Meet Our Authors – August 2011

Here is a selection of author profiles from the August issue of NJC. The editorial team would like to warmly thank them for accepting the invitation, giving us the opportunity to know some of our fellow chemists a little better.

Our first author is Stefan Bräse, who is Full Professor for Organic Chemistry and has been the Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry for four consecutive years at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Karlsruhe, Germany. His research interests cover a wide range of organic chemistry reaching from total synthesis over solid phase chemistry to molecular transporters and carbohydrate chemistry. For some time now, Stefan Bräse has also been interested in nanosciences with a special focus on material chemistry. He is an active member of the Center for Functional Nanostructures (CFN) and, very recently, the Karlsruhe School of Optics and Photonic (KSOP) within the KIT. His latest contribution to NJC is a joint research project with colleagues from the KIT and Italy and deals with the generation and characterization of a Hyper-Cross-linked Polymer via Click chemistry. An adamantane based HCP exhibits efficient CO2 capture at low pressure

Besides the lab Stefan enjoys gardening around his recently finished house and spending time with his wife and their 10 months old son. Stefan is also keen on taking part in his group’s famous summer barbecue evenings.

“Click chemistry produces hyper-cross-linked polymers with tetrahedral cores”, Oliver Plietzsch, Christine I. Schilling, Tobias Grab, Stephan L. Grage, Anne S. Ulrich, Angiolina Comotti, Piero Sozzani, Thierry Muller and Stefan Bräse, New J. Chem., 201135, 1577-1581. DOI: 10.1039/C1NJ20370C.




Scott McIndoe is Associate Professor at the University of Victoria, Canada. He is currently working in the field organometallic catalyst discovery using ESI-MS . In this NJC paper, Scott and coworkers were interested in ensuring that their ESI-MS results are representative of solution speciation, and they discovered some interesting phenomena when exploring the degree to which they could leave ions partially solvated. They found that some fundamental solution properties of ions, notably their acidity, are reflected in their gas-phase behavior.

On choosing NJC to publish this work, Scott comments that “It touches on a broad range of topics, from the lanthanide contraction to ion acidity to the details of the electrospray ionisation mechanism, so we thought it deserved a broad audience”.

Outside of the lab, getting his hands dirty designing, making, and growing things is Scott’s favorite activity. If he could not be a scientist, he would be a professional cricketer.

“Blurring the line between solution and the gas phase: collision-induced dissociation of hypersolvated lanthanide trications provides insights into solution acidity”, Jennifer Pape, Keri McQuinn, Fraser Hof and J. Scott McIndoe, New J. Chem., 201135, 1582-1587. DOI: 10.1039/C1NJ20105K.

The next author is Plinio Innocenzi, Full Professor of Materials Science and Head of the Materials Science and Nanotechnology Laboratory at the University of Sassari, Italy. His research group is currently working on self-assembled nanomaterials, hybrid sol-gel materials for photonics, and X-ray lithography for soft matter. In their paper, Plinio and his team explore the possibility of using self-assembly to fabricate hierarchical porous materials as a very challenging road to master complexity. They believe that controlling the porosity in a material in terms of size and shape through a one-pot synthesis is a little step forward to get more complex materials.

The wide diffusion of NJC, with a particular attention to innovative nanochemistry synthesis, was Plinio’s motivation behind his submission to the journal.

Outside the lab, Plinio appreciates spending time with my family. Beside this he really like swimming : “I swim a couple of km almost every day, this is a very nice way of relaxing and thinking about science. I like also reading and sailing (sometimes at the same time…).” Because Plinio is so much happy to be a scientist, he cannot imagine to do anything else.

“Controlling shape and dimensions of pores in organic–inorganic films: nanocubes and nanospheres”, Plinio Innocenzi, Luca Malfatti, Daniela Marongiu and Maria F. Casula, New J. Chem., 201135, 1624-1629. DOI: 10.1039/C1NJ20186G.

