| Citation | Professor Deslongchamps has established a centre of organic chemistry which is internationally recognized for its excellence. He has made outstanding contributions in the field of organic synthesis and in developing fundamental concepts in organic reactions. His recent total synthesis of ryanodol is world renowned as one of the most outstanding achievements in organic synthesis due to its exceptional originality. The strategies developed by Deslongchamps will serve as models for synthetic chemists in the years to come. His development of the theory of stereoelectronic control for the hydrolysis of esters, amides and related functions ranks as one of the most important achievements in organic chemistry in the last 5 years. This theory has direct important implications in theoretical organic chemistry and in the chemistry of biological systems, in particular enzyme hydrolysis. |