NJC Blog

We are pleased to present a selection of our authors of the October issue of NJC. We thank each of them for accepting our invitation and having kindly taken some of their time to answer a few questions for us.

Our first author is Fatima C. Teixeira who is a Researcher at the Laboratorio Nacional de Energia e Geologia in Lisboa (Portugal). Her current research interests are in the field of organic chemistry, especially in the synthesis and characterization of heterocyclic compounds containing phosphonate groups. Currently, her research is focused on the preparation of precursors for new materials for proton exchange membranes with high conductivity for fuel cells. In her NJC paper, Fatima and co-workers report on a new strategy for the synthesis of new diphosphonated azaheterocyclic compounds to become precursors for novel membrane materials for fuel cells. Also, the NMR analysis shows, for a benzimidazole derivative, the presence of only one or both tautomeric forms on the NMR timescale, depending on the solvent and concentration of the solution.

When asked what led to the publication of this article at NJC, Fatima responds: “We choose NJC due to its multidisciplinarity, with a broad and diverse readership, fast publishing time and high quality”.

Out of the lab, Fatima likes to spend time with her family, going to cinema, swimming, reading or travelling.

If Fatima could not be a scientist, she will probably be an engineer.

New azaheterocyclic aromatic diphosphonates for hybrid materials for fuel cell applications by Fátima C. Teixeira, C. M. Rangel and António P. S. Teixeira, New J. Chem., 2013,37, 3084-309 DOI: 10.1039/C3NJ00585B.

Our next author is Ricardo Gargano, Professor at the Institute of Physics of the University of Brasilia (Brazil). Ricardo’s research interests focus on electronic structure calculation and kinetic and dynamic of molecular systems.

In this issue of NJC, Ricardo has authored the article An extensive investigation of reactions involved in the nitrogen trifluoride dissociation by Simone S. Ramalho, Wiliam F. da Cunha, Alessandra F. Albernaz, Pedro H. O. Neto, Geraldo Magela e Silva and Ricardo Gargano, New J. Chem., 2013, 37, 3244-3251 DOI: 10.1039/C3NJ00553D. “The results obtained in our work are of potential use for comparison in future theoretical and experimental works in the NF₃ decomposition mechanism”, explains Ricardo who chooses NJC for publication of this article as NJC publishes innovative, original and significant works in Chemistry.

In his free time, Ricardo loves playing soccer and if he was not a scientist, he would like to be a soccer player.

Closing this month’s author selection, Christophe Den Auwer is Professor at the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis in the Institut de Chimie de Nice (France).

His current research interest is radiochemistry – Actinide chemistry in interaction with biotope and human toxicology

He has authored in this NJC issue the paper Multi-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy of thorium, neptunium and plutonium hexacyanoferrate compounds by Thomas Dumas, Marie Christine Charbonnel, Iraida A. Charushnikova, Steven D. Conradson, Clara Fillaux, Christoph Hennig, Philippe Moisy, Sébastien Petit, Andreas C. Scheinost, David K. Shuh, Tolek Tyliszczak and Christophe Den Auwer, New J. Chem., 2013,37, 3003-3016 DOI: 10.1039/C3NJ00318C3. “This paper which is part of the PhD thesis of Thomas Dumas describes some fundamental aspects of actinide chemistry. Few years ago when I was at Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique (CEA) we launched this work on actinide hexacynometallates because the cyanometallate chemistry is so rich.” says Christophe.

Out of the lab, Christophe favourite activities are Mountain hiking and back country skiing.

To the question, If you could not be a scientist but could be anything else, what would you be? Christophe answers “It is of course difficult to answer but I would have liked to work in another type of creating occupation because imagination in science or in artistic fields is the most enjoyable part of our work.”

We are pleased to present a selection of our authors of the March issue of NJC. We thank each of them for accepting our invitation and having kindly taken some of their time to answer a few questions for us.

