Jens Christoffers

I was educated during my chemistry studies, my Ph.D. work and my postdoc as a synthetic chemist with a strong background in inorganic, organic, and organometallic chemistry. Starting my independent scientific career with my habilitation, I decided to become a synthetic organic chemist. My mission is the development of new synthetic methodologies with a focus on sustainability and stereoselectivity. The main tool is homogeneous transition metal catalysis. By application of abundant transition metals as catalysts like iron or cerium compounds I have been able to provide deep impacts to the development of C-C bond forming as well as oxidation reactions applying molecular oxygen from air. Apart from this I was able to discover two completely new chemical reactions and apply them to the synthesis of synthetic target compounds with complex structures. Moreover, I was able to introduce a new type of fluorescent dye and demonstrate its value in numerous applications in life sciences and materials science. Furthermore, based on my expertise in heterocyclic chemistry, I contributed to the development of new biologically active compounds which has already led to two new Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients.