chemistry, Biological Chemistry, and Advanced Analytical Methodologies.

Selection and seriation criteria:

Order of registration

15 spots are reserved for PhD students from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon.

• Minimum number of trainees for operation: 08
• Maximum number of trainees for operation: 50

Documents to be submitted with the application: Academic Degree Certificate, Proof of Enrolment, and Curriculum Vitae (CV).

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Application Fees and Tuition:

• Application fee: 10€ (Note: the application fee will not be refunded if the candidate is excluded or not selected).
• Course Tuition: €250
• School Insurance Fee: 2,10€

Note: PhD students from the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon (FFUL) who wish to attend the course are exempt from paying the application and registration fees..

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Application Process:

Applications for the course are made exclusively through the FenixEdu Platform of the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon (FFUL).

Access to the FenixEdu Platform:

• If you have never been a student at FFUL you must pre-register on the FenixEdu Platform.
• If you are a former student of FFULisboa and have already had an account campus@ulisboa or @edu.ulisboa.pt you should access the FenixEdu Platform and authenticate yourself with your account data. If you have lost access to your account, you can recover your password in the ULisboa users area.
• If you are a former student of FFULisboa and have never had an account campus@ulisboa or @edu.ulisboa.pt you must send an email to cncg@ff.ulisboa.pt indicating your full name and ID document number.

Access the FenixEdu Platform.

• On the tab “Candidate”, choose the type of application: “Advanced Training Courses”, select the desired course.
• Fill out the online form and attach all the required documents in digital format. In the application process you can indicate whether you want the invoice to be issued in the name of another entity/company/institution.
• Select the “Submit” option.

Applications will only be validated by the Academic Services once the applicant has paid the Application Fee.

For information regarding the application process and the course organization, please contact the Academic Services: doutoramentos@ff.ulisboa.pt