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Report from IUPAC-Sponsored Symposium

22nd IUPAC International Symposium on the Chemistry of Natural Products (ISCNP-22), 4-8 September 2000, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil

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Symposium website

Research on the chemistry of natural products has a long tradition. The topic can be regarded as the basis of modern organic and biomolecular chemistry. It is not surprising that IUPAC, at an early stage of its activities, initiated the present series of biennial symposia, which now has been going on for nearly half a century. Organic natural products have been a major source of inspiration not only for present activities in organic chemistry, but also for activities in related fields of life sciences. Today we experience exciting development of molecular understanding of functions of natural organic compounds in life processes, and we can enjoy and be fascinated by the enormous diversity that nature offers.

The development of methods for synthesis, separation techniques, and structural studies, has provided tools for studies of natural products. These studies offer a deeper understanding of the chemistry of life processes and of complex biological and ecological interactions in nature.

The recent ISCNP-22 symposium in Brazil clearly demonstrated the importance of interdisciplinary research efforts in the field. It gave an overview and provided excellent opportunities for exchange of information and for starting collaborative research efforts. Scientific quality of the presentations was high, and the scientific program provided an outlook on several research frontiers from synthesis and biosynthesis to mode of action. During the 5 symposium days, 8 plenary lectures, 19 invited lectures, and 33 short lectures were presented. Each morning there were poster sessions; more than 300 posters were presented in all. Particularly impressive were the contributions from the many young, mainly Brazilian, scientists. Enthusiasm and interest for research and development in the field, demonstrated by the Brazilian scientists, were significant and strongly indicate future successful activities of high international quality. Prof. Dr. Otto R. Gottlieb, who was chairman of the symposium organizing committee, can be very proud, because he is the mentor for many of the natural product chemists of Brazil.

The initiative of having this symposium in a developing country and, in particular, in a biodiversity-rich country such as Brazil, was very much appreciated. The symposium will not only have an impact for the future development of this field of research in Brazil, but will also provide a platform for activities in other biodiversity-rich countries. The organizers–and, in particular, Prof. Dr. M. Fátima das G. F. da Silva, who was the Secretary General–are to be congratulated for a successful symposium.

Prof. Torbjörn Norin
President, IUPAC Organic and Biomolecular
Chemistry Division III
Royal Institute of Technology
Stockholm, Sweden

> Published in Chem. Int. 23(3), 2001


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