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Vaccaro
A presentation of the expertise of Luigi Vaccaro
1.a Scientific Leadership Potential
Luigi Vaccaro graduated in Chemistry at the University of Naples – Federico II on 1996 and the same year
attended a Master program at University of East Anglia (UK) under the supervision of Prof. A. McKillop. In
1997, Vaccaro was enrolled in the PhD program at the University of Perugia where after being awarded the
PhD under the supervision of Prof. F. Fringuelli in December 1999, he remained as research fellow. During
this period, Vaccaro carried out his own research focused on catalytic methods for the stereoselective ring
opening of epoxides. In this first part of his career he published ca 20 papers and in 2001 was awarded the
First Europa Medal for Europe’s Best Younger Chemist assigned by Society of Chemical Industry,
London. Afterward, he gained scientific independency and published his first paper as Corresponding Author
in 2003 on the green synthesis of norstatines in water (J. Org. Chem. 2003, 68, 7041). Vaccaro was
appointed permanent researcher in Perugia by the end of 2005 and in 2006 he built up ex novo his own
research unit still in Perugia thanks to a regional program for “younger oustanding researchers” funded by
the local bank Foundation (Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Perugia) and renewed his laboratories
establishing the GreenSoc laboratory (http://www.dcbb.unipg.it/greensoc).
Vaccaro started to collaborate successfully with Merck Sharp & Dohme (Pomezia) receiving for the year
2006 and 2007 two different grants within the Academic Development Program (ADP) working on
innovative applications of the use of safer reaction media. In 2008, he published his first paper on a flow
procedure operating under solvent-free conditions (SolFC) for the addition of nitroalkanes to enones using
commercially available solid bases (Adv. Synth. Catal. 2008, 352, 1218, highlighted in SYNFACTS 2008,
886). This procedure allowed a 99.7% reduction of the E-factor (Kg of waste/Kg of pure product) from 250
(literature) to 0.85 (Vaccaro conditions). These results represent the first application of current Vaccaro’s
approach on the use of SolFC for improving the efficiency of immobilized catalysts and to solve the
problems related to the swelling of the polymers that hampers their application in continuous-flow reactors
(Chem. Commun. 2004, 2756; Eur. J. Org. 2006, 1231; J. Org. Chem. 2006, 72, 9536, highlighted in
SYNFACTS 2007, 227; Eur. J. Org. 2008, 3928, highlighted in SYNFACTS 2008, 1233).
This work have been essential to shape current Vaccaro’s team approach to chemistry. While developing
novel synthetic methodologies and catalysts using safer reaction media such as water, SolFC or bio-based
solvents, Vaccaro’s team intends to take fundamental research as much close as possible to process
chemistry. In 2011 Vaccaro’ research has been boosted-up and in the last 4 years (2010-2014) he has already
published ca. 50 scientific contributions. Vaccaro’ team has recently disclosed 6 new continuous-flow
procedures using SolFC or water as reaction medium. Some examples: a) E-factor minimized three-step
synthesis of β-hydroxy esters under SolFC (Green Chem. 2010, 12, 1301, HOT PAPER) featuring a 98.7%
E-factor reduction from 127 (average of literature results) to 1.7 (average on our flow); b) Supported
Phosphazene catalyzed phenolysis of epoxides under SolFC featuring a 99.5% E-factor reduction
(literature ca. 240, our flow 0.74) and an innovative two-step synthesis of oxathiepinones featuring a very
low E-factor of 1.4 (Adv. Synth. Catal. 2010, 2489); c) ring-opening of epoxides by thiols under SolFC
featuring a 97 % E-factor reduction from 15.3 (average of literature results under SolFC) to 0.46 (average
on our flow) (Green Chem. 2011, 13, 3181). As representative current research on catalysis in water
Vaccaro’s team has reported the definition of a novel enantioselective Sulfa-Michael addition to α,βunsaturated carbonyls (Org. Lett. 2011, 12, 2150, highlighted in SYNFACTS 2011, 811). These results
prove that it is really needed an innovative strategy based on the synthesis of specific catalytic systems
appropriately designed for being used in safer media.