Our first author is Thomas Maschmeyer who is Professor of Chemistry at the University of Sidney (Australia) and Director of the Laboratory of Catalysis for Sustainability. His current research interests concerns all aspects of catalysis from new complexes, new materials and performance studies to process development and pilot plants – with the common theme of enhancing sustainability. Thomas and co-workers provide in his NJC paper a basis for the preparation of supported bismuth species and highlights unusual band gap shifts associated with supported cluster size variation.

Thomas chooses NJC as it is a journal that appeared ideal for the dissemination of this type of work that lies at the boundaries of a range of disciplines.

Outside of the lab, Thomas enjoys Kayaking. If he could not be a scientific researcher, he would be an engineer or a novelist.

Unprecedented blue-shift in bismuth oxide supported on mesoporous silica by Antony J. Ward, Anne M. Rich, Anthony F. Masters and Thomas Maschmeyer, New J. Chem., 2013, 37, 593-600 ; DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ40847C, paper.

Our next author is Robert B. King, regents’ Professor Emeritus, University of Georgia (USA); and adjunct Professor of Chemistry, Babeş-Bolyai University (Romania); Associate Director of the Center for Computational Quantum Chemistry, South China Normal University (China) and Academic Co-Director of the Research Center for Advanced Computation, Xihua University (China). Robert’s research interests are centred on computational inorganic and organometallic chemistry.

In this issue of NJC, Robert has authored the article Diverse bonding modes of the tetramethyleneethane ligand in binuclear iron carbonyl derivatives by Huidong Li, Hao Feng, Weiguo Sun, Qunchao Fan, Yaoming Xie and R. Bruce King, New J. Chem., 2013, 37, 709-716 ; DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ40644F, paper. “A paper in which density functional methods is used to explore the chemistry of tetramethyleneethane iron carbonyl derivatives related to species originally obtained from reactions of allene with iron carbonyls” explains Robert who chooses NJC for publication of this article as this work is interdisciplinary since it applies methods from quantum physics and chemistry to an area of organometallic chemistry.

In his free time, Robert loves contract Bridge (Bronze Life Master), travel to unusual places and music.

Closing this month’s author selection, Dr. Feng Li is Associate Professor at the Nanjing University of Science and Technology, P. R. China.

His current research interest is organic synthesis/design, exploration and development of environmentally friendly reactions and he has authored in this NJC issue the paper Regioselective N-alkylation with alcohols for the preparation of 2-(N-alkylamino)quinazolines and 2-(N-alkylamino)pyrimidines by Feng Li, Lin Chen, Qikai Kang, Jianguang Cai and Guangjun Zhu, New J. Chem., 2013, 37, 624-631 ; DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ41021D, Paper.

This paper shows that in the presence of the [Cp*IrCl₂]₂/NaOH system, the direct N-alkylation of 2-aminoquinazolines and 2-aminopyrimidines with alcohols afforded the N-exosubstituted 2-(N-alkylamino)quinazolines and 2-(N-alkylamino)pyrimidines with high yields and complete regioselectivities. The protocol is highly attractive because of easily available starting materials, high atom efficiency and environmental friendliness.

“NJC is prospective and promising journal in the field of chemistry”, says Feng.

Out of the lab, Feng’s favorite activity is sport. If he could not be a scientist, Feng would probably be an Art designer.

We are pleased to present a selection of our authors of the October issue of NJC. We thank each of them for accepting our invitation and having kindly taken some of their time to answer a few questions for us.

Our first author is Khaleda Banu who is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of California San Diego (USA). Her current research interests are mainly focused on the synthesis of metal and semiconductor nanoparticles and their application in the fields of renewable energy and microbial fuel cells. In her NJC paper, Khaleda and co-workers report on how a simple modification to the solid-matrix method could generate large-scale transparent gold nanosheets up to 50 mm in size that are attractive for the development of new biosensors.

When asked what led to the publication of this article at NJC, Khaleda responds: “The present paper is an extension of previous work published in NJC. Our intention was to publish a series of papers on the proposed electroless method for the deposition of various metal nanoparticles which can receive the attention of the interested readers”.

