Archive for June, 2013

Meet NJC team at summer conference season 2013

Summer Conferences are something we can’t afford to miss! The NJC editors will be attending a number of conferences in the coming weeks. We look forward to meeting you!

NJC is proud to support the following conferences:

Denise will represent NJC at the 20th EuCheMS conference on Organometallic Chemistry (EuCOMC), St Andrews, Scotland, 30 June-4 July 2013. NJC is the sponsor of the Young Plenary Lecturer Dr Florence Mongin from the University of Rennes.
18th European Symposium on Organic Chemistry (ESOC 2013) will be held in Marseille, on the Mediterranean coast of France, at the beginning of July (7th to 12th).   The Palais du Pharo Vieux Port will welcome about 900 participants, including NJC Assistant Editor Ling Peng.
NJC Editor-in-chief Wais Hosseini will be at the International Conference on Advanced Complex Inorganic Nanomaterials, to be held in Namur, Belgium (15–19 July).
NJC is delighted to sponsor the Tuesday evening Poster Session at the 16th International Conference on Bio-Inorganic Chemistry (ICBIC), which will take place in Grenoble from 22–26 July 2013.
The exciting chemistry conference for the Asian community, the 15th Asian Chemical Congress (15 ACC), is returning to its birthplace – Singapore – from 19–23 August. NJC Associate Editor Peter Junk will be there.
We are delighted to be partner of the Groupe d’Etude de Chimie Organique (GECO), which will meet for the 54th time this year. This conference, organized by Erwan Le Grognec, will take place in Croisic (France) at the end of August from the 25th to 30th.

If you are planning on attending any of these conferences please don’t hesitate to email the editorial office to arrange a meeting!

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NJC Poster Prizes for Synthetic Organic Chemistry

Synthetic organic chemistry is the common theme of the research projects that were awarded NJC poster prizes at 3 regional meetings held this past spring.

Irene accepts her NJC poster prize presented by Prof. Elisabet Dunach.

Ms Justine Giauffret & Dr Irene Notar-Francesco (in the group of Sylvain Antoniotti at the Institute of Chemistry in Nice) shared the first prize for their work on the tandem cyclosimerisation and thioacylation of 1,6-enynes catalysed by supported noble metal nanoparticles. This poster was presented at the PACA region (southeastern France) meeting of the French Chemical Society (SCF) in April.

The unexpected product obtained by Justine and Irene.

 

Nathalie, winner of the NJC poster Prize.

A month later, on the other side of France in Brittany, Ms Nathalie Camus was awarded the NJC poster prize at the northwestern France regional meeting of the SCF. Nathalie is a doctoral student in the group of Raphael Tripier at the Université de Bretagne Occidentale; her poster presented the C-functionalisation of cyclams to make bifunctional chelating ligands for use in nuclear medicine.

Design of the bifunctional chelating cyclam.

 

Prof. Erick Carreira presents Alexandre with his NJC poster prize.

Moving back to the southeast to Grenoble, Mr Alexandre Cannillo was the NJC poster prize winner at the 3rd Francophone Symposium on Total Synthesis. His award-winning work used domino Petasis Diels-Alder reactions to synthesise enantiopure polycyclic compounds. Alexandre is a graduate student at the Institute on the Chemistry of Natural Substances in Gif-sur-Yvette, working under the direction of Jean-Marie Beau and Stéphanie Norsikian.

Polycyclic compounds synthesised from readily available starting materials by domino reactions.

 

Congratulations to all of our winners! We wish them continuing success with their research projects and a bright future in chemistry.

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NJC Hot Articles

Here are the latest Hot Articles published in NJC, selected by the journal editorial team. All are free to access for one month, so why not take your pick and have a read now? 