Vaccaro’s expertise has been recognized by i) 37 invitations as a speaker to National and International
conferences/meetings and in research academic institutions (see 1c.3), 4 more are scheduled for 2014; ii) 105
scientific publications (research, review and book). He has received several invitation to write review
articles and chapters in books.
He is currently acting as ; Editor of the Wiley-VCH book: Sustainable Flow Chemistry - Methods and
Applications, for which the publication is planned within 2015. Contributors from all the continents and from
both Academia (60%) and Industry (40%) have agreed to present the most relevant aspects of modern flow
approaches in chemical production highlighting the benefits for innovative methodologies and sustainability.
Most recently, as a recognition of his expertise in the development of Green Chemistry and modern methods
in organic synthesis (flow chemistry in combination with safer media dn heterogenous catlytic systems) he
has been involved in several actions such as: "Ad Hoc Working Group on Tools and Approaches to Support
Decision-Making on the Substitution of Harmful Chemicals” a joining action of the Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)
that holds the presidency; board of the Green Chemistry Interdivision of the Società Chimica Italiana (SCI);
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Scientific Board of the journal "GREEN" a publication of (INCA) http://www.incaweb.org/green/; member
of the Belgian FWO-Expertpanel W&T4: Chemistry, 2014-2016.
In addition, Luigi Vaccaro has contributed to the book on the use of water in organic synthesis published in
2007 and edited by U. M. Lindström; he has been awarded with international (Europa Medal (2001) from
Society of Chemical Industry, Award for Excellency in the field of innovative research in Green Chemistry –
Fourth School on Green Chemistry, Venice (2001), twice the Merck’s Chemistry Council Award (2006
and 2007) for creativity in organic chemistry), national prize, Ciamician Medal from the Società Chimica
Italiana, Vigevani Foundation Professorship, and with several independent research funding.
1.b Curriculum Vitae
1.b.1 Education, key qualifications and professional experience
-In 2013, Luigi Vaccaro has gained the habilitation of Full Professor of Organic Chemistry.
- In 2010, Luigi Vaccaro has been nominated as Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry at Università di
Perugia (Italy).
- 2006 –present: Research leader of the Laboratory of Green Synthetic Organic Chemistry (Gren SOC).
member of the consortium " Innovative Methodologies in Organic Synthesis”, Università di Perugia.
- December 2005-present: Researcher at the Chemistry Department of the Università di Perugia (Italy).
- 1999-2005: Research fellow at the Chemistry Department of the Università di Perugia (Italy).
- 1999/2000: Visiting scientist at University of Groningen (NL) Prof. J.B.F.N. Engberts research group.
- 1999: PhD (20/12/1999), Prof. Francesco Fringueli, Università di Perugia.
- 1996: Master in Organic Chemistry at University of East Anglia (UK), Prof. A. McKillop.
- 1990-1995: Lauream cum laude in Chemistry, Università di Napoli – Federico II.
1.b.2.Teaching Experience
2004/2005 and 2005/2006: Chemistry of Heterocycles (Master Degree in Chemistry), Università di Perugia.
2005- Lecturer of Organic Chemistry (Bachelor in Environmental Sciences), Università di Perugia (Foligno).
2008-2010: Lecturer of Fermentation Processes (Bachelor in Biotechnology ) Università di Perugia.
since 2008: Lecturer of Green Chemistry (Master Degree in Chemical Sciences), Università di Perugia.
since 2012: Guest Professor (Bijzonder Gastdocent) and lecturer of Sustainable Chemistry at the University
of KU Leuven Belgium.
- 2013 Master in “GREEN CHEMISTRY: Chemicals and new materials from renewable sources” - Sassari
- since 2013 Lecturer of Ecofreindly processes for the Degree in Biotechnology at the Università di Perugia.
