Network for Heterocyclic Chemistry among Countries of the Mediterranean Sea Area, Including Europe and North Africa

The Strategic Planning for a new Network for Heterocyclic Chemistry among Countries of the Mediterranean Sea Area, including Europe and North Africa is an umbrella project that seeks to establish a network in the Mediterranean Area. The program is designed to create world-class research hubs in selected fields within the countries of the region while fostering the next generation of leading researchers by establishing sustainable collaborative relations among research/education institutions in countries such as Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Albania, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia, Russia, Cyprus, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco. Under this program, core institutions will collaborate in cutting-edge fields of research and on research topics deemed to be of high international importance. The core institutions in the various countries will conduct exchanges based on a principle of equal partnership in the form of joint research, scientific meetings, and researcher exchanges. It is anticipated that the hubs formed by the core institutions will continue to carry out research activities after the funded project has ended. The scope of the project on heterocyclic chemistry includes, but is not limited to, the core areas of heterocyclic chemistry, organic synthesis methodology, and total synthesis of natural products. Research in green chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, pharmacochemistry, structural and materials sciences, and environmental chemistry, as well as the applications of these fields to ultimately benefit the society and economy of the Mediterranean Sea Area, are also encouraged.

Within that framework, the most recent Trans Mediterranean Colloquium on Heterocyclic Chemistry, Tramech VIII, was held in Antalya, Turkey, 11-15 November 2015, and turned out to be particularly successful from a scientific point of view, as well as asocial and friendly gathering. The local organization proved to be very efficient, creating a friendly atmosphere. There were more than 220 participants coming from several countries, including Turkey, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Greece, Slovenia, Italy, Germany, Belgium, France, Portugal, Spain, Poland, Australia, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Iran, India, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom. With support from IUPAC, it was possible to facilitate the participation of 10 young people from different countries, giving them the opportunity to present the results of their research and the chance to strengthen already existing collaborations and start new ones. The program included 14 invited speakers, 26 oral communications, and 161 posters. The level of all the scientific presentations was very high, and discussions that followed were interesting and stimulating. The subjects of the lectures ranged from Innovative synthetic methodologies, metal-free synthesis of heterocycles, synthesis of complex heterocycles, heterocycles as organocatalysts in asymmetric synthesis, organosulfur synthons for the synthesis of heterocycles, synthesis and reactions of chromones and quinolones, and structural and conformational studies in the chemistry of strained heterocycles and synthesis of beta-aminoacids to carbon nanotubes as platforms for material chemistry and drug delivery (see the program at the webpage of the meeting: www.tramech8.org)

At the closing of TRAMECH VIII, the chair of the scientific committee announced that TRAMECH IX will be organized at Fez (Morocco) in November 2017 by the Laboratory of Organic Chemistry of the Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz using the infrastructure of the University and the City of Fez. The involvement of very distinguished speakers will be pursued and the participation of young, motivated people will be facilitated. IUPAC will provide financial support within the project 2015-027-1-300. As in the Rabat and Antalya meetings, the interactions among participants are expected to promote scientific collaborations and give young people the chance for research experience in well-established laboratories, either as PhD students or as visiting researchers.

For further information, contact the Task Group Chair Saverio Florio <florio@farmchim.uniba.it>

www.iupac.org/project/2015-027-1-300