Francesco Viceconte

“The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

In this PhD project we propose the synthesis, characterization, study of the catalytic properties and potential pharmacological properties of new organometallic complexes based on Ag(I) and Au(I) metallic centers stabilized by N-heterocyclic carbene ligands (NHC) and of new organic molecules, whose structures are inspired by the promising results reported in the scientific literature. The new complexes will be tested in A³-coupling reactions for the synthesis of propargylamines, versatile molecules for fine chemical production, and in carboxylation and cyclization reactions to form oxazolidinones and propiolic acid derivatives, both of them carried out with direct use of CO₂ as raw material. In this way, we want to evaluate the activity of the catalysts and search for non-drastic reaction conditions in order to create eco-compatible and scalable synthesis processes.

Finally, the antibiotic and antitumor activity of the new complexes and molecules will be tested. Their pharmacological action will be evaluated against different bacterial strains and on different tumor cell lines. The results obtained will be compared with data reported in the literature of analogous compounds with pharmacological activity.

How my position is funded

This position is funded by D.M. 351/2022 PNRR-Ricerca research grant

My motivations

As someone might erroneously think, I did not decide to pursue a PhD to continue my academic career. Instead, the pleasure of research is what drove me to do it. I think I’ve never had so much satisfaction in dealing with such challenging problems, working with people who share with you the sad and joyful moments of this unique experience and that make you feel like part of a second family. It feels like I've found my place in the world and so be it. When I have finished, I hope to be enriched in experiences and to have gained a better scientific and critical method, so that I have the right tools to continue my research, even on my own, and to be a reference for anyone with the same outlooks of mine.

A day in a PhD student’s life

My daily routine as a doctoral student commences at early in the morning, during breakfast. While I eat, I review from my notes the things that should be done in the day and start to order them mentally. Once I arrive in the laboratory, I ensure that everything is in order, working properly and that there are no unusual odors. I open windows and doors to let the air in and check my emails and notes to organize the working day. After working until lunch, I go to eat and relax with my coworkers and resume working for the afternoon. In the evening, before leaving the laboratory, I organize the next day, check that there are no instruments left on for the night and, after my colleagues have gone away, I lock the laboratory and return home to dine. Finally, after dinner, I check my notes for the last time and read some scientific articles that may be useful for the activities to do in the laboratory in the following days.

My events

-XLIX Italian Conference of Inorganic Chemistry, Perugia

-"Il contributo dei giovani chimici in Campania" II edizione, Caserta