Synthetic Organic Chemistry Award 2011 winner

Awarded for his highly original and innovative methods for stereoselective oxidation and reduction- tethered aminohydroxylation, oxidative cyclisation, partial reduction. In addition his work on metathesis is also of the highest standard.

About the Winner

Tim Donohoe studied for a first degree in chemistry at the University of Bath (1985-1989).  In 1989 he moved to Oxford to study for a D. Phil with Professor Steve Davies and then in 1992 went to the US for postdoctoral work with Professor Phil Magnus FRS. 

In October 1994 he took up his first independent job as Lecturer in Chemistry at the University of Manchester, being promoted to Reader in 2000.  In 2001 he moved to the Dyson Perrins Laboratory, Oxford as Lecturer in Chemistry and Fellow of Magdalen College.  In 2004 he was appointed Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oxford and in 2006 he was made Head of Organic Chemistry at Oxford. 

Tim's research interests lie in the field of asymmetric synthesis and the application of stereoselective oxidation and reduction reactions to natural product synthesis. He also has a burgeoning interest in the area of carbohydrates and the application of metathesis processes to the synthesis of aromatic heterocycles.

Tim has published over 140 papers and his research has been recognized with the GlaxoWellcome Award for Innovative Chemistry (1996), the Pfizer Academic Award (2000), the Novartis Young Investigator Award (2001), the AstraZeneca Award for Organic Chemistry (2002) and the Royal Society of Chemistry Corday-Morgan Medal (2006).