Closing this month’s selection, we are pleased to present Michael H. Abraham, Honorary Professor at the University College London, UK. Michael research focuses on physical organic chemistry, especially as applied to environmental chemistry and medicinal/pharmaceutical chemistry. His paper contributes to the considerable discussion on the role of ion pairs in water-solvent partition and in membrane partition and permeation. It has been difficult to reach any conclusions so far, mainly because little is known about any properties of ion pairs that are relevant to partitioning and permeation processes. The aim in starting this work was to obtain physicochemical properties (or descriptors) of ion pairs that would allow quantitative assessment of the ability of ion pairs to undergo partition and permeation, especially by comparison to ionic species and neutral molecules.

NJC is a highly regarded journal that covers a wide range of  chemistry, including physical organic chemistry. The chosen reviewers for our manuscripts that we have previously submitted have always been knowledgeable and very perceptive, and an additional advantage is that time to publication is short.”, says Michael.

Michael is also a professional artist (painter) and so a great deal of his activity revolves around the practice of painting. This includes not only painting in the studio, but going out looking for sites for landscape painting, and a lot of time spent in setting up exhibitions. Michael also very keen on classical music concerts especially chamber music. When asked for an alternative career path if not a scientist, Michael naturally answered: “I suppose that my other profession, that as an artist, would have taken over as my sole profession.”

“Hydrogen bond descriptors and other properties of ion pairs”, Michael H. Abraham and William E. Acree, New J. Chem., 201135, 1740-1750. DOI: 10.1039/C1NJ20324J.

Thanks to all of you, and see you next month for more!

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












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June’s Top 10: the most popular NJC articles

NJC’s most downloaded articles in June 2011

June’s hit parade of downloaded articles from 2011 includes one Focus and three Perspective reviews.

Rare earths: jewels for functional materials of the future
Svetlana V. Eliseeva and Jean-Claude G. Bünzli
New J. Chem., 2011, 35, 1165-1176. DOI: 10.1039/C0NJ00969E, Perspective

An excellent BODIPY dye containing a benzo[2,1,3]thiadiazole bridge as a highly selective colorimetric and fluorescent probe for Hg2+ with naked-eye detection
Hui-Bin Sun, Shu-Juan Liu, Ting-Chun Ma, Nan-Nan Song, Qiang Zhao and Wei Huang
New J. Chem., 2011, 35, 1194-1197. DOI: 10.1039/C0NJ00850H, Letter

Application of ferrocene and its derivatives in cancer research
Cátia Ornelas
New J. Chem., 2011, Advance Article. DOI: 10.1039/C1NJ20172G, Perspective

Lanthanide-based luminescent molecular thermometers
Carlos D. S. Brites, Patricia P. Lima, Nuno J. O. Silva, Angel Millán, Vitor S. Amaral, Fernando Palacio and Luís D. Carlos
New J. Chem., 2011, Advance Article. DOI: 10.1039/C0NJ01010C, Perspective

A rigid metallohexameric macrocycle composed of endo- and exo-cyclic bisterpyridine-metal complexes
Sinan Li, Charles N. Moorefield, Carol D. Shreiner, Pingshan Wang, Rajarshi Sarkar and George R. Newkome
New J. Chem., 2011, Advance Article. DOI: 10.1039/C1NJ20195F, Paper

An efficient naphthalimide based fluorescent dyad (ANPI) for F and Hg2+ mimicking OR, XNOR and INHIBIT logic functions
Mohammad Shahid, Priyanka Srivastava and Arvind Misra
New J. Chem., 2011, Advance Article. DOI: 10.1039/C1NJ20058E, Paper

Preparation of graphene–TiO2 composites with enhanced photocatalytic activity
Kangfu Zhou, Yihua Zhu, Xiaoling Yang, Xin Jiang and Chunzhong Li
New J. Chem., 2011, 35, 353-359. DOI: 10.1039/C0NJ00623H, Paper

A noncovalently assembled porphyrinic catenane consisting of two interlocking [43]-membered rings
Maryline Beyler, Valérie Heitz and Jean-Pierre Sauvage
New J. Chem., 2011, Advance Article. DOI: 10.1039/C1NJ20294D, Paper Read more »

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August 2011 issue of NJC now published!

