NJC Blog

Barbara Klajnert, an Associate Professor in the Department of General Biophysics of the University of Lodz in Poland, studies the biological properties and medical applications of dendrimers and other nano objects. Her paper reports the first step to investigate the use of sugar modified PPI dendrimers as carriers of anti-leukemic drugs. The authors are seeking to solve the problem of drug resistance and reduce the side effects of chemotherapy. This research is a part of a multi-topic project entitled “Biological properties and biomedical application of dendrimers” operated within the Foundation for Polish Science TEAM program co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund. These researchers seek to use dendrimers’ unique properties in medical applications.
Barbara chose to become a researcher as it was her dream to deal with interdisciplinary subjects. This fits in well with her appreciation of NJC: “I enjoy the diversity of topics that are published in NJC. As an author I appreciate the fast track of publishing papers in this journal.”

Characteristics of complexes between poly(propylene imine) dendrimers and nucleotides by Aleksandra Szulc, Dietmar Appelhans, Brigitte Voit, Maria Bryszewska and Barbara Klajnert, New J. Chem., 2012, 36, 1610-1615. DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ40165G

In front of Shitenoji Temple, a very old temple in Tennoji, Osaka City. Of course, I am the middle one between my two sons.

Our next author is Professor Satoshi Shinoda who is in the Department of Chemistry of the Graduate School of Science of Osaka City University (Japan). Saotshi works in the general fields of coordination chemistry and supramolecular chemistry. His contribution to this month’s issue shows that by simply mixing common proteins with a lanthanide salt, they work as near-IR luminescent pH indicators in water. The authors explain that “proteins can be good ligands for lanthanide ions and for sensitizing their luminescence. We tried to use them for biological sensing in aqueous solution.” Satoshi marvels that “Chemistry experiments always gave unpredictable results for me. Even now it does not change.”
 

Ytterbium-substituted transferrin and lactoferrin for near-infrared luminescent pH indication by Satoshi Shinoda, Keiko Terada, Miyuki Eiraku Masaki, Yumiko Kataoka and Hiroshi Tsukube, New J. Chem., 2012, 36, 1545-1547. DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ40201G

Assistant Professor Evelina Colacino wished to associate her postdoctoral fellow Yoann Aubin in this profile, as he did all the work! Both are at the University of Montpellier II (France), in the Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM). Evelina and Yoann seek to develop new methodologies in asymmetric synthesis, green processes and catalysis using alternative solvents, with an emphasis on the design and synthesis of biologically important molecules such as peptides, nucleosides (-tides), terpenes and heterocyclic compounds.

Their NJC paper report a serendipitous discovery: an unprecedented directed oxidative cross-coupling of sulfahydantoins with aldehydes via a radical sulfonate–sulfinate conversion. N-Boc protected sulfahydantoins react in the presence of an aldehyde, leading to the aldolisation product. However, upon replacing the N-Boc group by a methanesulfonyl the unexpected aspartate semialdehyde derivative was unequivocally observed. The assembly of two carbonyl subunits by their alpha-carbon, which is undocumented to date, afforded 1,4-carbonyl derivatives through a direct oxidative cross-coupling reaction. Optimization of this new methodology will lead to a source of original peptidomimetic scaffolds with two new contiguous stereocenters, including a quaternary center.
In deciding to become a chemist, the critical question to be answered was ‘What type of chemist you want to be?’ Evelina and Yoann have chosen to work in the academic arena “for the freedom we have in developing our ideas and conducting the research we are mainly interested in. All chemists are artists for their creativity and inspiration. for their ability to study the matter, to manipulate it in order to materialize their  ideas in a masterpiece (a molecule, as for a painting or a sculpture…).
Their opinion of NJC is that as it covers different areas in chemistry, it is a multidisciplinary journal for scientists wishing to enlarge their knowledge beyond their own research field.

Unprecedented directed oxidative cross-coupling of sulfahydantoins with aldehydes via a radical sulfonate–sulfinate conversion by Yoann Aubin, Evelina Colacino, Djamel Bouchouk, Isabelle Chataigner, María del Mar Sánchez, Jean Martinez and Georges Dewynter, New J. Chem., 2012, 36, 1560-1563. DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ40294G

