Phosphorus Chemistry

Nikolay E. Nifantiev

doi:10.1515/ci-2016-0640

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Phosphorus Chemistry

Nikolay E. Nifantiev

Published/Copyright: December 16, 2016

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From the journal Chemistry International Volume 38 Issue 6

Held for the first time in Russia, the 21st International Conference on Phosphorus Chemistry (ICPC-2016) took place 5-10 June 2016, in Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan. ICPCs are typically organized biannually in the world’s largest scientific centers. Since the first ICPC, which took place in 1964 in Germany, these conferences have played an important role in the development of phosphorus chemistry. ICPCs are often endorsed by IUPAC because of their outstanding scientific level and international importance.

The decision of the IUPAC Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry Division (Division III) to support ICPC-2016 was based on two principle arguments in favor of Tatarstan and its capital Kazan. First, this region is known world wide in the chemical community because of the many eminent researchers belonging to the renowned Kazan school of chemists. This school is one of the world leaders in the number of discovered named reactions and fundamental chemical approaches. The Kazan school was initiated in the 19th century by Professors Klaus and Zinin and was continued by the great Butlerov, followed by Markovnikov, Zaytsev, Vagner, and Reformatsky. The twentieth century gave brilliant phosphorous chemists—Academicians Alexander Arbuzov and his son Boris, Professors Pudovik, Abramov and later on Academicians Alexander Konovalov and Oleg Sinyashin (the Chair of ICPC-2016; Director of A.E. Arbuzov Institute of Organic and Physical Chemistry, Kazan Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences), and many other renowned researchers.

The second reason is the regional excellence of Tatarstan with regard to the level of its chemical and petrochemical industries. They are of priority for regional development and it is not surprising that the government, and personally The President Minikhanov, have provided support to make this conference successful and productive. Specifically, it should be mentioned that the chemical companies of Tatarstan meet the requirements of IUPAC’s “Responsible Care” initiative, aimed at promoting an understanding of chemists’ responsibility in using, handling, and producing chemicals. One of the leaders in this field is PJSC «Nizhnekamskneftekhim». Local companies intend to join as Company Associates of IUPAC for the exchange of information regarding current issues of relevance to Chemistry and Industry relationships.

The team of the A.E. Arbuzov Institute of Organic and Physical Chemistry managed the organization of ICPC-2016, which took place at the modern International Congress Centre “Korston”. This provided an excellent infrastructure for the opening ceremony, plenary, and thematic parallel scientific sections. The intensive scientific program included 12 plenary and 41 keynote lectures, 75 oral and 24 flash presentations, as well as 180 poster communications, which were enjoyed by about 350 participants from 26 countries all over the world.

Medal of the Arbuzovs Prize

In 1997, and by the Order of the President of the Republic of Taratstan, the International Arbuzovs Prize in Organophosphorus Chemistry was established in the memory of the renowned Russian chemists Alexander and Boris Arbuzovs. The Prize is awarded to researchers with outstanding achievements in the field of phosphorus chemistry. Over the last decade, 10 world-famous scientists from Russia, USA, Poland, France, Germany, Japan, UK, and Ukraine have been awarded the prize. At the Opening Ceremony of ICPC-2016 the President of the Republic of Tatarstan presented the Prize for the eleventh time: Professor Yufen Zhao from Xiamen University (China) was pronounced as the new Arbuzovs Prize laureate. She made a great contribution to fundamental phosphorus chemistry and her works helped to connect various scientific fields, including elemento-organic synthesis, molecular biology, and medicinal chemistry. During the award ceremony, Prof. Zhao said “I am very proud getting this Prize. It’s my first visit to Kazan. Kazan is a very beautiful city, but first of all I would like to express my admiration for the development of science in Tatarstan and especially the attention and kindness to scientific problems from the Tatarstan Government”. Prof. Zhao gave the Arbuzovs Prize lecture, “Phosphorous Chemistry and Evolution of Biological Molecules”, which opened the scientific program of ICPC. It covered all key research directions of phosphorus chemistry and focused on the progress in organophophorus chemistry, new phosphorus reagents in organic synthesis, phosphorus in coordination and inorganic chemistry, phosphorous in catalytic processes and life sciences, and industrial phosphorous chemistry including new age materials design.

Greetings of the Arbuzovs Prize laureates by the President of the Republic of Taratstan: (from left to right): Marian Mikolajczyk (laureate 2009), Masaaki Yoshifuji (2005), Rustam Minnikhanov (President of the Republic of Taratstan), Yufen Zhao (most recent laureate, 2015), Michael Blackburn (2011), and Francois Mathey (2001).

Professor Yufen Zhao (China), the Arbuzovs Prize laureate.

An important part of the scientific program was devoted to School-Conference “Rational Design of Phosphorus Substances with Desired Properties”. A number of IUPAC members, including Professors G.M. Blackburn (UK), M. Mikolajczyk (Poland), J.J. Weigand and E. Hey-Hawkins from Germany, K. Lammertsma (Holland), D. Gates (Canada), X. Chen and Z. He from China, I.P. Beletskaya, N.P. Tarasova (current IUPAC President), A.G. Gabibov, and N.E. Nifantiev (the latter four from Russia) reported on recent research results achieved in their laboratories.

In addition to the exciting scientific sessions and productive discussions, a very interesting social program was organized during ICPC-2016, which left unforgettable personal impressions of the ancient but also very modern Tatarstan, as well as its amicable citizens.

Online erschienen: 2016-12-16

Erschienen im Druck: 2016-12-1

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https://doi.org/10.1515/ci-2016-0640