See the selection 

Bromine kinetic isotope effects: insight into Grignard reagent formation by Lukasz Szatkowski, Agnieszka Dybala-Defratyka, Charlie Batarseh, Jochanan Blum, Ludwik Halicz and Faina Gelman ; New J. Chem., 2013, Advance Article; DOI: 10.1039/C3NJ00197K, Letter 

 

Molecularly imprinted La-doped mesoporous titania films with hydrolytic properties toward organophosphate pesticides by Davide Carboni, Luca Malfatti, Alessandra Pinna, Barbara Lasio, Yasuaki Tokudome, Masahide Takahashi and Plinio Innocenzi; New J. Chem., 2013, Advance Article; DOI: 10.1039/C3NJ00291H, Paper 

 

4-Aminoquinoline-1,3,5-triazine: Design, synthesis, in vitro antimalarial activity and docking studies by Hans Raj Bhat, Udaya Pratap Singh, Prashant Gahtori, Surajit Kumar Ghosh, Kabita Gogoi, Anil Prakash and Ramendra K. Singh; New J. Chem., 2013, Advance Article; DOI: 10.1039/C3NJ00317E, Paper 

 

Multi-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy of thorium, neptunium and plutonium hexacyanoferrate compound 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, Advance Article; DOI: 10.1039/C3NJ00318C, Paper

 

 

Spiropyran–cholesterol conjugate as a photoresponsive organogelator by Shigehiro Sumiya, Yasuhiro Shiraishi and Takayuki Hirai; New J. Chem., 2013, Advance Article; DOI: 10.1039/C3NJ00322A, Paper 

 

Anion–π interactions in [S4N3]+ rings by Antonio Bauzá, David Quiñonero, Pere M. Deyà and Antonio Frontera; New J. Chem., 2013, Advance Article; DOI: 10.1039/C3NJ00424D, Paper 

 

  

Interested in reading further? These “Hot articles” will be FREE to access for a period of 4 weeks.To stay up-to-date with the latest NJC developments, sign up to its table-of-contents email alert!

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NJC at the 96th Canadian Chemistry Conference in Quebec City

Clockwise from upper left: Place Royale, St Louis gate, Chateau Frontignac, old city signs, statue of S Champlain, St Louis street. (Photos by D Parent.)

After the wilderness of Georgian Bay, I was off to discover the old world charm of Quebec City, host of the 96th Canadian Chemistry Conference.

NJC sponsored two of the symposia included in the programming:
— “Novel Aromatic Compounds: Molecular Materials and Devices” organised by Graham Bodwell and Yuming Zhao (both at Memorial University of Newfoundland)
— “Recent Developments in Pincer Chemistry and Multidentate Ligands” organised by Davit Zargarian (University of Montreal), Hairong Guan (University of Cincinnati ) and Dmitiri Gousev (Wilfrid Laurier University )

For inorganic chemists the “place to be” at CCC was the pincer ligands symposium during the 3 days that it was held. It was SRO (“standing room only”) at times, as people came to hear some of the top experts speak, people like Gerard van Koten, Bob Crabtree, Mike Fryzuk, Alan Goldman, Dan Mindiola and Oleg Ozerov, who were the plenary lecturers

The novel aromatic compounds symposium had the feeling of a family reunion—convivial with a faithful crowd in attendance. The topics ranged from synthesis to properties to applications with plenary speakers Remi Chauvin, Ben King, Rik Tykwinski, Thomas Baumgartner, Alex Adronov, Will Skene and Dmitri Perepichka.

Novel Aromatic Compounds speakers' dinner with NJC editor Denise Parent and CCC Scientific Chair Thierry Ollevier.

At the end of each symposium, NJC hosted the speakers’ dinner with the organisers. Chic French cuisine was served up for the organic group, while the inorganic chemists were treated to hearty Quebecois cooking. It looks like everyone had a good time, enjoying the food and the company.

Next year’s meeting will be held in Vancouver from June 1–5. I for one certainly look forward to attending.

Photos from the Pincer Ligands speakers' dinner hosted by NJC. (Photos courtesy of G Wilson.)

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Meet Our Authors – June Issue 2013

by Ling PENG

Here is a selection of young author profiles from the 2013 June special China issue of NJC. We thank them most warmly for accepting our invitation and having kindly taken their time to answer a few questions for us.

Our first author is Prof. Kenneth Kam-Wing Lo, who is currently a professor of chemistry at City University of Hong Kong.  He is interested in developing luminescent inorganic and organometallic transition metal complexes as biomolecular and cellular probes, with a focus on intracellular sensors, photoactive labels and bioimaging reagents. His contribution to this issue is the exploration of the phosphorescence properties of rhenium(I) polypyridine complexes for conceiving new sensors for nitric oxide, which is an extremely important molecule involved in many biological processes. “The most exciting moment in my research is to discover unexpected results” says Lo. When asked for what the coolest thing about science is. He answered “To be able to explain what has happened, and predict (and control) what will happen.”

