On October 12th, 2016, Prof. Varinder Aggarwal from University
of Bristol, at the invitation of the State Key Laboratory of Elemento-organic
Chemistry (SKLEOC), paid a visit to the SKLEOC in the name of the chair
professor for “Nankai University Organic Chemistry Lectureship”. In addition to
giving a lecture, Prof. Aggarwal also had face-to-face academic discussions
with faculties and postgraduate students of the SKLEOC. During his talk, Prof.
Aggarwal mainly introduced the “assembly line synthesis” concept that was put
forward and developed by his research group.
Before the report, Prof. Qilin Zhou, on behalf of SKLEOC, conferred upon
Prof. Aggarwal the medal of “Nankai University Organic Chemistry Lectureship”.
In his report, Prof. Aggarwal first put forward the “assembly line synthesis”
strategy, and then expounded his research work in realizing such a strategy by
virtue of a carbon transfer reaction based on boron reagents. Through focusing
on the scientific issues of the high-efficient introduction of boron, carbon chain
extension, and transformation of the organo boron product into other functional
groups, Prof. Aggarwal gave an account of his research group’s assembly line
synthesis to several natural products. In terms of complex synthesis, Professor
Aggarwal brought forth new ideas and perspectives, which are original and
illuminating. After the report, faculties and students of SKLEOC had in-depth
discussion with Professor Aggarwal on details of the potential of assembly line
synthesis.
