GONZALO
BLAY LLINARES

PhD in Chemistry from the University of Valencia (1992), I have developed my research and teaching career at this university, progressing from Assistant Professor (1992-1996) to Associate Professor (1996-2012) and, since 2012, serving as a Full Professor. My research has focused on two different fields of Organic Synthesis. From 1998 until the early 2000s, my research primarily centered on the synthesis of natural products with potential biological activity, mainly sesquiterpene lactones and related compounds. Since then, my research has evolved towards more methodological aspects related to the development of Asymmetric Catalysis procedures using metallic catalysts and organocatalysts, a field in which I am currently active. Among my most significant contributions in this field, it is worth mentioning the design and synthesis of new chiral ligands and their application, as well as that of others ligands described in the literature, in the development of enantioselective C-C bond forming reactions (Henry reactions, alkynylations or Friedel-Crafts reactions among others) and cycloaddition reactions (Diels-Alder and 1,3-dipolar). This line of research continues with the development of new enantioselective catalytic reactions using multicatalytic systems that combine two or more catalysts enabling novel reaction patterns not achievable with a single catalyst. Furthermore, we are currently implementing electrochemical and photochemical processes in combination with asymmetric catalysis. In my capacity as a principal investigator, I have secured funding from the National Plan (CTQ17-84900-P, PID2020-116944 GB-100 and PID2023-147402NB-100) and the Valencian Government for consolidated groups (AICO 2020-068 and CIAICO 2021-147) to carry out the group's research. Throughout my career, I have undertaken research stays at other foreign universities. Firstly, between 1993-1994 as a post-doctoral researcher at Wageningen University (Netherlands) with Professor Aede de Groot working in the synthesis of bioactive terpenes, and in 2005 as a visiting researcher at Aarhus University (Denmark) with Professor Karl Anker Jørgensen researching in the field of asymmetric catalysis. Through these years, I have delivered invited lectures at numerous symposiums, scientific meetings, and universities both nationally and internationally. As a result of this research trajectory, I have published to date 184 articles (69 in the last 10 years) in prestigious international scientific journals, several reviews and book chapters, and presented numerous communications at national and international conferences. I have supervised twelve doctoral theses (five of them with European or international distinction) The majority of the doctors trained under my supervision have gone on to build successful careers in both the public and private sectors. Furthermore, I supervise an average of two master theses as well as a number of graduation works every course. I am the co-author of a problem-solving book titled 200 Problems in Structural Determination of Organic Compounds (Ed. Visión) and a popular science book titled Anabolic Steroids (Ed. Paidotribo). Regarding management tasks, I have been a member of the Faculty of Chemistry's Board and, since March 2018 to March 2024, have served as the Head of the Department of Organic Chemistry.