Andrea Penoni is associate professor in organic chemistry at the Department of Science and High Technology at the University of Insubria in Como, Italy since 2017. He graduated in Chemistry (1996, laurea degree) and received a PhD in Chemical Sciences (2000, doctoral research) at the University Statale of Milano under the supervision of Professor Sergio Cenini working on a project on amination reaction of olefins and hydrocarbons using transition metal complexes as catalysts.. He did his postdoctoral training at the University Statale of Milano, and then joined the research group of Professor Kenneth M. Nicholas (2000–2001) at the University of Oklahoma, where he studied the annulation reactions between nitro- and nitrosoaromatics with alkynes. Since 2003, he has been Assistant Professor in Organic Chemistry at the University of Insubria and worked in the research group of Professor Giovanni Palmisano. His research is particularly focused on the synthesis of nitrogen-containing heterocycles, naturally occurring compounds and potentially bioactive molecules. Further, he is involved in research projects on the carbon–nitrogen bond formation mediated by metals and metal complexes and synthesis of biindole compounds as interesting moieties in material science.
