Josep Esteve, a PhD student who is under Prof. Marcos Garcia Suero supervision has successfully defended his PhD thesis entitled “Enantioselective Carbyne Transfer via Chiral Rh-Carbynoids” publicly on Friday, November 21.
The members of the evaluation committee were Prof. Miquel Costas Salgueiro (Universitat de Girona), Prof. Rubén Martín Romo (ICIQ) and Prof. Berit OIofsson (Stockholm University, Sweden)
Josep Esteve is from Parets del Vallès, near Barcelona. He studied chemistry at UAB and completed his MSc in Chemistry in Uppsala, Sweden, before joining ICIQ. In his free time, he enjoys playing the saxophone, especially ska-jazz music.
What is your thesis about?
In my thesis I describe the development of two new reactions involving Rh-carbynoids, as a part of a carbyne transfer platform methodology program. In one of them we do an enantioselective single-carbon insertion into alkenes (the first enantioselective skeletal-editing modification of this kind!), and in the other one, we generate for the first time alkyl–I(III) Rh-carbynoids and explore its reactivity. With these methodologies we seek to help medicinal chemists to tackle complex drug molecules faster, and this is why there is a complete mechanistic study in both projects.
What triggered your interest for the subject of your thesis?
I always liked reactive carbon species as intermediates in chemical reactions, and the beauty on controlling them to make precise changes in molecules. For this reason, carbynes have a great potential. I liked the fact that not a lot of research was conducted about them, and that we could change this with my thesis.
What applications can your thesis have in the future?
I hope it can be used one day in the pharmaceutical industry, to access complex biologically active molecules that hopefully can treat a disease. And who knows, maybe it will be used in a ton-scale factory one day to make a new drug!
The thing that I like most about my thesis is….
The mechanistic discussion of the reactions. All the experiments devoted to elucidate how the reaction is taking place, in each individual step.
From the lessons learnt (or skills developed) at ICIQ, which one do you value the most?
The value you put in your work. Here in ICIQ I realized how you need to defend your results, give them the importance they deserve, and use them to step forward your research.
What advice do you have for someone who’s starting their PhD now?
Try all the experiments you are curious about, the PhD is not just about doing the work you need to get done, but also about exploring new things and be excited about science.
Who/What has been your biggest influence/motivation?
I think my main motivation comes from the colleagues that started with me the PhD. Seeing them pushing forward their projects and getting interesting results makes you want to be at the same level.
What is your favourite molecule?
Rh2(S-NTTL)4. Its crystal structure is a beautiful bowl shape, and it has been very useful in my projects.
If you were a piece of lab equipment, what would you be?
The SFC (supercritical fluid chromatography). It has been the instrument in the lab I spent more time with, and is extremely helpful for separating different enantiomers of a molecule.
Tell us something about you that people might not know…
I know how to play diabolo and ride a unicycle.
La entrada Moltes felicitats, Dr. Esteve! se publicó primero en ICIQ.