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Mark Lautens

@marklautens.bsky.social
584 followers 32 following 100 posts

🇨🇦 O.C., University Professor and Chair of Chemistry, sometimes Opinion writer, always opinionated, citizenship ceremony presiding officer. Come for the food, travel and outdoors stories, stay for the chemistry.

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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
A colleague asked me if anyone can identify this glassblowing tool. From the collection of a distinguished long gone colleague. Happy to hear thoughts.
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
Thanks for the memories.
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
Tell me you’re in Switzerland without saying so? Watching a dad push a baby carriage with one hand, with skis in the back of the carriage, while dragging his gear in the free hand. Wishing for a peaceful 2026. We could all use it.
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Synthesis Journal @synthesis1969.bsky.social · 30/12/2025
🏆TOP 5 Most Downloaded Articles of 2025! Carbamoyl #fluorides —an emerging frontier in organofluorine chemistry✨Explore their unique reactivity in this short review by Maryam Jabbarpoor and Christine Le @christinemle.bsky.social @leresearchgroup.bsky.social 👉 buff.ly/HUPwctC
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The Globe and Mail @theglobeandmail.com · 19/12/2023
Opinion columns today: Editorial board: tgam.ca/3GRabC4 Tony Keller: tgam.ca/48928fJ Andrew Willis: tgam.ca/3to2BLU Mark Lautens: tgam.ca/48qHaZq Charles DeLand: tgam.ca/3RQr0Ds
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G Berionni group @dr-berionni.bsky.social · 27/12/2025
Our last paper of the year: Electrophilic C(sp2)−H Borylation of Nonactivated Arenes with Pyramidal Boron Lewis Superacids ❄️. Just published in @synthesis1969.bsky.social : special issue dedicated to Paul Knochel. 🎁 @boron-chemistry.bsky.social. Congrats Nicolas, Arnaud & Baptiste.
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 24/12/2025
Can’t think of a better way to get the wine ready for the Christmas Eve toast. Hotel Hermitage Cervinia takes no chances.
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 06/12/2025
Well done Colton Johnson, PhD#61 from the Lautens group Thanks Jim Gleason for serving as external examiner. Best wishes in the Wendlandt group in 2026.
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 28/11/2025
Nice to see this appear. A big thanks to Clara, Armaan, Xavier, our visitor from Italy Lorenzo, and former group member Greg who has had a long and illustrious career at Merck. More fun with oxabicycles. pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....
pubs.acs.org
Synthesis of Spiroindenes via Palladium Catalysis Using Oxabicycles as Acetylene Surrogates
We report the palladium-catalyzed synthesis of spiroindenes using oxabicycles as acetylene surrogates. This protocol allows for the synthesis of a diverse library of heterocyclic-tethered spiroindenes...
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
Dueling Pinot Noir tasting on a cold and wet Friday night at the farm. In the corner on my left, a Bourgogne Rouge from Chavy-Chouet 2018 With a bit of age. On the right, Canadian contender Blue Mountain Reserve Cuvée 2022. One of our favourite BC Pinot’s. In the bottle and the glass.
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 26/10/2025
Our farewell to Switzerland ends where it began, in France. A stay at hotel l’incomparable lives up to its name and ⭐️. @guideMichelinFR New owners and chef, excellent value. 👏🏼👏🏼 Selected dishes: Carrots (elevated) Topinambour Omble avec beurre blanc Chocolate
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
It has not been easy to follow the #BlueJays from Lausanne. Fortunately,the event honouring Jieping Zhu was so much fun that it helped soothe the FOMO. That and waking up in the middle of the night to check the score were all that was needed.
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Waser Group @lcsolab.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
Today we have the 60th Birthday Symposium of Prof. Jieping Zhu at EPFL! www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
linkedin.com
Looking forward to the 60th Birthday Symposium of my friend and colleague Prof. Jieping Zhu today at EPFL Chemistry ! | Jerome Waser
Looking forward to the 60th Birthday Symposium of my friend and colleague Prof. Jieping Zhu today at EPFL Chemistry !