Rhenium(I) polypyridine complexes functionalized with a diaminoaromatic moiety as phosphorescent sensors for nitric oxide by Alex Wing-Tat Choi, Che-Shan Poon, Hua-Wei Liu, Heung-Kiu Cheng and Kenneth Kam-Wing Lo, New J. Chem., 2013, 37, 1711-1719, DOI: 10.1039/C3NJ00033H

Dr. Jinbo Hu is a research professor at Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry (SIOC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). He is a specialist in organofluorine chemistry. “I like fundamental research in fluorine chemistry, and enjoy the process of discovery and re-discovery.” affirms Jinbo. He contributed a paper entitled “DIAD-mediated metal-free cross dehydrogenative coupling between tertiary amines and α-fluorinated sulfones” to this special issue. When asked what it would be if he could solve any scientific problem in any field, he answered “I would like to find an efficient way to cure any type of cancer”.

DIAD-mediated metal-free cross dehydrogenative coupling between tertiary amines and α-fluorinated sulfones by Weizhou Huang, Chuanfa Ni, Yanchuan Zhao and Jinbo Hu , New J. Chem., 2013, 37, 1684-1687 , DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ40842B

Prof. Zhen Li is a professor of chemistry at Wuhan University. His research focuses on the development of organic molecules and polymers with new structures and new functions for organic electronics and photonics. In this special issue, he and his colleagues contributed a paper on self-assembly effect in NLO polymers containing isolation chromophores: enhanced NLO coefficient and stability. “I would like to find something new, and create something new” claimed Zhen.

The self-assembly effect in NLO polymers containing isolation chromophores: enhanced NLO coefficient and stability by Wenbo Wu, Zhen Xu, Ying Xiong, Shaohui Xin, Hongding Tang, Cheng Ye, Guofu Qiu, Jingui Qin and Zhen Li ,  New J. Chem., 2013, 37, 1789-1796 , DOI: 10.1039/C3NJ00048F

Prof. Zhixiang Wei is a professor and the Head of Laboratory for Nanodevices at National Center for Nanoscience and Technology in Beijing. His research interest centers on the self-assembly and flexible devices. In his contribution to this speical issue, he presented a facile strategy to enhance the fill factor of ternary blend solar cells by increasing charge carrier mobility and optimizing the morphology of active layers. “I like creative work, and enjoy the new findings from my groups as well as from others.”, says Prof. Wei. For him, “Learn from nature, and do more than nature” is the coolest thing about science.

A facile strategy to enhance the fill factor of ternary blend solar cells by increasing charge carrier mobility by Kun Lu, Jin Fang, Xiangwei Zhu, Han Yan, Denghua Li, Chong’an Di, Yanlian Yang and Zhixiang Wei, New J. Chem., 2013, 37, 1728-1735, DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ41039G

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NJC’s special China issue is now published!

The June issue of NJC, which explores chemistry in China today, follows up on the NJC Editorial Board’s visit to Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing last year.

 This issue includes 3 Perspective reviews and 24 original research papers, covering a wide range of topics in chemistry, as befits the broad scope of New Journal of Chemistry.

The Perspectives review progress in the areas of:
* fluorescent chemosensors based on fluorenes (by the groups of Ping Lu and Yanguang Wang of Zhejiang University);
* hydroxylation of benzene using molecular sieve-based catalysts (by the groups of Tao Jiang and Buxing Han at the IC-CAS in Beijing);
* blue phosphorescent dyes for OLEDs (by the groups of Cheuk-Lam Ho and Wai-Yeung Wong at Hong Kong Baptist University).

“Fluorescent chemosensors based on 9-cycloheptatrienylidene fluorenes (9-CHFs)” by Binbin Hu, Ping Lu and Yanguang Wang, New J. Chem., 2013, 37, 1645-1653. DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ41063J
“Catalytic hydroxylation of benzene to phenol with hydrogen peroxide using catalysts based on molecular sieves” by Tao Jiang, Weitao Wang and Buxing Han, New J. Chem., 2013, 37, 1654-1664. DOI: 10.1039/C3NJ41163J
“Small-molecular blue phosphorescent dyes for organic light-emitting devices” by Cheuk-Lam Ho and Wai-Yeung Wong, New J. Chem., 2013, 37, 1665-1683. DOI: 10.1039/C3NJ00170A

The work of two other groups is featured on the covers:
* polypyridine complexes as sensors for nitric oxide (a contribution from the group of Kenneth Kam-Wing Lo at City University of Hong Kong) are presented on the outside front cover in a depiction of the traditional fire dragon dance;
* naphthalene diimides for organic n-type semiconductors (work done by the group of Deqing Zhang at the IC-CAS in Beijing) are highlighted the inside front cover.