Next we meet Christoph Janiak, who is full professor of bioinorganic chemistry and catalysis at the Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf in Germany. His research interest range from metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), coordination polymers, chirality, supramolecular interactions and crystal engineering to metal nanoparticles: their synthesis and use in catalysis or in ionic liquids.
Christoph’s paper addresses the use of non-covalent interactions for the organization and separation of hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions as in the formation of monolayers, micelles, bilayers (in membranes) or liposomes from molecules with a polar head and a non-polar tail—a process which is highly relevant in nature. The chiral amino alcohols used in this project were initially simply intended to be easily accessible chiral synthons for the synthesis of chiral coordination networks. However, their interest has expanded beyond this simple use.
Christoph’s vocation for chemistry began in high school. “Pretty much from the first chemistry lesson from my chemistry teacher back then got me hooked on the subject. After a few weeks of high school chemistry I already decided that this is what I would want to do as a profession.” (Lucky Christoph to have had such an inspiring teacher!)
“I like the broad scope of NJC. I often find articles which combine synthesis with interesting ideas and “applications”, without being flashy and exaggerating. I am also happy that the journal seems to be well read and gives my articles visibility. (A perspective which I published in 2010 in NJC has already been cited 126 times by now.)”

Hydrophobic-exterior layer structures and magnetic properties of trinuclear copper complexes with chiral amino alcoholate ligands by Jana K. Maclaren, Joaquín Sanchiz, Pedro Gili and Christoph Janiak, New J. Chem., 2012, 36, 1596-1609. DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ40063D

Frédéric-Georges Fontaine is an Associate Professeur in the Chemistry Department, Université Laval (Quebec City, Canada), in the Centre sur les propriétés des surfaces et de la catalyse (CERPIC).
“We are globally interested in the development of green catalysts for small molecule functionalization and in the synthesis and reaction of transition metal complexes having group XIII ambiphilic ligands. Several groups are interested in supporting ruthenium asymmetric hydrogenation catalysts to limit the presence of toxic metals in synthetic drugs. (In this work) we have shown that chitosan is not only an interesting catalyst support, but also that the natural chirality of the biopolymer can be used for stereoselection in the hydrogenation of prochiral substrates.”
This research arose from a collaboration between the Fontaine research group, interested in catalysts development, and a colleague at the Université du Québec in Rimouski who is interested in the properties of chitosan. “It seemed like a natural match.”
Frédéric had to decide between becoming an architect or a chemist. Both disciplines require a lot of creativity and involve the building of novel architectures. “It took me only few days in an architecture major program to realize that I did not have the drawing skills needed to become an architect and that I was missing the science” notes Frédéric to explain how chemistry won out.

Homogeneous asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones using a ruthenium catalyst anchored on chitosan: natural chirality at work by Mathieu Babin, Roxanne Clément, Jonathan Gagnon and Frédéric-Georges Fontaine, New J. Chem., 2012, 36, 1548-1551. DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ40175D

Here is a selection of young author profiles from the 2012 July 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 Dr K. Swaminathan Iyer, who is currently an ARC Australian Research Fellow at the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the University of Western Australia. He is interested in nanobiotechnology and his contribution to this issue reports a method to develop a nanoscale drug-delivery agent using a block copolymer, with insight into how the drug-delivery vehicle can be monitored via two different imaging techniques, namely MRI and fluorescence imaging. “The most exciting moment in my research is to see a concept germinating into an experimentally verified reality” says Swaminathan. When asked for what the coolest thing about science is, he answered “A never ending opportunity to learn.” After work, cooking is a favoured leisure activity for Swaminathan.

“Multimodal and Multifunctional Stealth Block Copolymer Nanospheres for Sustained Drug Delivery” Cameron W. Evans,  Melissa J. Latter,  Diwei Ho,  Saquib Ahmed M. A. Peerzade,  Tristan D. Clemons,  Melinda Fitzgerald,  Sarah A. Dunlop and K. Swaminathan Iyer, New J. Chem, 2012 , 36, 1457–1462. DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ40016B.

Dr Lin Xu is a young lecturer in the Chemistry Department at East China Normal University. His research focuses on the field of fluorescent probes and sensors as well as small molecular inhibitors. As a first co-author, he contributed a paper in this issue on a new rhodamine-based fluorescent probe for Hg²⁺. The relevant ensemble can serve as a fluorescent probe for iodide and bromide by metal ion removal and anion ligand exchange, presenting a novel fluorescence sensing mechanism. “Teaching is a holy career. My passion motivates myself to be a good supervisor and a qualified researcher”. Besides teaching and research, he enjoys playing Ping-Pong, a national sport in China. For Dr. Xu, the coolest thing about science is that there is no end to science.

“Fluorescence sensing of iodide and bromide in aqueous solution: anion ligand exchanging and metal ion removing” L. Xu,  Y. Xu,  W. Zhu,  Z. Xu,  M. Chen and X. Qian, New J. Chem., 2012, 36, 1435–1438. DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ40102A.

