Technological innovation, internationalization, and support for young talent – some of the cornerstones of the Phoenix world – come together in a new project involving UNamur, a prestigious university located in Namur, Belgium. Over the next four years, Phoenix Capital will support a doctoral project within the Organic Chemistry Unit (UCO) of the university’s Chemistry Department.
Phoenix’s agreement with UNamur involves a four-year commitment and the funding the thesis research project in the field of synthetic organic chemistry by PhD student Lionel-Marie Van Geesbergen, supervised by Professor Steve Lanners. The work, which began just a month and a half ago, is already showing promising results with significant potential for practical applications.
In addition to pragmatically promoting scientific research and the development of innovative technologies, this initiative is part of a broader program led by Phoenix aimed at offering concrete support to young people, starting with numerous collaborations with Italian and international universities, and promoting excellence in training and education.
Giovanna Saraconi, CEO of Phoenix Group stated: “We are proud to support the four-year PhD program in Chemistry at the University of Namur. Investing in research is a long-term strategic choice for Phoenix Capital and is in line with our Ethical Manifesto in terms of supporting young talent. We are increasingly convinced of this, especially today given the international context in which we operate. It is in universities that ideas are born that can improve people’s lives, make supply chains more competitive, and accelerate the transition to sustainable production models. At the heart of this vision are young talents who cultivate a passion for science: researchers who, with curiosity and rigor, transform today’s questions into tomorrow’s solutions. Building bridges between universities and businesses means giving them tools, time, and trust. This is how we intend to contribute to a stronger, more inclusive, and more responsible innovation ecosystem.”
The Project
The study focuses on so-called cycloaddition reactions, processes that are fundamental for rapidly building complex molecules. However, these reactions are often inefficient because the molecules involved encounter each other too rarely to react. To overcome this limitation, the researchers use a strategy called “tethering,” which involves temporarily linking the molecules together, forcing them to stay close and thus react more easily.
By applying this approach to specific nitrogen-containing compounds, oxopyridines, the team has succeeded in obtaining complex molecular structures in a more selective and efficient manner. Among the products that can be obtained are tropanes, a family of natural alkaloids of great pharmacological interest, used, for example, in medicines such as Buscopan.
The project does not stop here: a second phase involves the application of the Beckmann rearrangement, a reaction that allows for the introduction of an additional nitrogen atom into the molecules. This step paves the way for the synthesis of even more complex compounds, such as phlegmadines—natural substances never before obtained in the laboratory but considered promising for potential applications, including in the field of oncology.
Beyond the scientific aspects, the overall goal of the research is to make chemical synthesis more sustainable. By reducing the number of steps required to produce a molecule, we can decrease energy consumption, solvent use, and waste generation, with a positive impact on both costs and the environment.
Following this initial success, the work will continue to explore the potential and limitations of this method in greater depth, with the aim of contributing to the development of new molecules useful in the pharmaceutical and industrial sectors.
