Toward the first enantioselective synthesis of cytisine

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Project objective

The applicant, Candice Botuha, joined my group as doctoral student in 1997 following her studies in Paris. During the first 3 semesters here in Geneva she enrolled in courses and fulfilled the requirements of the DES (diplôme d'études supérieure en chimie), a condition that was set for continuing in the Ph.D. program. Candice made enormous progress in this period, gained confidence and started to contribute intellectually to her research. She obtained good marks in her course exams and also in the evaluation of her public presentation of the research results achieved during this period. Her project, the synthesis of new chiral aminophenols and dibenzoazepines and their application as ligands and auxiliaries in organic synthesis encountered on several occasions serious obstacles. Candice is tenacious and she solved most of the problems by herself. This and the good laboratory skills make her a excellent candidate for a Marie Curie fellowship. A strong point, of this candidate is her enthusiasm for preparative chemistry. Admittedly it is also her weak point in that she had to discover more than once that the result of a reaction was not as great as she believed at first. Good training in scientific rigour made these events less and less frequent though and by now she is a skilled and capable scientist. Results from her research work are now coming in at a more rapid rate and her publication record will considerably improve before she finishes her doctorate (late spring 2002). The laboratory that she wishes to join has a different orientation than mine. I insist on this opening to other research fields. The laboratory of Prof. Gallagher enjoys an excellent reputation and Candice Botuha's further training in synthesis will be extremely beneficial to her. European chemical, agro- and pharmaceutical industry has problems finding enough good candidates in the field of synthesis and I am confident that Candice Botuha will have no problems finding a rewarding position after her postdoctoral year. I have no doubt that she will strongly contribute to the research efforts of the host group. Being of French nationality and having student status here in Switzerland she will not qualify for a grant from the Swiss national science foundation and in practice French programs are also virtually closed to nationals who have done their doctorate outside the country. In view of the above I strongly recommend Candice Botuha for a Marie Curie fellowship.

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Participants

• UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL · BRISTOL, CLIFTONCoordinatorUnited Kingdom

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