1.b.3 Languages
Italian (native), English (fluent), French (scholastic)
1.b.4 Scientific responsibilities and leadership
Since the end of 2005, Luigi Vaccaro has been appointed permanent researcher and in 2010 has been
nominated Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry at University of Perugia and according to the current
institutional economic plan he will be enrolled in this role next January 2012. He is research leader and
director of Laboratory of Green SOC. Since 2006, he has successfully supervised three Bachelor thesis, three
Master thesis, four PhD students and four PostDoc fellows. He is now leading an international research unit
composed by three Master and one PhD students (Italians), three PostDoc fellows (2 Italians, 1 Iranian) and
two research associates. All post-doctoral co-workers are participating in the supervision of the master and
doctoral students. His current research activities are financed by the local bank foundation (Cassa di
Risparmio di Perugia) and the Italian Ministry of Education (MIUR) He also serves as referee for national
funding agencies (MIUR and University of Milano) and for international scientific journals such as Green
Chem., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., Chem. Commun., Org. Biomol. Chem., Eur. J. Org. Chem., Synthesis,
ChemSusChem, Tetrahedron, Tetrahedron Lett., Adv. Synth.Catal.
1.b.5 Participation of management of research projects
Ongoing Projects
- Coordinator of Perugia Unit: 2010-2012 (Italian Ministry MIUR, PRIN 2008), Ecofriendly organic
syntheses mediated by new catalytic systems, allocated budget: 35 k€.
- Coordinator of Perugia unit: Italian Excellence Program FIRB –Futuro in Ricerca 2009 (three years) ,
researcher under 38, Innovative sustainable synthetic methodologies for C-H activation processes, allocated
budget: 210 K€.
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- 2011 Promoter of “Nuovi sistemi catalitici per la realizzazione di processi a flusso continuo” Perugia bank
foundation, budget allocated: 30k€ (PostDoc fellowship).
-2012 Promoter of " Employment of the automated cyclic continuous-flow reactor technology for the clean
large-scale fabrication of organic solar cells", Israel-Italy Joint Innovation Program for Scientific and
Technological Cooperation in R&D, budget allocated 40k€.
Ended Projects:
- Coordinator of Perugia Unit: 2008-2010 (Italian Ministry MIUR, PRIN 2006), Ecofriendly organic
syntheses mediated by new catalytic systems, allocated budget: 45 k€.
- 2010, 2009, and 2008 Promoter of “Nuovi sistemi catalitici per la realizzazione di processi a flusso
continuo” Perugia bank foundation, budget allocated: 30k€ x two years (PostDoc fellowship).
- 2005-2008, Co-investigator of the Center of Excellence CEMIN,Perugia, financially supported by Italian
Ministry MIUR, allocated budget to the Green SOC group: 160k€
- 2007: Academic Development Program by Merck’s Chemistry Council: Searching for alternative reaction
protocols, allocated budget: 40 k$.
- 2006: Academic Development Program by Merck’s Chemistry Council: Water as a green reaction medium,
allocated budget: 40 K$.
- 2006 Promoter of “A green Lab for Perugia”, allocated budget: 70 K€ (Green SOC establishment).
1.b.6 Current scientific activities
Vaccaro’s current research activities are focused on the definition of innovative synthetic methodologies
featuring the minimal environmental impact. These activities are aimed at ambitious targeted organic
synthesis avoiding the use of organic solvents. While organic chemistry has been mostly developed in
organic solvents consequently defining adequate reagents and conditions, adoption of safer alternatives is
necessary but is not always straightforward. Vaccaro’ research is based on the belief that the best results can
be obtained only if alternative reaction media are not considered as simple substitutes of the classic organic
solvent. They should play a role in determining the chemical course of a reaction. Therefore current activities
in Vaccaro’ s group are focused on the study of how the chemical behavior of the organic substances are
influenced by a safer reaction medium (water or SolFC) and how this can be exploited to develop new
organic transformations.
In the use of water Vaccaro’s projects are mainly focused on the crucial role of the pH in influencing the
dissociation, solubility, and therefore reactivity of organic and inorganic reactants in water. As an example,
Vaccaro has shown that by regulating the pH it is possible to influence the formation and the corresponding
catalytic efficiency of chiral metal complexes in order to promote highly enantioselective or regioselective
transformations (see Vaccaro et al. Org. Lett. 2011, 13, 2150 and reference cited therein). Currently, Vaccaro
is attracted by the use of water also as a medium for organic transformation mediated by polymer-supported
organocatalysts. At this concern, Vaccaro has proven that water can be used as a dispersion medium
(molecular pump) to improve the reaction of fully insoluble substrates avoiding organic fouling caused by
the sticking of the reaction mixture within the polymeric matrix. In all the cases, attention is paid to the
recovery and reuse of water that otherwise becomes a very expensive waste.