Out of the lab, Khaleda enjoy kid’s gymnastic activities, teaching students and reviewing papers.

If Khaleda could not be a scientist, she would probably like to be an actress or a professional chess player.

Synthesis of large-scale transparent gold nanosheets sandwiched between stabilizers at a solid–liquid interface
by Khaleda Banu and Takayoshi Shimura, New J. Chem., 2012, 36, 2112-2120; DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ40478H.

Our next author is Huanshun Yin, Lecturer at the Shandong Agricultural University (China). Huanshun’s research interests focus on electroanalytical chemistry, electrochemical biosensors and electrochemical immunoassays.

In this issue of NJC, Huanshun has authored the article MicroRNA-21 detection based on molecular switching by amperometry by Yunlei Zhou, Zhaoyan Zhang, Zhenning Xu, Huanshun Yin and Shiyun Ai, New J. Chem., 2012, 36, 1985-1991; DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ40253J. “We developed an assay method that can discriminate complementary base mismatched microRNA sequences. More importantly, this biosensor assay reveals that microRNA-21 is highly expressed in human HeLa cells and in normal human hepatic cells. We think that such a method would be valuable in clinical diagnostics”, explains Huanshun who chooses NJC for publication of this article as NJC is an RSC important international journal.

In his free time, Huanshun loves spending time doing car rides. If Huanshun was not a scientist, he would have been a teacher.

Dyanne Cruickshang is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Cape Town (South Africa).

Her current research interest is the beneficiation of both agrochemicals and other active pharmaceutical ingredients using supramolecular methods such as co-crystallisation and cyclodextrin inclusion which has been her focus over the last few years.

In this NJC issue paper, Dyanne and co-authors highlight the ability of highly toxic and persistent agrochemical to form cyclodextrin inclusion complexes. The work presented focuses mainly on the single crystal structure of the complex between dimethylated b-cyclodextrin and endosulfan. It also shows how the potential of cyclodextrins in the agrochemical industry and how these molecules could be used for sequestering the insecticides from contaminated areas.

A solid-state study of the inclusion of endosulfan in native and derivatised cyclodextrins using X-ray diffraction and thermoanalytical methods by Dyanne L. Cruickshank, Susan A. Bourne and Mino R. Caira, New J. Chem., 2012, 36, 2007-2013; DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ40364A.

“NJC was chosen as it contains articles spanning a wide spectrum of interests to the scientific community. This journal seemed like an ideal way to demonstrate the relatively new area of cyclodextrin inclusion of agrochemicals and the potential applications of these complexes.”

Cycling, running or swimming along the Cape Peninsula in preparation for various triathlon events are Dyanne’s favourite activities. She also enjoys travelling and trying the local foods. If she could not be a scientist, Dyanne would probably be involved in some sort of teaching career.

Closing this month’s author selection, Marian Davolos is Full Professor at the Sao Paulo State University (Brazil).

Her current research interest is investigating optical properties of inorganic materials. She has authored in this NJC issue the paper Synthesis of a functionalized europium complex and deposition of luminescent Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) films by Renata D. Adati, Felippe J. Pavinatto, Jorge H. S. K. Monteiro, Marian R. Davolos, Miguel Jafelicci and Osvaldo N. Oliveira, New J. Chem., 2012, 36, 1978-1984; DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ40199A. “An anionic europium complex stabilized by and amphiphilic cation was proven amenable to deposit as LB films with relatively intense luminescence and good stability” says Marian.

Out of the lab, Marian’s favorite activity is to grow and to care for orchids and if she was not a scientist, she would be a florist or a gardener.

Marian also says that “To grow and care for plants is fantastic, especially when they give beautiful flowers and fruits. Teaching, lecturing, advising scientific work of students and guiding them to work and to make scientific research part of their life is highly satisfactory compared to growing delicate plants. Renata D. Adati, a co-author in this paper, that is part of her thesis, was one of my specials PhD students.”