Dear Colleagues,

Professor Jose Elguero Bertolini is an eminent scientist, internationally recognized for his track record of outstanding research. The enormous contribution of Professor Elguero to chemistry has been the result of the numerous collaborations he has established throughout the world over his 60-year professional career.

Professor Jose Elguero Bertolini was born and studied in Madrid. He graduated in Chemistry at Complutense University and moved to France, where he completed his doctoral thesis under Professor Robert Jacquier's supervision in Montpellier, and a few years later, he also obtained a doctorate from Complutense University. He developed his research career in Montpellier and Marseille; later, in Norwich, in England; in the Belgian city of Mons; and later in Lund, Sweden. After 20 years, he returned to Spain as a Research Professor at the CSIC Institute of Medicinal Chemistry in Madrid, where he currently remains as Honorary Research Professor.

In the field of heterocyclic chemistry, he has studied tautomerism, hydrogen bonding, and aromaticity in heterocyclic systems. The book The Tautomerism of Heterocycles, both in its original edition and after its update, is an essential reference for chemists around the world.

In physical chemistry, he has investigated the spectroscopic behavior and NMR properties of heterocycles and organometallic systems and the application of computational chemistry to the study of the structures and reactivity of these systems. He has also participated in crystallographic studies in the field of crystal engineering.

In synthetic chemistry, he has contributed to areas such as phase transfer catalysis, photochemistry, pyrolysis, solid-state and gas-phase chemistry, sonochemistry, and microwave chemistry, among others.

In medicinal chemistry, he has used the mathematical methods of quantitative structure–activity relationships (QSAR) to design a large number of biologically active compounds with different therapeutic applications. His discipline, perseverance, and, above all, eagerness and ability to obtain as much information as possible on the subject matter, but fundamentally the scientific aspect, have led him to possess an exceptional global vision, making his work an indispensable link and reference in the interdisciplinary research of many and very diverse research groups, both in our country and abroad.

To date, he has published 1807 articles in the most prestigious international scientific journals and publications. He is the author of 36 books and book chapters, and 93 discourses and scientific disseminations and 5 patents. 

The work done throughout his career has achieved plenty of recognition, such as the "Schutzenberger" Prize of the Société Chimique de France (1968); Gold Medal of the Royal Spanish Chemistry Society (1984); Solvay Award from the CEOE Foundation (1988); Prize Santiago Ramón y Cajal, from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (1993); Academic Fellow of the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences (2004); Miguel Catalan Prize of the Community of Madrid (2005); Academic Fellow at the Academy of Arts and Sciences of Barcelona (2006); CSIC Silver Medal; Lilly Foundation Distinguished Career Award (2008); and Honour Scholar of the Royal National Academy of Pharmacy (2009).

He was also awarded the Command of the Civil Order of Alfonso X, The Wise, and Doctor Honoris Causa in Sciences from the Universities of Castilla-La Mancha, Autonoma de Madrid, Zaragoza, Oviedo, Saint Petersburg and Aix-Marsella III, and Doctor Honoris Causa in Pharmacy from the Universities of Alcala de Henares and Montpellier I.

Professor Elguero has also been President of the Spanish Higher Council for Scientific Research; of the Social Council of the Autonomous University of Madrid; of the Chemistry and Society Forum; and of the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences. He has also been a member of the International Advisory Councils of the Campus of International Excellence of the University of Oviedo and the Pôle Chimie Balard of the University of Montpellier. He has mentored 50 PhD students and 30 Post-doctoral fellows and Visiting Students.

Finally, those who have been lucky and honored to work or collaborate with him cannot resist highlighting his generosity, understanding, and availability, as well as his recommendations to find the precise ways of collaboration and his encouragement of everyone to improve and translate their ideas into the different lines of work to be followed.

Molecules is very pleased to host a Special Issue to celebrate Professor Jose Elguero’s work and invites scientists to submit original contributions to “Heterocyclic, Medicinal and Theoretical Chemistry: A Themed Issue in Honor of Professor Jose Elguero's Great Contribution”.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jose Luis Lavandera
Guest Editor

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