Bernhard Witulski, an eminent German researcher, has been selected by the French State to conduct, on French soil, a project on the development of new hypervalent iodine derived reagents.And he has chosen the Laboratory for Molecular and Thio-organic Chemistry (LCMT – CNRS, ENSICAEN, UCBN laboratory) in Caen to carry out his research.

In December 2008, Bernhard Witulski was selected for one of the ANR’s most prestigious chairs of excellence, for his project to develop new hypervalent iodine derived reagents. The aim is to develop applications, such as new methods of synthesis for natural products or the development of organic matter for optoelectronics: for example, organic light emitting diodes (OLED), organic field-effect transistors (OFET), photovoltaic cells, etc. “Over the past years, iodine derived reagents have generated increasing interest. Indeed, they offer remarkable potential for the development of totally new synthetic transformations,” explains Bernhard Witulski. “We will be studying increasingly rapid, economic, eco-friendly and efficient synthesis processes, via catalytic reaction.”
This German researcher has chosen to work with the LCMT thanks to its spirited and young team, and for its experience in heterochemistry(1). “The advantage of a chair, is that you can choose the university you want to work with,” he explains. “Furthermore, Caen is ideally located. It is near to both Great Britain and Paris, and not too far from Germany.”

Foreign partnerships

A fitting location for international collaboration. One of the programme’s priorities. The team, which will comprise a total staff of 6, including 3 post-doctoral students, should also welcome foreign students. “Later, I would also like to develop partnerships with Japanese researchers, currently at the cutting edge of research on organic materials.” A conclusion he made after having benefited, in Japan, from a research grant awarded by the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).
“On this research topic, we absolutely need to turn towards Asia.” Bernhard Witulski has been awarded funding amounting to 600,000 € to successfully conduct his project over two years. Indeed, this chair of excellence programme aims at welcoming the best foreign researchers by offering them attractive resources to help them to rapidly implement their research project. “It’s a comfortable sum that should also benefit the LCMT via the purchase of new equipment.” (1) Chemistry of heteroatoms. They are neither carbon, nor hydrogen, nor oxygen, nor nitrogen. The heteroatoms used by the LCTM are essentially sulphur, phosphorus, boron and fluorine.

Bernhard Witulski
Laboratory for Molecular and Thio-organic Chemistry (LCMT – CNRS, ENSICAEN, UCBN laboratory)
Tél. : 02 31 45 28 85
Site : LCMT

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