“Rhenium(I) polypyridine complexes functionalized with a diaminoaromatic moiety as phosphorescent sensors for nitric oxide” by Alex Wing-Tat Choi, Che-Shan Poon, Hua-Wei Liu, Heung-Kiu Cheng and Kenneth Kam-Wing Lo, New J. Chem., 2013, 37, 1711-1719. DOI: 10.1039/C3NJ00033H
“New core-expanded naphthalene diimides with different functional groups for air-stable solution-processed organic n-type semiconductors” by Xin Chen, Jianguo Wang, Guanxin Zhang, Zitong Liu, Wei Xu and Deqing Zhang, New J. Chem., 2013, 37, 1720-1727. DOI: 10.1039/C3NJ00050H

We are very thankful to the three guest editors (Vivian W.W. Yam, Xuhong Qian and Jiannian Yao) who organised this issue, and to all of the authors who submitted their papers for inclusion in this themed issue.

 

We sincerely hope that you enjoy reading this issue—let us know what you think of it!

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Georgian Bay Day at Killbear Park

After 3 full days, Martin Stillman offered participants in CanBIC-4 a day of R&R in Killbear Provincial Park. Boarding a big yellow school bus (it’s been over 40 years since I last rode one in high school!) we were taken to the park, where we split into 2 groups. I’d opted for the “kayak in the afternoon” group (we’ll see later how that worked out) so my group started the morning with a talk on snakes.

An Eastern Foxsnake found in Ontario

Jimmy, a domesticated Eastern Foxsnake

The star of this “show-and-tell” presentation was undoubtedly Jimmy, an Eastern Foxsnake, which is an endangered species. Jimmy was illegally taken from his natural home to live in an apartment, during which time he became thoroughly domesticated. Jimmy has now lived in the park’s visitor centre for 11 years and he loves to be handled by visitors.

 

Jimmy, an Eastern Foxsnake

Jimmy enjoying a snuggle!

View along Georgian Bay at Killbear park.

Our group then headed out for a walk along the Georgian Bay shore to learn all about lichens. Our guide Jessica had done extensive research to prepare for our learned group. While Jessica pointed out various species of lichens, she told us many interesting facts about them: the symbiotic relationship (or not?) between a fungus and a photosynthetic parter (green algae or cyanobacterium); their classification and distribution; modes of reproduction; their chemistry and finally applications, such as dyes.

For me the most provocative fact was that 3 species of lichens are able to degrade the toxic form of prions, which normally are very resistant to degradation. Yes, lichens have prions, though since they have no central nervous system they are not subject to the diseases that prions can cause. So why would some specific lichens be able to degrade toxic prions?

Some leafy lichens

 

Very bright green lichens!

 

Strange black lichens

Kayaking on Georgian Bay

The morning group kayaking on Georgian Bay.

After a picnic on the beach, it was my group’s turn to go out kayaking on the bay, in tandem boats (excuse me, kayaks!). After a quick tutorial on how to put on the “skirt” that seals you into the kayak (our first challenge), how to paddle, and the responsibilities of each team member (brawn in the front, brains in the back—of course I was in the back for lack of the former), we set off for some exercise.

And exercise it was! Many of us had opted to kayak in the afternoon, thinking it would be warmer and indeed it was. However, the wind had come up in the early afternoon, leading to choppy water and a much harder row for those of us out there. We didn’t make it as far as the morning group, and on our way back, against the wind, the shore seemed to remain out of reach, until we finally arrived. And that is when it happened—trying to get out of the kayak I didn’t coordinate very well with my partner and ended up “sitting down” in the water. Yikes!

Finally, some relaxation: time for a BBQ and convivial talk to end the day, before returning to Parry Sound.

If there’s one word that characterises Martin, it has to be energy—boundless energy—and one needs plenty of it to keep up with him, even in fun!

A view of Georgian Bay at Killbear Park Myself on the rocky shore of Georgian Bay Killbear Park shore

All photos copyright Denise Parent

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