History
The Institute of Organic and Analytical Chemistry – ICOA
s a joint research unit (UMR 7311) of CNRS and the University of Orléans. It originates from successive combinations of bio, organic and analytical chemistry labs from Orléans campus.
The story dates back from 1969, when Pierre Sinaÿ founded the Structural Biochemistry Laboratory (LBS). This Lab, directed towards the synthesis of carbohydrates and related molecules was headed by his founder until 1987 and thereafter by Jean-Marie Beau.
At this time, the Laboratories of Organic Chemistry and the Physical Organic Chemistry and Chromatography headed respectively by Gérald Guillaumet and Michel Dreux merged to give the Bioorganic and Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (LCBA); a lab directed towards the synthesis, the study and the analysis of small aromatic molecules for therapeutic purposes. The lab was headed by Gérald Guillaumet, till it will join LBS in 1991 to become UMR CNRS Chemistry of sugars and related molecules. It will be supervised by Jean-Marie Beau (until 1994), and Gérald Guillaumet (1994-1995).
In 1991, the LCBA joined the LBS in the UMR CNRS Chimie des sucres et molécules apparentées, which was directed until 1994 by Pr. Jean-Marie Beau and then by Pr. Gérald Guillaumet. The two laboratories merged in 1995, when all the teams were brought together in a new building to create ICOA. This joint Université d’Orléans-CNRS research unit will be headed successively by Prof. Gérald Guillaumet until 2006, then by Prof. Olivier Martin until 2016, then by Prof. Pascal Bonnet until 2021 and then by Prof. Sylvain ROUTIER. The number of researchers, which was around 50 at the time of its creation, is set to triple to its current level, with the central theme remaining the design, synthesis and analysis of bioactive compounds.
The Director of the Organic Chemistry Laboratory
The Director of the Physical Organic Chemistry and Chromatography Laboratory
Gérald GUILLAUMET
Michel DREUX
1986: the Organic Chemistry Laboratory and the Physical Organic Chemistry and Chromatography Laboratory merged to form the Bio-Organic and Analytical Chemistry Laboratory.
Pierre Sinaÿ
1978 – 1987
Jean-Marie BEAU
1987 – 1991
Gérald GUILLAUMET
1986 – 1991
1991: The Structural Biochemistry Laboratory (LBS) and the Bio-Organic and Analytical Chemistry Laboratory join forces to form the Sugar and Related Molecules Chemistry Laboratory.
Successive directors of the Sugar and Related Molecules Chemistry Laboratory:
Jean-Marie BEAU
1991 – 1994
Gérald GUILLAUMET
1994 – 1995
1995: Creation of the Institut de Chimie Organique et Analytique and the unit moves into its new building.
The successive directors of the Institut de Chimie Organique et Analytique – ICOA :
Gérald GUILLAUMET
1995 – 2006
Olivier MARTIN
2006 – 2016
Pascal BONNET
2016 – 2021
Sylvain ROUTIER
2021 –