The best solvent choice is NO SOLVENT. SolFC offers the unique advantage of drastically reduce the use of
organic solvents while creating unusual reaction conditions. Vaccaro’s research in this field is focused on the
definition of specific recoverable catalytic systems for being used under SolFC in order to discover new and
efficient organic transformations. Lately, Vaccaro has successfully approached the setting of continuousflow procedures to highlight the effective potential of SolFC to minimize waste.
1.b.7 Academic and Industrial Collaborations
In order to take advantage of newly created polymeric supports, waste-minimized synthetic tools, and
continuous-flow reactors, a strong interdisciplinary collaborative network is necessary. Therefore, especially
in the last two years of his research experience, Vaccaro’s team has established several extensive
collaborations with international academic research groups: Prof. Tobin J. Marks, Northwestern University,
(IL, USA) organic semiconductors devices; Prof. Raimondo Maggi, University of Parma (IT), silicasupported catalysts; Prof. Dmitri Gelman, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (IL), organometallic catalysts
in flow; Dr. Maria L. Santarelli, University of Roma La Sapienza (IT), polymer characterization; Prof.
Natalie Stingelin-Stutzmann, Imperial College London (UK), polymer blending; Prof. Paul Smith, ETHZurich (CH), polymer technology; and from Industries: Dr. Antonio Facchetti, Polyera (IL, USA); Prof. D.
Bonifazi Universitè de Namur (BE), Optoelectronic materials.
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1.c. Early Achievement-Track-Record
1.c.1 Publications
The overall published work includes 92 scientific publications (research, review and book). As a main
contributor in the use of water as reaction medium and the synthesis of various target molecules Luigi
Vaccaro, has been invited to write several review articles and one chapter in the book “Green Solvents”,
Springer 2011. 2 of his contributions have been selected as Hot Paper in Green Chemistry 2010 and 2013.
In 2013 has published a cover image of the Green Chemistry September issue.
He has served as corresponding Author for 42 articles of his entire scientific production and for 16 in the
years 2011-2013.
H-index: 31, Contemporary H-index (Hc-index): 20. with 2169 total citations (17/11/2013) and ca 150 norm.
citations for an academic age of 14.2 years.
In addition, Vaccaro’s team has contributed to one of the most important book on the use of water in organic
synthesis published in 2007 and edited by U. M. Lindström and to the prestigious compendium Science of
Synthesis 2009, 47b, 561-736. He has also been invited as speaker to the National School for PhD students
(A Corbella” to present the recent literature in the field of Green Chemistry, contributing also to the
corresponding book ISBN 9788886208581. Below have been reported a selection of the most recent (number
in bold is for the publications without PhD supervisor, * is for corresponding author).
(1) C. Pavia, F. Giacalone, L. A. Bivona, A. M. P. Salvo, C. Petrucci, G. Strappaveccia, L. Vaccaro, C.
Aprile, M. Gruttadauria. Evidences of release and catch mechanism in the Heck reactioncatalyzed by
palladium immobilized on highlycross-linked-supported imidazolium salts. J. Mol Catal. A: Chem.
2014, 387, 57–62.
(2) - E. Ballerini, F. Pizzo, L. Vaccaro*. Waste minimized synthesis of γ-nitroketones. Proven Green
Syntheses, Volume 1, CRC Press. 2014, pp. 109-119.
(3) - E. Ismalaj, F. Pizzo, L. Vaccaro*. Environmentally-friendly synthesis of norstatines in water. Proven
Green Syntheses, Volume 1, CRC Press. 2014, pp. 191-202.
(4) O. Cohen, O. Grossman, L. Vaccaro, D. Gelman. Synthesis of chiral nonracemic PC(sp3)P pincer
ligands. J. Organom. Chem. 2014, 750, 13-16.
(5) M. Alonzi, M. P. Bracciale, A. Broggi, D. Lanari, A. Marrocchi, M. L. Santarelli, L. Vaccaro*.
