During his PhD studies, René Slot Bitsch sought to develop new organocatalytic and asymmetric methods to construct complex molecules. This was primarily accomplished through cycloaddition reactions – a highly atom efficient transformation. Such organocatalytic research is pivotal as a greener alternative to conventional means, and enables access to chiral molecules in high enantiopurity, which may provide new methodologies for pharmaceutical developments.

The PhD study was completed at the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Friday, 16 January 2026 at 13:00
Place: Building 1514, room 213, Aud. I, Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Langelandsgade 140, 8000 Aarhus
Title of PhD thesis: Expanding the Horizons of Asymmetric Aminocatalytic Cycloadditions
Contact information: René Slot Bitsch, e-mail: renebitsch@chem.au.dk, tel.: +45 41827993
Members of the assessment committee:
Associate Professor Luca Dell’Amico, Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy
Professor Mogens Brøndsted Nielsen, Department of Chemistry, Copenhagen University, Denmark
Associate Professor Marianne Glasius (chair), Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Denmark
Main supervisor: Professor Karl Anker Jørgensen, Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Denmark
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Natural Sciences/GSNS, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, 8000 Aarhus C