The Synthetic Organic Chemistry & Catalysis (SOCC) group led by Thomas Hansen and Eelco Ruijter, part of AIMMS, has been selected as one of the top three teams in Merck’s 6th global Compound Challenge and is now competing for first place!
This 48-hour competition challenges participants to devise a creative and efficient synthetic route for a complex organic molecule, revealed only at the start of the challenge. A dedicated team of PhD students, MSc students, and staff from the SOCC group – initiated by PhD student Aleksandar Mandić – joined forces both in the O|2 building and online to take on this molecular puzzle. Their proposed synthetic strategy showcased the group’s signature expertise in asymmetric synthesis, cycloadditions, and organocatalysis.
Merck has hosted the Compound Challenge since 2018, attracting participants from all over the world and across all career stages. While this year’s target molecule remains confidential for now, examples from previous editions (see below) showcase the complexity and creativity demanded by the challenge.
Submissions are judged based on key criteria such as the number of steps, overall expected yield and purity, and synthetic feasibility. Following peer review and evaluation by an expert panel, the SOCC submission advanced to the top 3. The final step will involve experimental validation: the top three synthetic routes will be tested in the lab by independent researchers, and the winner will be determined based on these results.
Stay tuned and keep your fingers crossed for the final outcome of the 6th Compound Challenge!