Synthesis and characterization of novel polystyrene-supported TBD catalysts and their use in the
Michael addition for the synthesis of Warfarin and its analogues. J. Catal. 2014, 309, 260–267.
(6) T. Angelini, S. Bonollo, E. Ballerini, D. Lanari, R. Maggi, G. Sartori, L. Vaccaro*. Multistep flow
procedure for the waste-minimized preparation of N-Boc-β-amino ketones. J. Flow Chem. 2014, 4,
40-43.
(7) - M. Angeloni, O. Piermatti, F. Pizzo, L. Vaccaro*. Synthesis of new supported L-proline on zirconium
phosphonates as effective catalysts for direct asymmetric aldol addition. Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2014,
1716-1726. highlighted in SYNFACTS 2014, 650.
(8) - G. Strappaveccia, D. Lanari, D. Gelman, F. Pizzo, O. Rosati, M. Curini, L. Vaccaro*. Efficient
synthesis of cyanohydrin trimethylsilyl ethers via 1,2-chemoselective cyanosilylation of carbonyls.
Green Chem. 2013, 199–204.
(9) - E. Bartollini, M. Seri, S. Tortorella, A. Facchetti, T. J. Marks, A. Marrocchi, L. Vaccaro*. Sustainable
synthetic approach to p-conjugated arylacetylenic semiconductors for bulk heterojunction solar cells.
RSC Adv., 2013, 3, 9288–9295.
(10) - T. Angelini, S. Bonollo, D. Lanari, F. Pizzo, L. Vaccaro. E-Factor minimized hydrophosphonylation
of aldehydes catalyzed by polystyryl-BEMP under solvent-free conditions. Org. Biomol. Chem., 2013,
11, 5042–5046.
(11) - C. Pavia, E. Ballerini, L. A. Bivona, F. Giacalone, C. Aprile, L. Vaccaro*, M. Gruttadauria. Palladium
Supported on Cross-Linked Imidazolium Network on Silica as Highly Sustainable Catalysts for the
Suzuki Reaction under Flow Conditions. Adv. Synth. Catal., 2013, 355, 2007 – 2018.
(12) - S. Musa, S. Fronton, L. Vaccaro, D. Gelman. Bifunctional Ruthenium(II) PCP Pincer Complexes and
Their Catalytic Activity in Acceptorless Dehydrogenative Reactions. Organometallics 2013, 32,
3069−3073.
(13) - E. Ballerini, P. Crotti, I. Frau, D. Lanari, F. Pizzo, L. Vaccaro*. A waste-minimized protocol for the
preparation of 1,2-azido alcohols and 1,2-amino alcohols. Green Chem. 2013, 15, 2394-2400. HOT
PAPER, cover journal accepted for publication.
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(14) - M. Alonzi, D. Lanari, A. Marrocchi, L. Vaccaro*. Synthesis of polymeric semiconductors by surfaceinitiated approach. RSC Advances. invited review article, 2013, 3, 23909- 23923.
(15) - C. G. Piscopo, G. Sartori, J. A. Mayoral, D. Lanari, L. Vaccaro, R. Maggi. Study on the influence of a
sustainable medium for the design of multistep processes: three-component synthesis of 2-nitroamines.
Synlett 2013, 24, 2596-2600.
(16) A. Facchetti,* L. Vaccaro, A. Marrocchi. Semiconducting polymers prepared by direct arylation
polycondensation. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2012, 51, 3520-3523.
(17) A. Marrocchi, D. Lanari, A. Facchetti, L. Vaccaro*. Poly(3-hexylthiophene): synthetic methodologies
and properties in bulk heterojunction solar cells. Energy Env. Sci. 2012, 5, 8457-8474.
(18) T. Angelini, S. Bonollo, D. Lanari, F. Pizzo, L. Vaccaro*. A Protocol for Accessing the β‑Azidation of
α,β-Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids. Org. Lett. 2012, 14, 4610-4613.
(19) S. Gabrielli, A. Palmieri, D. Panmand, D. Lanari, L. Vaccaro, R. Ballini. β-Nitroacrylates as Key
Starting Materials for the One-Pot Synthesis of Densely Functionalized Penta-Substituted Anilines.
Tetrahedron, 2012, 68, 8231-8235.
