This Issue is Dedicated to the Memory of Professor Ivano Morelli

Natural Product Communications Vol. 1 (12) 2006
Published online (www.naturalproduct.us)
Obituary
Ivano Morelli
(1940-2005)
Prof. Ivano Morelli was born March 11, 1940, in Pisa, Italy. He graduated from Pisa University in 1965 and
received an Assistant Professor position in Organic Chemistry in 1966. From 1980 until his death he was Full
Professor of Phytochemistry at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Pisa University.
During his career he was appointed as Director of Bioorganic and Biopharmacy Department since 1986 when it was
called Institute of Organic Chemistry; in the last years he was also member of the Academic Senate of Pisa
University. He served the Italian Society of Phytochemistry as President in the years 1987-1989 and 2004-2005. He
was also the Director of the School of Science and Technology of Medicinal Plants of Pisa University from 1985
until 2001 (the year of its disactivation) and Director of several PhD courses during the last 10 years.
His chemical work focused on the study of mosses and reaction mechanisms of epoxides and dibromocyclohexanes
during the years 1966-1978; chemical studies of Mediterranean plants belonging to Rosaceae, Apiaceae, and
Asteraceae families (1978-1990); studies of plants belonging to developing countries of Latin America, Africa, and
Asia (1990-2005); analysis of essential oils of Apiaceae, Asteraceae, and Lamiaceae from 1990 until 2005.