The August 2011 issue of NJC contains 21 original research papers covering a wide variety of topics.

We invite you to read the latest issue of NJC. The 21 original research papers cover a wide variety of topics, amongst them: click chemistry applied to polymers, activation of fluorophores, correlation of weak bonding and antioxidant/anticancer activity, bimetallic nanoparticles on MWCNT with high catalytic activity, AIE-based fluorescent metal ion probes, energetic ionic liquids, hapticity in sandwich compounds, catenated macrocycles, and much more.

The outside front cover illustrates the hydration of metal ions, studied in the gas phase by tandem mass spectrometry, and which can provide insights into chemical behavior in solution. The group of Scott McIndoe (University of Victoria, Canada) has found a strong correlation between solution acidity of lanthanide ions and the degree of hydration at which charge reduction occurs.

Blurring the line between solution and the gas phase: collision-induced dissociation of hypersolvated lanthanide trications provides insights into solution acidity
Jennifer Pape, Keri McQuinn, Fraser Hof and J. Scott McIndoe
New J. Chem., 2011, 35, 1582–1587
DOI: 10.1039/C1NJ20105K


A polymer fiber functionalized with a phthalocyanine complex (inside front cover) shows promise as a material for self-disinfecting wound dressing. Tebello Nyokong and her coworkers at Rhodes University (South Africa) show that the lutetium complex incorporated into the fiber maintains its photoactivity and produces the very reactive singlet oxygen species.

Photophysical and photochemical behavior of electrospun fibers of a polyurethane polymer chemically linked to lutetium carboxyphenoxy phthalocyanine
Ruphino Zugle, Christian Litwinski, Nelson Torto and Tebello Nyokong
New J. Chem., 2011, 35, 1588–1595
DOI: 10.1039/C1NJ20126C

To be informed when the next issue appears, sign up for NJC’s FREE table-of-contents email alert.

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6th ISMSC: NJC was there!

Two NJC poster prizes were awarded during the brilliant 6th International Symposium on Macrocyclic and Supramolecular Chemistry (6th ISMSC) in Brighton, UK. NJC wishes to congratulate the two laureates who receive a one-year subscription to the journal. Our thanks go to the organizers of the conference for their help in organizing these awards, and our deep gratitude to all of the senior scientists who served on the jury to select the two winners

The award-winning poster of Mr Graeme Spence, a PhD student at the University of Oxford (UK)  in the group of Prof. Paul Beer, was entitled “Investigating the imidazolium motif for anion recognition using templated interlocked structures”. Graeme carried out his undergraduate studies at Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge, with his final year research project on multiporphyrin assemblies under the supervision of Dr Nick Bampos.

Ms Lena Kaufmann, who is a PhD student at the Freie Universität Berlin (Germany) in the group of Prof. Christoph Schalley, won for his poster entitled “Efficient synthesis of axle-unsymmetric amide rotaxanes through organocatalytically accelerated trapping reactions“. During her Bachelor thesis, Lena came in contact with supramolecular chemistry and was so fascinated that she decided to stay in this field. Her hobbies are doing sports like running, biking, swimming and handball. What she also likes very much is to take a tent and a canoe or bike and go to the Scandinavian wilderness.

NJC is very proud to be sponsoring the next 7th ISMSC, to be held from 29 January – 5 February 2012 in Otago, New Zealand.

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NJC poster prize winner at the 19th ISPPCC

Many congratulations to Johannes H. Klein of Würzburg University in Germany who was the NJC poster prize winner at the 19th International Symposium on the Photophysics and Photochemistry of Coordination Compounds held in Strasbourg last week.

Poster prize winner Johannes H. Klein (left) receiving his award from Marie Cote (right), deputy editor, NJC

Johannes, who works in Prof. Christoph Lambert’s group, won for his poster entitled “Photoinduced Charge Transfer Properties of Donor and Acceptor Substituted Iridium(III)-Complexes”. He was presented with a glossy certificate, and receives a one-year subscription to the journal. Why not find out more about Johannes’s research by visiting the Lambert Group homepage.

