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Mark Lautens, a  and chair of the department of chemistry in the Faculty of Arts & Science, has been selected to receive the from the International Society of Heterocyclic Chemistry. 

The biennial award, named after the late Princeton University chemist Edward C. Taylor, recognizes researchers for outstanding contributions to the field of heterocyclic chemistry.

Lautens's research group focuses on making bioactive natural products and medicinally relevant structures using catalytic reactions. “Being recognized for what we make rather than how we make it was a very nice feeling,” said Lautens. “Most people view our work as being primarily focused on catalysis – that is, making reactions happen faster and finding new reaction pathways using metals as catalysts.

“We identify new and efficient ways to make drugs and analogues – drug-like molecules – so that pharmaceutical researchers can explore how those molecules might be useful as medicines."

Professor Mark Taylor, associate chair of graduate studies in the department of chemistry, noted Lautens joins a list of distinguished scientists to be recognized with the E. C. Taylor Senior Award. “This well-deserved honour celebrates his group’s sustained contributions to the advancement of heterocycle synthesis," Taylor said.