Our first author is Matthias Tamm, who is Full Professor and Head of the Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry at the Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany. His current research interests are focused on Organometallic Chemistry, in particular homogeneous catalysis, alkyne metathesis, frustrated Lewis pairs and cycloheptatrienyl complexes. In a joint contribution to NJC, his group and the group of Prof. Yaofeng Chen (Shanghai) have brought together two comparatively uncommon aromatic p-systems, the formally (!) cationic tropylium ion and the boratabenzene anion, in 16-electron zirconium sandwich complexes. Addition of nucleophiles such as phosphines could have expected to occur either at the boron or at the zirconium atom, with the latter being exclusively observed.

“Boratatrozircenes: cycloheptatrienyl zirconium boratabenzene sandwich complexes – evaluation of potential η6–η5 hapticity interconversions” Andreas Glöckner, Peng Cui, Yaofeng Chen, Constantin G. Daniliuc, Peter G. Jones and Matthias Tamm, New J. Chem., 2012, 36, 1392-1398. DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ40059F.

Our next author is Giancarlo Cravotto from the University of Torino (Italy), who is Full Professor of Organic Chemistry and Director of the Department of Drug Science and Technology. Prof. Cravatto’s research activity is documented by more than 200 scientific peer-reviewed papers, several book chapters and patents. His main research interests are the synthesis of fine chemicals, cyclodextrin derivatives and bioactive compounds. These studies have paved the road to innovative synthetic procedures and the preparation of new catalysts and ionic liquids, exploiting non conventional techniques such as high-intensity ultrasound, microwaves, flow chemistry and ball milling. Prof. Cravotto is Editor of two international journals: Ultrasonics Sonochemistry (Elsevier) and Green Processing and Synthesis (De Gruyter).

 

When asked why did he decide to submit this work to NJC, Giancarlo answered: “NJC covers new fields of research and innovative technologies in a wide scenario of chemical activities. Our paper is an eloquent example of innovative synthetic procedure under non-conventional technique (mechanochemistry).”

 

“Suzuki cross-couplings of (hetero)aryl chlorides in the solid-state” Giancarlo Cravotto, Davide Garella, Silvia Tagliapietra, Achim Stolle, Stefan Schüßler, Silke E. S. Leonhardt and Bernd Ondruschka, New J. Chem., 2012, 36, 1304-1307. DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ40064B.

 

Chaojing Lu is Professor of Physics and Materials Science at the faculty of the College of Physics Science of Qingdao University in Qingdao, Shandong province (P. R. China). His current research interests are focused on ferroelectric materials of perovskite structure, including the orientation growth of ferroelectric thin films on metal electrodes, in-situ TEM study of ferroelectric domains, and ferroelectric/multiferroic nanomaterials for applications in both photocatalysis and photoelectric conversion. In this NJC Letter, Chaojing and co-workers report the synthesis of Bi₂Fe₄O₉ nanocrystals via a simple chemical co-precipitation method. The nanocrystals display a high photo-to-current conversion efficiency under visible irradiation, which is promising for applications in photoelectrode and solar energy conversion.

 

The interdisciplinary nature of the work, involving chemistry, physics, nanotechnology, and energy sciences made NJC a logical choice in the authors’ eyes. In addition, they appreciate that “the NJC review and publication processes are pretty fast.”

 

Outside of the lab, Chaojing’s favorite activity is friendship dancing and mountain climbing. He often climbs both Fushan and Laoshan mountains in Qingdao and enjoys the beautiful scenes of the two mountains very much. He is also easily inebriated in gentler dancing steps and classical dancing music. If he could not be a scientist, Chaojing would be a chef or a surgeon.

 

“Photo-to-current response of Bi2Fe4O9 nanocrystals synthesized through a chemical co-precipitation process” Yongping Li, Yongcheng Zhang, Wanneng Ye, Jianqiang Yu, Chaojing Lu and Linhua Xia, New J. Chem., 2012, 36, 1297-1300. DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ40039A.

 

Our last chemist for this month is Markus Albrecht, who is Professor of Organic Chemistry at the RWTH Aachen University, Germany. Prof. Albrecht’s research activity lies in the broad field of Supramolecular Chemistry. In collaboration with the group of Prof. Rissanen (University of Jyväskylä, Finland), this NJC article describes a systematic approach to position anions by directing effects above an electron deficient pi-system.

 

About NJC, Prof. Albrecht commented that: “NJC gives the opportunity to publish papers which are of interest to chemists in different research areas. In our case we published a physical organic study which is highly relevant to people working in the field of supramolecular chemistry or crystal engineering.”

