The award ceremony for winners of the Latvian Academy of Sciences competition - The Best Achievements in Latvian Science in 2023 was held on February 23, 2024.

The prize was given for research in applied science: ''Innovative reagent that significantly expands the possibilities for chemists to incorporate fluorine atoms''.
Authors: LAS corresponding member Janis Veliks, Ph.D. Nagarajan Ram Kumar, Dr.chem. Larisa Baumane, Dr.chem. Dzintars Zacs. #Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis.

Video recording of the award ceremony:

https://youtu.be/ksglFEJvWNE?si=2Chjfdz9KmsjlY_l

Since 1999 – when the award was given for the first time to young researchers – it is its aim to send a sign of recognition and career encouragement to the new generation of organic chemists.

https://www.thieme.de/en/thieme-chemistry/thieme-chemistry-journals-award-107359.htm

Research as a creatively intuitive process. The calendar “Research Latvia 2024” – stories about 12 passionate personalities, outstanding in their field and endowed with unlimited creativity. Scientists help find solutions to global challenges and everyday problems through their research.

http://youtu.be/jKLoX-2vv2c?si=gFMd8dBRatCpjtkz

Congratulations to Ph.D. Renate Melngaile for receiving The Emīlija Gudriniece Prize of Latvian Academy of Sciences on her Doctoral Thesis "Development of Fluoromethylene Transfer Reagents".

https://www.lza.lv/aktualitates/jaunumi/1782-lza-senats-apstiprina-vardbalvu-un-jauno-zinatnieku-balvu-laureatus

Researchers led by Dr.sc.nat. Janis Veliks have developed a new, stable, and non-aggressive reagent. In the presence of a catalyst and under the influence of blue LED light, this reagent generates fluoromethyl radicals – active particles containing fluorine that readily attach to organic molecules. This innovative reagent significantly expands the possibilities for chemists to incorporate fluorine atoms, paving the way for the construction of potential new drugs and the development of novel technologies for obtaining well-known substances.

https://www.lza.lv/en/activities/news/1778-winners-of-the-annual-science-achievements-competition-2023-announced

https://replay.lsm.lv/lv/ieraksts/ltv/317101/izstrada-jaunu-reagentu-fluoru-saturosu-molekulu-iegusanai

Renate has successfully defended her PhD thesis! During doctoral studies she has been working on development of fluoromethylene transfer reagents and methodologies to access novel monofluorinated molecules. Congratulations and warmest regards from Veliks group!

Congratulations to Renate for her paper in OL!

Read our latest work in OL: Synthetic Access to Fluorocyclopropylidenes

Efficient reagent and methodology reported to access rare monofluorinated building-blocks - fluorocyclopropylidenes.

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.orglett.3c00579

Arturs has received Young Researchers Award 2023 of Latvian Academy of Sciences!

Congratulations to Arturs for receiving Young Researchers Award 2023 of Latvian Academy of Sciences on his work on Iron Catalyzed Fluoromethylene Transfer.

http://www.lza.lv/aktualitates/jaunumi/1448-lza-jauno-zinatnieku-balvu-laureati-2023-arturs-sperga

Check out his ineterview on Latvian 1st Channel:

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/dzive--stils/tehnologijas-un-zinatne/14.03.2023-jaunais-zinatnieks-latvija-izstrada-jaunu-metodi-fluora-savienojumu-ieguvei.a500698/

https://www.osi.lv/pasniegtas-lza-balvas-jaunajiem-zinatniekiem-tostarp-tris-osi-kimikiem/

Presenting infrastructure available at our group to Latvian prime minister Mr. K. Kariņš.

Read our latest work in ACIE: Merging Copper(I) Photoredox Catalysis and Iodine(III) Chemistry for the Oxy-monofluoromethylation of Alkenes

[Bis(monofluoroacetoxy)iodo]benzene- a new reagent for radical monofluoromethylation under visible-light copper(I) photoredox catalysis.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.202219027?af=R

We are glad to announce that Organic Synthesis Laboratory at LIOS starts working from 1st of October

Arturs Sperga has participated in 12th Paul Walden Symposium on organic chemistry on 28-29th of October.
He won the award for the best poste for master degree students. Congratulations!