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Winner of the Golden Master Award 2021

Winner of the Golden Master Award 2021

Carlijn van Beek

Towards Introducing a High Level of Complexity by Combining Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation and Cyclisation, Universiteit Groningen

The Golden Master Award Jury has nominated the thesis of Carlijn van Beek, entitled “Towards Introducing a High Level of Complexity by Combining Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation and Cyclisation” as winner of the Golden Master Award 2021.

In her thesis, Carlijn describes in a very clear, critical and engaging way the research that was performed under supervision of Prof. Dr. Ben Feringa and Dr. Jeffrey Buter at the Stratingh Institute for Chemistry (Faculty of Science and Engineering) of the University of Groningen.

Carlijn discovered a novel synthetic method by cleverly employing asymmetric allylic alkylation and photocyclisation. Effectively, she combined catalysis and photochemistry, thus developing a short route towards complex compounds with multiple ring structures and asymmetric centers. This approach should proof beneficial for advances in pharmaceutical chemistry. Carlijn’s research was lauded as elegant, effective and original by her supervisor and the Golden Master Award jury wholeheartedly agrees.

Carlijn’s comprehensive thesis was an absolute joy to read. The introductory chapter is an elaborate, structured literature review on all the relevant aspects of her work, i.e. asymmetric allylic alkylation and photocycloaddition. It is well-written and the jury was able to taste the enthusiasm of Carlijn about the different subjects. Further in her thesis, she is able to reflect critically on her results, with appropriate substantiation. Carlijn displays the capacity to put the beautiful strategy of her work into words very well throughout the entire thesis. Finally, her thoughts on the future outlook of the project and related synthetic paths are impressive. The work will result a in publication in a high standard journal.

Ben Feringa, in his accompanying letter of the nomination, describes Carlijn as an exceptional talent with the perspective of becoming one of the leading young academics in the field of (organic) chemistry. This is indirectly affirmed by her acquired grants for the prestigious University of California, Berkeley and for the University of Bristol.

Considering all of the above, the jury was unanimous in nominating Carlijn’s thesis as a winner for the Golden Master Award 2021.

The other two prizes were awarded to:

Stef Jansen - Eindhoven University
Two-Component Supramolecular Systems based on Boron-Nitrogen Frustrated Lewis Pairs

Hannah Weijgertze - Utrecht University
Patchy Rough Colloids as Pickering Stabilizers