The "Arbeitsgemeinschaft Deutscher Universitätsprofessoren und -professorinnen für Chemie" (ADUC) awards the yearly prize of ADUC for young scientists to Prof. Dr. Philipp Heretsch. Heretsch is junior professor of organic synthesis and catalysis at the Institut für Chemie und Biochemie.

His research group develops novel strategies for the manipulation of C–C bonds, aiming at the synthesis of complex natural products, particularly of abeo steroids and nor triterpenes. For that purpose he makes use of insights into the (presumed) biosyntheses of these natural products, analyzes the natural reactivity of intermediates and thus develops novel cascades of rearrangements. A special  view is owed to their biological profile, in addition to the structural complexity of the target molecules.

Heretsch accepted an appointment at an assistant professorship at Freie Universität Berlin in 2015. He studied chemistry at Universität Leipzig (2001 – 2006), where he received his Ph.D.in 2009, supported by scholarships of "Fonds der Chemischen Industrie". He used a scholarship of "Nationale Akademie der Wissenschaften – Leopoldina" for visits to K.C. Nicolaou in San Diego and Houston.

Every year ADUC awards a prize to up to three habilitands or assistant professors whose papers are distinguished by originality and scientific importance. The prize was awarded on 2018-03-05 on the occasion of the "Chemiedozententagung", which was held this year at Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena.

- BKi