Exceptional Success of Student Ekaterina Frantsuzova

Ekaterina Frantsuzova, a fourth-year Pharmacy student, received the Via Chimica award – an annual prize presented by the Experientia Foundation and the Learned Society of the Czech Republic in recognition of outstanding young chemical talents at universities.

Ekaterina earned this honor for the article titled “Vicinal Bis(methylene) Heterocyclic Diene in Natural Product Synthesis: A Convergent Biomimetic Total Synthesis of Prunolactone A,” written with her contribution in the research group of Prof. RNDr. Milan Pour, Ph.D. The study, published at the end of last year in the prestigious journal Organic Letters (D1; DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.4c04378), presents the first total synthesis of the complex and biologically active natural product prunolactone A, as well as its (3′R)‑epimer. A key feature of the synthesis is the Diels-Alder reaction step, which is designed to closely mimic the natural biosynthetic process occurring in the microscopic fungus Phomopsis prunorum.

Ekaterina received the award on May 19, 2025, during the XXXI General Assembly of the Learned Society of the Czech Republic at Carolinum. The prize was presented by Hana and Dalimil Dvořák, founders of the Experientia Foundation.

An interview with the laureate is available in Czech on the Experientia Foundation website, along with a popular-science article that presents her research to a broader audience.

We warmly congratulate Ekaterina and wish her continued success and inspiration in her scientific journey.

Text: Michal Kadaník and Petr Matouš
Photos: The Experientia Foundation, Barbora Mráčková; Ekaterina Frantsuzova