Yesterday, Raquel participated in the race “6K Healthy smiles for MALAWI” (category: “3K Walkers”), and she got the gold medal! Congratulations!
Raquel at the top of the podium.
Last thursday, young researchers of Aragon presented their works in the Faculty of Science during the “7th Young Researchers Conference (Chemistry and Physics) of Aragon“. HOCA’s guys attended to this nice event and told the audience about their chemistry. While Isaac gave a talk, Juanvi and Fernando presented a poster each.
Morever, Fernando received the award for “The best poster to announce the 7th Young Researchers Conference (Chemistry and Physics) of Aragon”.
Well done!
Isaac giving his talk.
Fernando receiving his prize.
Fernando’s prize diploma.
Juanvi in front of his poster.
Raquel in front of her poster.
Fernando in front of his poster.
Last week Fernando, Isaac and Juanvi presented their work in the XIII SIMPOSIO DE INVESTIGADORES JÓVENES DE LA REAL SOCIEDAD ESPAÑOLA DE QUÍMICA.
Fernando in front of his poster.
Isaac in front of his poster.
Juanvi giving his oral communication.
Time of having a rest after a welldone work.
There was also time for more than Science (in a strict sense).
Fernando Auria Luna won the award for “The best poster to announce the 7th Young Researchers Conference (Chemistry and Physics) of Aragon“.
We are really proud of him! Congratullations!
Lidia, has finished her studies in Marketing and Market Research, after she successfully defended yesterday her BSc Thesis, entitled “Business Plan: the case of HOCA scientific group”.
Congratulations Lidia!
Thanks to Lidia and Carmen Berné, her supervisor.
Raquel, Lidia and Maru
Our Asymmetric Organocatalysis (H-OCA) research group has developed a new enantioselective process for carrying out the Henry reaction. This reaction produces β-nitro alcohols, a group of compounds of highest interest, as they are frequently found in the structure of certain biologically active compounds, such as (S)-Propanolol and (S)-Moprolol -both are drugs commonly used in the treatment of hypertension-.
The importance of this method lies chiefly in its catalyst: a new squaramide that has demonstrated a trifunctional activation of substrates. Thus, it is possible reducing the catalyst loading up to 0.25 mol%. This is a very low proportion as compared to currently used in organocatalytic reactions, which use up to 10-20 mol% of catalyst.
Recently, our enantioselective process has been the focus of attention of Synfacts, a top journal devoted to discuss current most significant results published in international high rank scientific journals that are selected by their singular interest to the scientific communities in different Chemistry fields. This reinforces the significance of the method developed by the H-OCA, which is expected to have a broad impact in current and future scientific developments.
Trifunctional Squaramide Catalyzed Enantioselective Henry Reaction. Alegre-Requena, V.; Marqués-López, E.; Herrera, R. P. Adv. Synth. Catal. 2016, 358, 1801–1809. Highlighted in List, B; Schreyer, L. Synfacts 2016, 12, 743.
Today, Juanvi and Isaac have successfully presented their research advances of second year of doctorate. Congratulations!
Later, we celebrated it eating nice Cuban food!
Isaac, Raquel, Juanvi, Maru and Fernando.
Isaac is wondering if he’ll be able…
A bit sad because it is the last day of Javi in the lab (but maybe he’ll come back soon!)…
Javi’s last TLC…
… and very happy because Isaac found a 70% ee in his reaction! Congratulations!
Raquel happy after checking the chromatogram!
Raquel attended the XXXIV GEQO Congress in Girona last week (7–9 September). Her scientific contribution was entitled “Gold(I) mediated thiourea organocatalyst activation: A synergic effect for asymmetric catalysis”.
Last Friday was one of the most important days in my life. I experienced mixed feelings, but the predominant one was HAPPINESS!
I want to thank all who have helped me make this happen.
With flowers from Seville (Ana and Ciara, thanks!).
Herrera-OrganoCatalisis Asimétrica Group 