(20) D. Lanari, O. Piermatti, F. Pizzo, L. Vaccaro*. Green Solvents I: Properties and Applications in
Chemistry, A. Mohammad and Inamuddin (eds.), Springer, 2012. .
(21) D. Lanari, O. Piermatti, F. Pizzo, L. Vaccaro*. Cu(OTf)2/SDS-catalyzed preparation of 1,2-diphenyl2,3-dihydro-4-pyridones in acidic aqueous medium. Synthesis 2012, 2181 2184.
(22) S. Bonollo, D. Lanari, L. Vaccaro*. (R,R)-6,6-Bis(1-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylpropyl)-2,2-bipyridine,
Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis, Wiley 2012.
(23) T. Angelini, D. Lanari, R. Maggi, F. Pizzo, G. Sartori, L. Vaccaro*. Preparation and use of polystyrylDABCOF2 : an efficient recoverable and reusable catalyst for β-azidation of α,β-unsaturated ketones in
water. Adv. Synth. Catal. 2012, 354, 908–916. highlighted in SYNFACTS 2012, 689.
(24) S. Bonollo, D. Lanari*, L. Vaccaro*. [2]Catenanes on surfaces as candidates for nanoelectronic
devices. Curr. Org. Synth. 2012, 9, 188-198. Invited, special issue on "Functional -electron
systems. Organic synthesis for efficient plastic electronics.
(25) A. Marrocchi,* I. Tomasi, and L. Vaccaro*. Organic small-molecules for photonic and electronics from
the [2.2]paracyclophane scaffold. Isr. J. Chem. 2012, 52, 41–52. (0.794). Invited, special issue on
"Cyclophanes”.
(26) L. Vaccaro. New synthetic tools for the definition of sustainable continuous flow reactors. La chimica e
l’Industria 2012, 64-68.
(27) S. Bonollo, D. Lanari*, T. Angelini, F. Pizzo, A. Marrocchi, and L. Vaccaro*. Rasta resin as support
for TBD in base-catalyzed organic processes. J. Catal. 2012, 285, 216-222.
(28) S. Bonollo, D. Lanari, J. M. Longo, and L. Vaccaro*. E-factor minimized protocols for the polystyrylBEMP catalyzed conjugate additions of various nucleophiles to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds.
Green Chem. 2012, 14, 164-1695.
(29) S. Bonollo, D. Lanari, F. Pizzo, and L. Vaccaro*. Sc(III)-catalyzed enantioselective addition of thiols
to α,β-unsaturated ketones in neutral water. Org.Lett. 2011, 13, 2150–2152. highlighted in
SYNFACTS 2011, 811.
(30) L. Vaccaro. Processi in flusso continuo per lo sviluppo di una chimica organica sostenibile. La chimica
e l’Industria 2011, 121-127.
(31) S. Bonollo, D. Lanari, and L. Vaccaro*. Ring-opening of epoxides in water. Eur. J. Org. 2011, 2587–
2598. Invited account on personal scientific achievements.
(32) D. Lanari, F. Montanari, F. Marmottini, O. Piermatti*, M. Orrù, and L. Vaccaro. New zirconium
hydrogen phosphate alkyl and/or aryl phosphonates with high surface area as heterogeneous Brønsted
acid catalysts for aza-Diels–Alder reaction in aqueous medium. J. Catal. 2011, 277 80–87.
(33) S. Bonollo, D. Lanari, A. Marrocchi and L. Vaccaro*. Stereoselective ring-opening reactions of
epoxides in water. Curr. Org. Synth. 2011, 8, 319-329. Invited, special issue on “Water-mediated
Organic Reactions”.
(34) A. Palmieri,* S. Gabrielli, D. Lanari, and L. Vaccaro. A new one-pot synthesis of polysubstituted
indoles from pyrroles and β-nitroacrylates. Adv. Synth. Catal. 2011, 353, 1425–1428.
(35) P. Wolfer, M. L. Santarelli, L. Vaccaro, L. Yu, T. D. Anthopoulos, P. Smith, N. Stingelin,* A.
Marrocchi*. Influence of molecular architecture and processing on properties of semiconducting
arylacetylene: Insulating poly(vinylidene fluoride) blends. Org. Electron. 2011, 12, 1886–1892.
