Keith Fagnou
Encyclopedia
Keith Fagnou was a Canadian
organic chemist and associate professor of chemistry
at the University of Ottawa
and a rising star in the field of organic chemistry
. His research focused on developing new reactions that avoid unnecessary activation of substrates and that can instead directly functionalize C–H bonds of simple molecules and introduce C–C bonds.
, Saskatchewan
. Fagnou, a former naval reserve officer, pursued studies at the University of Saskatchewan and received a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) in 1995. After teaching at the high school level for a short period, he continued his studies in chemistry at the University of Toronto
in 1998 under the supervision of Mark Lautens. In 2000 he received his M.Sc. degree, and in 2002 his Ph.D. Professor Lautens said that Keith "was exceptionally bright and exceptionally down-to-earth and was the most productive person, in the history of his research group." After his PhD, he joined the faculty at the University of Ottawa
as an assistant professor and in 2007 was promoted to associate professor with tenure
and awarded a University of Ottawa Research Chair in the Development of Novel Catalytic Transformations.
While at the University of Ottawa, he established a research program primarily devoted to the development of novel "direct arylation" reactions which allow for the rapid synthesis of important building blocks in medicinal chemistry. Of note, the development of direct arylation of benzene
and pyridine N-oxide. Members of his research group are sometimes referred to as "The Fagnou Factory". His contributions in the field were rewarded with numerous awards and have been included in reviews published on the subject.
Dr. Keith Fagnou died of complications resulting from a H1N1
influenza infection on November 11, 2009 at the age of 38.
The University of Ottawa established the "Keith Fagnou Scholarship in Science" in his memory. The members of his research group also organized a symposium (KFOS) in his honour which was held May 5–7, 2010. The Pacifichem chemistry conference also held a memorial symposium titled "C-H Functionalization, Memorial Symposium for Professor Keith Fagnou". In 2011, Keith was recognized as the #77 chemist in the world over the period 2000-2010 on the basis of citations per paper, according to Thomson-Reuters' Sciencewatch.com.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
organic chemist and associate professor of chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
at the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
and a rising star in the field of organic chemistry
Organic chemistry
Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation of carbon-based compounds, hydrocarbons, and their derivatives...
. His research focused on developing new reactions that avoid unnecessary activation of substrates and that can instead directly functionalize C–H bonds of simple molecules and introduce C–C bonds.
Biography
Dr. Keith Fagnou was born on June 27, 1971 in SaskatoonSaskatoon
Saskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
. Fagnou, a former naval reserve officer, pursued studies at the University of Saskatchewan and received a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) in 1995. After teaching at the high school level for a short period, he continued his studies in chemistry at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in 1998 under the supervision of Mark Lautens. In 2000 he received his M.Sc. degree, and in 2002 his Ph.D. Professor Lautens said that Keith "was exceptionally bright and exceptionally down-to-earth and was the most productive person, in the history of his research group." After his PhD, he joined the faculty at the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
as an assistant professor and in 2007 was promoted to associate professor with tenure
Tenure
Tenure commonly refers to life tenure in a job and specifically to a senior academic's contractual right not to have his or her position terminated without just cause.-19th century:...
and awarded a University of Ottawa Research Chair in the Development of Novel Catalytic Transformations.
While at the University of Ottawa, he established a research program primarily devoted to the development of novel "direct arylation" reactions which allow for the rapid synthesis of important building blocks in medicinal chemistry. Of note, the development of direct arylation of benzene
Benzene
Benzene is an organic chemical compound. It is composed of 6 carbon atoms in a ring, with 1 hydrogen atom attached to each carbon atom, with the molecular formula C6H6....
and pyridine N-oxide. Members of his research group are sometimes referred to as "The Fagnou Factory". His contributions in the field were rewarded with numerous awards and have been included in reviews published on the subject.
Dr. Keith Fagnou died of complications resulting from a H1N1
H1N1
'Influenza A virus is a subtype of influenza A virus and was the most common cause of human influenza in 2009. Some strains of H1N1 are endemic in humans and cause a small fraction of all influenza-like illness and a small fraction of all seasonal influenza. H1N1 strains caused a few percent of...
influenza infection on November 11, 2009 at the age of 38.
The University of Ottawa established the "Keith Fagnou Scholarship in Science" in his memory. The members of his research group also organized a symposium (KFOS) in his honour which was held May 5–7, 2010. The Pacifichem chemistry conference also held a memorial symposium titled "C-H Functionalization, Memorial Symposium for Professor Keith Fagnou". In 2011, Keith was recognized as the #77 chemist in the world over the period 2000-2010 on the basis of citations per paper, according to Thomson-Reuters' Sciencewatch.com.
Awards
- Rutherford Memorial MedalRutherford Memorial MedalThe Rutherford Memorial Medal is an award for research in the fields of physics and chemistry by the Royal Society of Canada. It was dedicated to the memorial of Ernest Rutherford.-Physics:* 2010 : Kari Dalnoki-Veress* 2009 : Barth Nettlefield...
(2009) - OMCOS Award (2009)
- Sloan Research Fellowship (2008)
- Merck Process Award (2008)
- Eli Lilly Grantee (2007–2009)
- NSERC Discovery Accelerator Supplement Award (2007–2009)
- Amgen Young Investigator's Award (2007)
- Astra Zeneca Award for Chemistry (2007)
- University of Ottawa Research Chair in Novel Catalytic Transformations (2007–2012)
- Merck Process Research Award (2007)
- University of Ottawa Young Researcher of the Year (2006)
- Ichikizaki Travel Grant Award (2006)
- Boehringer Ingelheim Young Investigator Award in Organic Chemistry (2005)
- Cottrell Scholar Award (2005)
- Ichikizaki Travel Grant Award (2005)
- Premier's Research Excellence Award (2003)
- John C. Polanyi Award in Chemistry (2003)