Giovanni Speroni

Giovanni Speroni, was bom in 1910 he graduated from the University of Florence in 1932 with his thesis mentored by A. Raul Poggi (1899—1961) on synthesis of organic derivatives of selenium, a subject to which Speroni devoted himself over subsequent years. In 1933 he completed a second degree in pharmacy. 

These methods were referred to as fulminic syntheses of isoxazoles. It is important to note the similarity of these reactions with those already known transformation of diazoalkanes to pyrazoles and azides to triazoles. Recognition of these pathways opened the way for the concept of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. Speroni also contributed to knowledge of isoxazole chemistry by clarifying the stmcture of the Betti acids [3, 4] and conducting extensive studies on the physical properties of isoxazole and its derivatives. 

Giovanni Speroni s scientific interests ranged from synthetic organic chemistry to physical properties of organic compounds, to consideration of important structural information obtainable from these studies. These latter studies were so well-known that Speroni was commissioned to write the chapter on Physical and Chemical Properties of Isoxazole and its Derivatives in the review on isoxazole chemistry edited by Adolfo Quilico [6]. This chapter collected various properties of isoxazole and its derivatives density, surface tension, water solubility at various temperatures. Data from these measurements indicated augmented self-association in compounds with the 3-position free. Extensive research was directed to determining the dipole moments of isoxazoles in benzene and, for comparison, in dioxane. Speroni invented and constructed the device to measure dielectric constants, from which the dipole moments of organic substances were obtained. 

The dipole moments of isoxazoles with various functional groups are in agreement with the stmcture assigned to the Betti acid and with the properties of isoxazolcarboxylic acids [7, 8]. 

In systems capable of tautomerism, such as derivatives of isoxazoIin-5-one, the UV spectra of those with methyl derivatives corresponding to each of the tautomers in the same solvent can be compared. It is thus possible to assess approximately the degree of equilibrium of the same tautomers in various solvents. This method was subsequendy applied by other research groups as well. 

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Personal communication with one of the authors. lia Jovine Mazza (b. 1920), ptnsonal assistant to Professor Giovanni Speroni... 

Parrini V (1985) Ricordo di Giovanni Speroni. La Chimica e I Industria 67 455-456... 

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