 

Playing with his two boys or listening to music are Markus’ favorite activities outside the lab. When asked for an alternative career path, Markus unequivocally answered: “A scientist working somewhere else.”

 

“Controlling the position of anions relative to a pentafluorophenyl group” Michael Giese, Markus Albrecht, Katharina Wiemer, Arto Valkonen and Kari Rissanen, New J. Chem., 2012, 36, 1368-1372. DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ40089H.

 

Check back next month for more profiles of NJC authors!

 

Fancy submitting an article to NJC? Then why not submit to us today or alternatively email us your suggestions.

We are pleased to present a selection of our authors of the May 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 Oana R. Luca who is a Graduate Student at Yale University (USA) in the group of Prof. Robert H. Crabtree. Her current research interests are mainly focused on electrocatalysis, more specifically the production and storage of H₂. In her NJC paper, Oana and co-workers report on a Ni(II) complex with a redox-active pincer ligand which reduces protons effectively at a low overpotential in aqueous acidic conditions. A combined experimental and computational study provides mechanistic insights into an unusual putative catalytic cycle.

When asked what led to the publication of this article at NJC, Oana responds: “NJC is a forum for cutting-edge work in the chemical sciences”.

Out of the lab, Oana enjoys spending time with her friends, playing chess, reading and playing guitar. If Oana could not be a scientist, she would probably be a baker.

A tridentate Nickel pincer for aqueous electrocatalytic hydrogen production by Oana R. Luca, Steven J. Konezny, James D. Blakemore, Dominic M. Colosi, Shubhro Saha, Gary W. Brudvig, Victor S. Batista and Robert H. Crabtree, New J. Chem., 2012, 36, 1149-1152; DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ20912H.

Our next author is Mariano Venanzi, Associate Professor of Physical Chemistry at the University of Rome Tor Vergata (Italy). Mariano’s research interests focus on biotechnology, peptide materials and spectroscopy of biological molecules.

In this issue of NJC, Mariano has authored the article Glucosylated steroid-porphyrins as new tools for nanotechnology applications by R. Lettieri, D. Monti, Karel Zelenka, Tomáš Trnka, Pavel Drašar and M. Venanzi, New J. Chem., 2012, 36, 1246-1254; DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ20982A. “Porphyrins are versatile scaffolds that can be suitably engineered  for applications in different environments. The paper shows how the unique self-assembly properties of derivatized porphyrins can be exploited for forming complex supramolecular structures (mesoscopic aggregates, multilayer films, inclusion complexes in liposomes)”, explains Mariano who chooses NJC for publication of this article as “NJC is an authoritative journal edited by a prominent chemical society with a large readership”.

In his free time, Mariano loves spending time running, trekking and listening to music. If Mariano was not a scientist, he would have been a historian or a mystery fiction author.

Mark Moloney is Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oxford (UK).

His current research interest is synthetic organic chemistry in the areas of natural products, drug development and surface science.

In this NJC issue’s paper, Mark and co-workers describes the culmination of a large multidisciplinary project to demonstrate that the surface modification of materials can be used to control protein binding, and that this behaviour can be correlated with surface chemistry and with modern cheminformatic descriptors more normally used in the drug discovery process.

Post-Polymerisation Modification of Surface Chemical Functionality and its Effect on Protein Binding by Cleo Choong, J. S. Foord, Jon-Paul Griffiths, Emily M. Parker, Luo Baiwen, Meghali Bora and Mark G. Moloney, New J. Chem., 2012, 36, 1187-1200; DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ00002D.

“NJC was chosen as a highly attractive home for this work because of its wide readership and the fact that it encourages genuinely interdisciplinary work.”

Walking, swimming and gardening are Mark’s favourite activities. If he could not be a scientist, Mark would love to run a small-holding specialising in rare animal breeds.

Closing this month’s author selection, Yuxin Zhao is PhD student at the Griffith University (Australia).

His current research interest are metal-based nanomaterials, carbon-based nanocomposites and dye-sensitized solar cells. He has authored in this NJC issue the paper A Flexible Chemical Vapor Deposition Method to Synthesize Copper@Carbon Core-shell Structured Nanowires and Study of Their Structural Electrical Properties by Yuxin Zhao, Juan Wang, Ying Zhang, Yanpeng Li and Zifeng Yan, New J. Chem., 2012, 36, 1255-1264; DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ40036G.

Out of the lab, Yuxin’s favorite activity is Chinese traditional painting and if he was not a scientist, he would be an artist in oriental traditional painting.