Jeanne Crassous is a distinguished CNRS Research Director (DR1) in the ‘Phosphorus and Molecular Materials’ (PMM) Group at the Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes, University of Rennes. With over 25 years of experience in the fields of chirality, molecular materials, and organometallic chemistry, Crassous is renowned for her pioneering research in chiral molecular materials, supramolecular chemistry, and catalysis. Her work explores fundamental concepts such as parity violation effects and chiroptical properties in materials. Over the years, Crassous has earned a remarkable reputation within the scientific community, as evidenced by her extensive publication record, prestigious awards, and leadership roles in international scientific societies. She has also contributed significantly to science communication and outreach, promoting the importance of her research to broader audiences. Crassous is a key figure in advancing our understanding of molecular chirality and its applications in materials science, particularly in the context of organometallics and transition metal complexes.
Professional Profile
Education:
Jeanne Crassous completed her undergraduate studies at the Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon in 1989. She earned her PhD in Organic Chemistry from the same institution in 1996, under the supervision of Professor André Collet. Her doctoral research focused on the synthesis of enantiomers of bromochlorofluoromethane and their absolute configuration determination through molecular modeling and Raman optical activity. Crassous went on to postdoctoral research at ETH Zurich in Switzerland (1997), working with Professor François Diederich on the chirality of fullerenes. In 2005, Crassous obtained her research habilitation from the Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, with a focus on preparing enantioenriched molecules for studying fundamental properties related to chirality, including parity violation. Her academic journey provided her with a solid foundation in organic chemistry and chiroptical techniques, laying the groundwork for her future contributions to the field of molecular materials and catalysis.
Professional Experience:
Jeanne Crassous has held significant roles in both academia and research throughout her career. In 1998, she became a CNRS researcher at the Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, where she started her long-standing research into chirality and molecular materials. In 2005, she joined the University of Rennes, continuing her research on chiral molecular systems. Crassous was promoted to CNRS Researcher in 2005 and further advanced to CNRS Research Director (DR1) in 2010, a position she currently holds at the Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes. In addition to her academic roles, Crassous has held leadership positions, such as serving as the Scientific Delegate at CNRS Chimie. Her research leadership extends to organizing international conferences and special issues of scientific journals. Crassous is a key figure in the scientific community, having delivered 71 invited lectures and participated in numerous conferences worldwide. She also plays an essential role in editorial activities for respected journals, including Chirality and ChemPhysChem.
Research Interests:
Jeanne Crassous’ research spans the fundamental and applied aspects of chirality, molecular materials, and supramolecular chemistry. Her interests are centered on the study of chiral transition metal complexes, which have applications in catalysis, molecular electronics, and material science. She focuses on the coordination and organometallic chemistry of helicenes, investigating their potential in diverse areas, from energy materials to molecular devices. A significant part of her work is dedicated to understanding chiroptical properties, including electronic and vibrational circular dichroism, as well as circularly polarized luminescence. Her pioneering research has explored the use of chiral materials for observing parity violation effects and their applications in next-generation optical devices. Crassous has also investigated the design and synthesis of chiral molecular materials with unique properties, contributing to the broader understanding of chirality in materials science. These areas of study have not only deepened fundamental knowledge but have also led to practical innovations in catalysis and materials chemistry.
Research Skills:
Jeanne Crassous possesses an extensive set of research skills that have been honed through her years of experience in organic and inorganic chemistry. She is highly skilled in the synthesis and characterization of chiral molecules, transition metal complexes, and organometallic compounds. Her expertise in various chiroptical techniques, such as electronic and vibrational circular dichroism, has been central to her research. Crassous is proficient in molecular modeling and has applied these skills to understand the chirality of complex systems. She also possesses advanced knowledge of spectroscopy and materials characterization, which has enabled her to investigate the fundamental properties of molecular materials and their potential applications. Crassous’ work in catalysis and supramolecular chemistry is supported by her deep understanding of coordination chemistry and the reactivity of chiral compounds. Additionally, she is an adept communicator and leader, contributing to numerous international conferences, journal editorial boards, and scientific collaborations.