(36) D. Lanari*, R. Ballini, A. Palmieri, F. Pizzo, and L. Vaccaro*. Diastereoselective three-step route to o(6-nitrocyclohex-3-en-1-yl)phenol and tetrahydro-6h-benzo[c]chromen-6-ol derivatives from
salicylaldehydes. Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2011, 2874–2884.
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(37) D. Lanari*, R. Ballini, S. Bonollo, A. Palmieri, F. Pizzo and L. Vaccaro*. JandaJel as a polymeric
support to improve the catalytic efficiency of immobilized-1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD)
under solvent-free conditions. Green Chem. 2011, 13, 3181-3186.
(38) S. Calogero, D. Lanari, M. Orrù, O. Piermatti*, F. Pizzo, and L. Vaccaro. Supported L-proline on
zirconium phosphates methyl and/or phenyl phosphonates as heterogeneous organocatalysts for direct
asymmetric aldol addition. J. Catal. 2011, 277 112–119.
(39) R. Maggi*, D. Lanari, C. Oro, G. Sartori, and L. Vaccaro*. Heterogeneous bisoxazoline/copper
complex: a green catalyst for the enantioselective reaction of nitromethane with substituted
benzaldehydes. Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2011, 5551–5554.
(40) A. Zvagulis, S. Bonollo, D. Lanari, F. Pizzo, and L. Vaccaro*. 2-tert-Butylimino-2-diethylamino-1,3dimethylperhydro-1,3,2-diazaphosphorine supported on polystyrene (PS-BEMP) as an efficient
recoverable and reusable catalyst for the phenolysis of epoxides under solvent-free conditions. Adv.
Synth. Catal. 2010, 352, 2489–2496.
(41) F. Fringuelli, D. Lanari, F. Pizzo and L. Vaccaro*. An E-factor minimized protocol for the preparation
of methyl β-hydroxy esters. Green Chem., 2010, 12, 1301–1305. HOT PAPER.
(42) F. Fringuelli, O. Piermatti, F. Pizzo, and L. Vaccaro. Diels-Alder reactions, Science of Synthesis 2009
47b, 561-736. Invited.
(43) F. Fringuelli, D. Lanari, F. Pizzo, and L. Vaccaro*. Amberlite IRA900F as a solid fluoride source for a
variety of organic transformations under solvent-free conditions. Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2008, 3928–3932
(3.206). highlighted in SYNFACTS 2008, 1233.
(44) R. Ballini, L. Barboni, L. Castrica, F. Fringuelli, D. Lanari, F. Pizzo*, and L. Vaccaro*. PolystyrylBEMP as an efficient recyclable catalyst for the nucleophilic addition of nitroalkanes to α,β-unsaturated
carbonyl compounds under solvent-free conditions. Adv. Synth. Catal. 2008, 350, 1218 – 1224.
highlighted in SYNFACTS 2008, 886.
(45) G. Bellachioma, L. Castrica, F. Fringuelli, F. Pizzo*, and L. Vaccaro*. Catalyst- and solvent-free
conditions as an environmentally benign approach to 4-aryl-3-cyano-hexahydro-4H-1,2-benzoxazine-2oxides. Green Chem., 2008, 10, 335–340.
Research Highlights:
1. Proposed the relationship between the pH of the aqueous reaction medium and the efficiency of a Lewis
acid as catalyst (J. Org. Chem. 2001, 66, 4719-4722).
2. Developed the first enantioselective addition of thiols to α,β-unsaturated ketones in neutral water.
Org.Lett. 2011, 13, 2150–2152 (5.250). highlighted in SYNFACTS 2011, 811.
3. Reported the first waste-minimized flow protocol for the nucleophilic addition of nitroalkanes to α,βunsaturated carbonyl compounds under solvent-free conditions. Adv. Synth. Catal. 2008, 350, 1218 –
1224 (5.250). highlighted in SYNFACTS 2008, 886.
4. Reported the flow preparation of methyl β-hydroxy esters based on Mukayiama aldol reaction and
reduced the waste by 98.7%. Green Chem., 2010, 12, 1301–1305. HOT PAPER.
