Retrosynthesis Competition: Chemistry Students Take Prize for Second Year

Undergraduate students demonstrate their exceptional talent in organic chemistry, winning 3rd place at the 12th National Retrosynthesis competition.

The team Home Swiet Home consisted of Bohan Lin, Alan He, Charles Chen, Sathira Jantarakulchai (New) and Jessica Zeng. They stood out as the only undergraduate team to progress to the finals, competing against leading researchers and professionals from AstraZeneca, Syngenta and Vertex—an outstanding accomplishment that showcases their talent and commitment. The team also won the audience prize in last year’s competition with their molecule cinnamomol B.

Organised by the Royal Society of Chemistry and SCI, the National Retrosynthesis Competition challenges teams to design an efficient synthetic route for a complex target molecule. This year, the Imperial team developed an approach for swieteliacate S, a natural substance often found in plants and is known for its potential health benefits. Their innovative strategy and methodology earned them a place on the podium, along with a trophy to mark their success. 

Reflecting on their achievement, the team shared: "Once again, we are indelibly grateful to the many professors, peers and friends that have been with us on this journey, and for the opportunity to showcase Imperial College's excellence in organic chemistry on a national stage. We had an incredible time navigating the world of total synthesis together!"

Their success is a testament to their hard work and creativity, as well as a huge inspiration for aspiring chemists across the country. Congratulations to the team on this fantastic win.