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 19/10/2025
Excited to be back in Lausanne. We enjoying visiting our old haunts including a restaurant Jieping Zhu introduced to us during our sabbatical at EPFL. Risotto with champagne and Parmesan
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
@profdaveleigh.bsky.social came to town and wowed us with his amazing science + a little magic. He asked me for the name of a student with a good sense of humor, but I did not know his plan. Fortunately, all went well with Clara, who as you can see enjoyed the event.
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
Be careful who you dine with, or you may have a 3.5h lunch with engaging hosts, great food, and off the chart wines. Chez Bruce was amazing but nothing could top these wines. The founders of the feast know who you are. Lobster ravioli, grouse, cheese course…. and more
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 20/09/2025
Dinner with my son and his fiancé at Harewood Arms a 1* Michelin in Fulham. A highly elevated pub experience. Great to enjoy the Churchill War Rooms by day, and feast by night. Trout Cornish Skate with capers and muscles
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 20/09/2025
After big meals with @profdaveleigh.bsky.social it was time for a lighter lunch. Meal at a pub near Putney Bridge did the trick.
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
A trip “home” - back to the area my family emigrated from in 1951! They left Oldham after WWII, when jobs were in short supply for unskilled workers. I return a few years later to give the TY Shen Lecture University of Manchester with my kind host @profdaveleigh.bsky.social
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 13/09/2025
Saturday and time to celebrate an outstanding Ontario wine. Two Sisters Cabernet Franc from Niagara is splendid. Better restock.
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
One of the Okanagan’s finest #itsfriday
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 30/08/2025
Farewell to Paris, after a wonderful week of hiking in the val d’Anniviers in Switzerland. A great meal at Nous 4 near the Gare de Lyon to end our stay.
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 24/08/2025
A hike in Zinal. 5 degrees this morning, 7 at the summit at noon.
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 24/08/2025
A welcome break from being Chair. Enjoying the outdoors. We somehow beat the odds and made it to Europe, in spite of issues at Air Canada. All thanks to a wonderful “in-charge” and concierge. Flying often does have small benefits. Welcome to Zinal Switzerland 🇨🇭a heavenly place in the Valais.
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Synthesis Journal @synthesis1969.bsky.social · 19/08/2025
✨Our August Thieme #Cheminar dedicated to prof. Carreira was a big success with 406 attendees at peak!✨ Thanks to everyone who joined the discussions, our speakers for the excellent presentations👏, and our EiC @marklautens.bsky.social for chairing the session! Watch later👉 buff.ly/K2XxagR
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
A great event. Wonderful talks, engaged audience, a few laughs. Congratulations Erick on so many years of service to @synthesis1969.bsky.social Synfacts and SoS.
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Kathleen Too @kathleentoo.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
Join us online now with Prof Tobias Ritter, followed by @songlin1.bsky.social & @reiswoman.bsky.social chaired by @synthesis1969.bsky.social EIC @marklautens.bsky.social. Or watch later: cassyni.com/s/thieme-che... @synlettjournal.bsky.social @synopenjournal.bsky.social @thieme-gruppe.bsky.social
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 08/08/2025
Should be a great event with such excellent speakers.
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 08/08/2025
190 participants, and counting, have signed up.
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Synthesis Journal @synthesis1969.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
Check out this efficient & environmentally friendly protocol by Yan, Cao & co-workers for synthesizing 1-(α-hydroxyindole)-o-carboranes✨ It's a #Friedel-Crafts reaction of #indoles with 1-formyl-o-carborane, no solvent or #Lewis acid needed🌱 👉 buff.ly/aK0A9Lu
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 26/07/2025
We treat ourselves with a gift from a group member who graduated in 2022. Finally seemed the right moment to enjoy this beauty. A splendid wine, served with beef tenderloin. A perfect match. Rich and chewy. 😋 2018 Hermitage from Delmas Fun to think back on the great chemistry done by them.