5. Developed new flow and waste-minimized methodologies for the β-azidation of α,β-unsaturated ketones
in water and Solvent-free conditions. Adv. Synth. Catal. 2012, 354, 908–916 highlighted in SYNFACTS
2012, 689 and J. Org. Chem. 2006, 72, 9536, highlighted in SYNFACTS 2007, 227.
6. Developed the first protocol for accessing the direct β-azidation of unsaturated carboxylic acids using a
bifunctional heterogeneous catalysts and reducing the waste by 99.4%. Org. Lett. in press.
1.c.2 Invited presentations to National and International Conferences/Meetings
Since 2006, Luigi Vaccaro has presented 28 invited lectures at National and International
conferences/meetings and in Research and Academic Institutions. Selected invited lectures are:
- Plenary Lecture, 4th Walden Symposium (September 15-16, 2005 Riga, Latvia). Catalysis in
Unconventional Media. Towards a Green Synthesis of Target Molecules.
- Plenary Lecture, National Meeting of the Organic Division of the Italian Chemical Society, Rende (CS),
10-14 Settembre 2007. Reazioni organiche in mezzi di reazione non-convenzionali: sintesi eco-sostenibile di
molecole target.
- Plenary Lecture, First IRBM Workshop on Medicinal & Organic Chemistry, September 26, 2008 Merck
Sharp & Dohme, Rome, Italy). Synthetic organic chemistry with shades of green.
- Plenary Lecture, XXXIV Edition of the National School “A. Corbella” for PhD students, September 2226, 2009, Gargnano(BS), Critical Survey covering the year 2008 with a focus on recent contributions in
Green Chemistry.
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Vaccaro
- Oral Communication, 2nd EUCHEMs Organic Division Young Investigator's Workshop, Regensburg
(DE), August 27th–29th 2010. Alternative Reaction Media for Developing an Efficient Green Organic
Synthesis.
- Plenary Lecture, X Laboratory on Synthetic Methodologies in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, February 13-17,
2011. Water in Organic Synthesis: A medium Towards Green Chemistry.
- Oral Communication, Sustainable Chemistry, Safe Chemistry, Pavia, Italy – June 22-24 2011.
Continuous-Flow processes for a sustainable organic chemistry.
- Invited Lecture, New synthetic tools for the definition of sustainable continuous-flow reactors, October 24
2011, Namur FUNDP.
- Invited Lecture, Towards the definition of a sustainable organic synthesis, October 26 2011, Katholieke
Universiteit Leuven.
1.c.3 Awards, Honours and Distinctions
2001: “First Europa Medal for Europe’s Best Younger Chemist” awarded by the Society of Chemical
Industry - London (SCI) within a high-level scientific conference for investigators with age below 35.
2001 Poster Award for Excellence in the field of innovative research in Green Chemistry – Fourth School
on Green Chemistry, Venezia September, 10-15.
2006 and 2007 Academic Development Program (ADP) Award, assigned twice by the Merck’s Chemistry
Council for “creative work in organic chemistry”.
2007 “G. Ciamician” Medal awarded by the Italian Chemical Society (prize given to young emerging
researchers with age below 35 for outstanding contributions to the field of Organic Chemistry).
2010 FIRB - Futuro in ricerca (prot. n. RBFR08TTWW) awarded financial support titled “Innovative
sustainable synthetic methodologies for C-H activation processes” within a program of Excellence for
young investigators with age below 38 (105 winners over 4000 applicant from all academic areas).
2010 Nominated by the Italian Chemical Society for the EUCHEM Organic Division Young Investigator's
Workshop in Regensburg, D, 27-29th/08/2010.
2013 Elected in the board of the Green Chemistry Interdivision of the Società Chimica Italiana (SCI).
2013 Elected in the Scientific Board of the journal "GREEN" a publication of the Consorzio
Interuniversitario Nazionale "La Chimica per l'Ambiente" (INCA) http://www.incaweb.org/green/.
2013 Acting secretary of the Working Party on Green and Sustainable Chemistry of the EuCheMS.
2013 Appointed as member of FWO-Expertpanel W&T4: Chemistry, 2014-2016.
2014 Awarded the Vigevani Visiting Professorship for teaching at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
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