Awards and Honors:
Jeanne Crassous’ outstanding contributions to the field of chemistry have earned her numerous prestigious awards and recognitions. In 2013, she was named a Junior Distinguished Member of the French Chemical Society, a significant honor in her early career. She received the Prize of the Organic Chemistry Division from the French Chemical Society in 2020 and was elected a member of the European Academy of Sciences in 2021. Crassous was awarded the Chemistry Europe Fellowship in 2021-2022 and the CNRS Silver Medal in 2023, recognizing her exceptional achievements in research. In 2024, she will receive the Victor Grignard Georg Wittig Lecture Award from the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and the French Chemical Society (SCF). These awards highlight her contributions to chirality, molecular materials, and catalysis, as well as her leadership in the scientific community.
Conclusion:
Jeanne Crassous is a highly accomplished and respected researcher with a distinguished career in the fields of organic chemistry, chirality, and molecular materials. Her groundbreaking work on chiral molecular systems, organometallic chemistry, and chiroptical properties has significantly advanced the understanding of these areas. Crassous’ leadership in research, her extensive publication record, and her role in organizing international conferences and editorial activities demonstrate her influence on the global scientific community. Her numerous awards, including the CNRS Silver Medal and membership in the European Academy of Sciences, reflect her contributions to chemistry and her ongoing impact. While Crassous could further expand her public outreach and industrial collaborations, her academic and research excellence places her at the forefront of her field.
Publication To Notes
- Phosphorescent Chiral Cationic Binuclear Iridium(III) Complexes: Boosting the Circularly Polarized Luminescence Brightness
- Authors: Lanoë, P.-H., Philouze, C., Molton, F., Latouche, C., Loiseau, F.
- Year: 2024
- Consecutive Complex Aggregation Pathway in Covalent Helical Polymer-Metal Complexes: Nanospheres with Controlled P/M Macroscopic Chirality
- Authors: Tarrío, J.J., Hermida, B., Rodríguez, R., Quiñoá, E., Freire, F.
- Year: 2024
- Kinetic enantio-recognition of chiral viologen guests by planar-chiral porphyrin cages
- Authors: Gilissen, P.J., Duez, Q., Tripodi, G.L., Elemans, J.A.A.W., Nolte, R.J.M.
- Year: 2023
- DNA-induced circularly polarized luminescence of helicene racemates
- Authors: Gan, F., Yang, P., Liang, J., Crassous, J., Qiu, H.
- Year: 2023
- Citations: 2
- Materials for chiral light control
- Authors: Crassous, J., Fuchter, M.J., Freedman, D.E., Beard, M.C., Feldmann, S.
- Year: 2023
- Citations: 87
- Circularly polarized luminescence: a themed collection
- Authors: Crassous, J., Di Bari, L., Wong, W.-Y., Zheng, Y.-X.
- Year: 2023
- Citations: 8
- Helicity-modulated remote C-H functionalization
- Authors: Yang, N., Shen, C., Zhang, G., Crassous, J., Qiu, H.
- Year: 2023
- Citations: 3
- Modulation of Chiroptical and Photophysical Properties in Helicenic Rhenium(I) Systems: The Use of an N-(Aza[6]helicenyl)-NHC Ligand
- Authors: Gauthier, E.S., Abella, L., Caytan, E., Autschbach, J., Crassous, J.
- Year: 2023
- Citations: 6
- Synthesis, structural characterization, and chiroptical properties of planarly and axially chiral boranils
- Authors: Macé, A., Hamrouni, K., Matozzo, P., Carboni, B., Crassous, J.
- Year: 2023
- Citations: 1
- Asymmetric Ruthenium Catalysis Enables Fluorophores with Point Chirality Displaying CPL Properties
- Authors: Sun, Y., Dhbaibi, K., Lauwick, H., Crassous, J., Achard, M.
- Year: 2023
- Citations: 2