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Synthesis Journal @synthesis1969.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
Constanze Neumann and co-workers developed an efficient, transition-metal-free method for 1,3-diols using a "traceless" directing group and a MOF #rhodium catalyst🧪 This three-step process delivers remarkable selectivity. #catalysis 👉 buff.ly/jPiw783
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 19/07/2025
Dinner wine and back up wine for the “Grand Menu” of Jason Bangerter at Langdon Hall tomorrow. Excitement is already building. I enjoy seeing the price label from purchase back in 1990 (not a typo) of $36.70 which is about the price of two glasses of prosecco in 2025.
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
Come join our faculty. Rank is open (assistant, associate, full professor) in experimental physical chemistry. A department with a distinguished past and bright future.
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
A totally unexpected but very lovely birthday gift came my way. For those who play bingo, clickety-click. If you will permit a short story. A former group member from abroad intended to write “hope you have a good day” but it spell corrected to “hope you tinder a good day” We are way past that!
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 06/07/2025
Panna cotta avec consommé de fraises, shortbread au poivre rose, made an appearance during a dinner with some dear friends. Mon epouse dug deep into her culinary bag of tricks.
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Jim Cuddy @jimcuddyofficial.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
Jim wrote this song a few months ago. Our friend Gary Louris heard it and was inspired to write a response. He reached out to Jim to ask if we could re-record the track to include an American perspective. We hope you enjoy “We Used to Be the Best of Friends - Part 2”. youtu.be/gORTbRC6KG0?...
youtu.be
Jim Cuddy & Gary Louris - We Used to Be the Best of Friends
YouTube video by Gary Louris
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
Happy Canada Day 🇨🇦 I am fortunate to live in this great country, in a beautiful spot, and with great friends as neighbours. Canada is not perfect but we can all do our part to make it better.
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Synthesis Journal @synthesis1969.bsky.social · 30/06/2025
Ni-catalyzed C–H functionalization just got easier 🎉 M. Kundu, T. Kundu & co-workers report a scalable ortho-C(sp²)–H arylation/alkylation protocol using 8-AIP as an inbuilt directing group! Great for late-stage functionalization & making diverse amides. #nickel 👉 buff.ly/IBNxC1S
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 14/06/2025
Bluebird at the Bolthole Farm
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
We had convocation on Friday. At our department reception, a family approached me including a graduate from today’s ceremony. Turns out I swore in this family as citizens 7.5 years ago. My brief words had an impact on his career choice. So nice to catch up with them.
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 30/05/2025
A bit of fun at my farewell Synthesis Board meeting @synthesis1969.bsky.social Many lovely and generous gifts, but a fun one as well. How did 26 years pass so quickly?
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 26/05/2025
Pics from our @synthesis1969.bsky.social and @synlettjournal.bsky.social Board meeting in Padua. @silicon-martin.bsky.social @hideki-kuchem.bsky.social Jung Min Joo and Xin-Yuan Liu
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Synthesis Journal @synthesis1969.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
📢 Today’s highlight: editors from @synthesis1969.bsky.social and @synlettjournal.bsky.social are visiting University of Padova and giving fantastic talks. ✨ If you are nearby, come and see! It is a great chance to connect, learn, and be inspired. #Chemistry #Organic #Thieme #Synthesis #Synlett
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
Sűd Tyrol is magnificent in all respects. Amazing hike at VigilJoch on a perfect day. We can’t seem to get away from ski lifts, even this ancient single seater. And cows are now a big part of our life.
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 03/05/2025
Buying Canadian (wine) 🇨🇦 🍁 and enjoying. Black Hills Wines
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
We say goodbye to our visitor from the Zanoni Lab in Pavia. Giovanni was a spirited and energetic chemist who did a lot of research. Having students from Italy (France and Spain as well) comes with some bonus elements. Thanks for gifting your favourite Chianti Classico.
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 26/04/2025
New wine region to taste. A much appreciated gift.
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 13/04/2025
The small village of Harome and The Star Inn A splendid weekend getaway with my son and his fiancé
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Mark Lautens @marklautens.bsky.social · 13/04/2025
The walk, the views, the reward Yorkshire Moors
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