Kiel University, Germany
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🎓 Educational Background
Prof. Ruffoni obtained his Ph.D. in Chemistry of Pharmaceuticals from the University of Milan, Italy, where he worked in Prof. F. Clerici’s research group from 2010 to 2014. During his Ph.D., he was selected as a visiting Ph.D. student at the Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, San Diego, USA, under the guidance of Prof. P. S. Baran, where he deepened his expertise in synthetic organic chemistry. He holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology from the University of Milan, where he studied from 2004 to 2010. As part of his academic journey, he also spent a year as an Erasmus student at the University of Granada, Spain, broadening his international academic exposure.
🏫 Teaching Experience
Prof. Ruffoni has a strong background in university-level teaching and mentoring. At the University of Manchester, he served as a Teaching Assistant and Marker from 2018 to 2021, where he guided students through subjects like Reactivity and Mechanism (CHEM10412), Organic Synthesis (CHEM20411), and Structure and Reactivity of Organic Molecules (CHEM20412). Earlier in his career, he was a Lecturer and Tutor at the University of Milan (2012–2014), delivering courses on Synthesis and Preparation of Biomolecules for the Study of Bio-Systems and Peptide NMR. Additionally, he worked as a Laboratory Assistant at the University of Milan (2010–2014), instructing students in Organic Chemistry II and Advanced Synthetic Methodology.
👨🔬 Current Academic Roles
Prof. Dr. Alessandro Ruffoni is an Assistant Professor of Organic Chemistry at the Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Otto Diels Institute of Organic Chemistry. Since January 2022, he has been leading cutting-edge research in organic synthesis, photoredox catalysis, and peptide science. Alongside his role as an assistant professor, he also serves as a Young Group Leader, contributing to groundbreaking advancements in synthetic methodologies and reaction mechanisms.
🏅 Postdoctoral Research Experience
Before joining Kiel University, Prof. Ruffoni worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at RWTH Aachen University, Germany, under the mentorship of Prof. D. Leonori. Between 2017 and 2021, his research focused on photoredox catalysis, significantly impacting radical chemistry and synthetic applications. His expertise in medicinal chemistry and molecular biophysics was further refined during his time as a Marie Skłodowska-Curie PDRA COFUND Fellow at IRB Barcelona, Spain, where he collaborated with Prof. A. Riera and Prof. X. Salvatella from 2016 to 2017. He also contributed to organic chemistry and peptide science during a postdoctoral stint at the University of Milan, Italy, in 2014, working with Prof. F. Clerici.
🔬 Research Contributions and Future Vision
Prof. Dr. Alessandro Ruffoni continues to push the boundaries of organic chemistry, particularly in synthetic methodologies, reaction dynamics, and radical chemistry. His interdisciplinary approach bridges organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and molecular biophysics, making significant strides in both academic and applied research. With his expertise in photoredox catalysis and advanced synthetic techniques, he remains a leading force in the field, contributing to the future of innovative chemical research and education.
Notable Publications📝
📝Excited-state configuration of nitroarenes enables oxidative cleavage of aromatics over alkenes
Authors: Wesley J. Olivier, Piotr Błyszczyk, Enrique M. Arpa, Kenshiro Hitoshio, Miguel Gomez-Mendoza, Víctor de la Peña O’Shea, Isabelle Marchand, Thomas Poisson, Alessandro Ruffoni, Daniele Leonori
Journal: Science
Year: 2025
📝 A three-step strategy for the conversion of pyridines into benzonitriles
Authors: Reyhan Güdük, Niklas Kehl, Chiara Stavagna, Michael J. Tilby, Oliver Turner, Alessandro Ruffoni, Henry P. Caldora, Daniele Leonori
Journal: Nature Synthesis
Year: 2025
📝Synthesis of polysubstituted azepanes by dearomative ring expansion of nitroarenes
Authors: Rory Mykura, Raquel Sánchez-Bento, Esteban Matador, Vincent K. Duong, Ana Varela, Lucrezia Angelini, Rodrigo J. Carbajo, Josep Llaveria, Alessandro Ruffoni, Daniele Leonori
Journal: Nature Chemistry
Year: 2024
📝A general strategy for the amination of electron-rich and electron-poor heteroaromatics by desaturative catalysis
Authors: Javier Corpas, Henry P. Caldora, Ester Maria Di Tommaso, Augusto César Hernandez-Perez, Oliver Turner, Luis Miguel Azofra, Alessandro Ruffoni, Daniele Leonori
Journal: Nature Catalysis
Year: 2024
📝Photoexcited nitroarenes for the oxidative cleavage of alkenes
Authors: Alessandro Ruffoni, Charlotte Hampton, Marco Simonetti, Daniele Leonori
Journal: Nature
Year: 2022