Overview The KNCV SOC and JongKNCV invite you to participate in the Retrosynthetic Challenge, where you and up to three team members are tasked with proposing a plausible synthetic route to a given natural product. This competition requires you to break down complex molecular structures into simpler, commercially available starting materials and design a complete forward synthesis supported by chemical reasoning and literature. Submissions are evaluated based on creativity, feasibility and clarity. Winning team(s) will receive a cash reward.
Eligibility The challenge is open to chemists in The Netherlands below the age of 35. Participants may compete individually or in teams of up to four members. Participants may belong to only one team. Team composition cannot be changed after the challenge has started.
Challenge Format Participants will be given a target molecule at the start of the challenge. They must propose a retrosynthetic scheme and forward synthesis pathway starting from commercially available starting materials (<25 EUR/g and available within 1 week from a standard commercial vendor) within 2 weeks. All steps must be chemically feasible and supported by literature where possible.
Submission Requirements Each submission must include: - A complete retrosynthetic analysis - Forward synthetic route including reaction conditions and reagents - Justification for key disconnections and appropriate discussion of chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivity issues - A risk assessment and contingency plan - References to literature where applicable - Statement regarding use of generative AI
A template will be provided at the start of the competition. Participants submit their document as a PDF file by email to jong@kncv.nl
Judging Criteria Submissions will be evaluated based on: - Creativity and originality - Feasibility and chemical accuracy (including chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivity) - Efficiency (step count, yield, cost) - Use of modern synthetic methods - Clarity of presentation
To ensure a fair and objective evaluation process, each submissions will be anonymized before being reviewed by the jury.
Use of Tools Participants may use computational tools, databases, and literature resources. However, all work must be their own, and proper citation is required. Generative AI may be used for language polishing and general queries for gathering information. All proposals should include a statement on if, where, and how generative AI was used.
Submission Deadline All entries must be submitted before the stated deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted unless explicitly allowed by the organizers.
Prizes The winning team(s) will receive a cash reward.
Disqualification Entries may be disqualified for violating rules, submitting incomplete work, or engaging in unethical practices such as, substantial copying from published syntheses or AI-generated material without independent scientific contribution.
Intellectual Property Participants retain ownership of their work but grant KNCV permission to display and use submitted material for educational and promotional purposes with appropriate attribution.