The meeting brought together over 250 participants from all over the world, featured 16 plenary and invited lectures by internationally distinguished scientists, and over 40 contributed talks, covering the most recent developments on topics including:

  • Photophysics
  • Light emitting molecular materials
  • Biosystems
  • Light driven systems for energy purposes
  • Coordination photochemistry



  • Many congratulations again from the NJC editorial office to Johannes on his award, and to the organizers of this conference for making it another great event for the photochemistry and photophysics community.

    Why not submit your next article to NJC today!

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    Fighting cancer with ferrocenic compounds

    In this NJC paper, Siden Top and co-workers (Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Paris, France) have prepared a number of ferrocenyl derivatives of the well-established tamoxifen drug. These compounds showed a strong antiproliferative effect, probably linked to their cytoxicity, on both hormone-dependent (MCF-7) and hormone-independent (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cells. The authors suggest that the mechanism of action of these molecules differs from that of tamoxifen and highlight their ability to complex divalent cations such as Zn2+ and Ca2+.

    “A new series of ferrocifen derivatives, bearing two aminoalkyl chains, with strong antiproliferative effects on breast cancer cells”, Pascal Pigeon, Siden Top, Anne Vessières, Michel Huché, Meral Görmen, Mehdi El Arbi, Marie-Aude Plamont, Michael J. McGlinchey and Gérard Jaouen, New J. Chem., 2011, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/C1NJ20192A (Paper)

    Interested to know more? Why not download and read the article today! It’s recently been published in NJC and will be FREE to access for a period of 4 weeks.

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    Hot Article : Enzyme activity enhancement through immobilization onto Periodic Mesoporous Organosilicas

    In this NJC “Hot Article”, Jian Hua Zhu and co-workers at Nanjing University (China) describe the immobilization of Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) on periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMO).

    It is demonstrated that the enzyme activity is enhanced 110% compared with free HRP in solution. Besides, the stability of immobilized HRP to lower pH values or the denaturing agent urea is enhanced, resulting from interfacial activation of the enzyme when it is attached to a surface filled with organic groups and hydrophobic parts. The thermal stability of immobilized HRP on PMO is also increased and, moreover, the HRP immobilized samples can be reusable for many cycles.

    “Elevating enzyme activity through the immobilization of horseradish peroxidase onto periodic mesoporous organosilicas” Na Lin, Ling Gao, Zhe Chen and Jian Hua Zhu, New J. Chem., 2011, Advance Article. DOI: 10.1039/C1NJ20311H.

    Take time to have a look at it now ! Highly rated by the reviewers and the editorial office, this “Hot Article” will be FREE to access for a period of 4 weeks.

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    NJC Issue 7 out now !

    We invite you to visit the July issue of NJC.

    An article by Helen C. Hailes (University College London, UK) features on this month’s front cover. In this publication, supramolecular polymers have been generated from dimeric ureidocytosine modules that self-assemble into oligomeric quadruple hydrogen bonded (DDAA) arrays.

    Quadruple hydrogen bonded cytosine modules: N-1 functionalised arrays, Valerie G. H. Lafitte, Abil E. Aliev, Elisabetta Greco, Kason Bala, Peter Golding and Helen C. Hailes, New J. Chem., 2011, 35, 1522-1527, DOI:  10.1039/c1nj20162j (Article)

    The inside cover was produced by Olivier Siri and co-workers (University of Marseille, France), presenting a rapid, simple and low-cost test for the visual identification of cocaine on TLC without interferes with cutting substances.

    Cobalt thiocyanate reagent revisited for cocaine identification on TLC, Rose Haddoub, Daniel Ferry, Philippe Marsal and Olivier Siri, New J. Chem.2011, 35, 1351-1354, DOI: 10.1039/C1NJ20234K (Letter)

    You can access and read the whole issue 7 here.

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    NJC was at EuCOMC2011

    NJC was proud to be sponsoring the XIX EuCheMS Conference on Organometallic Chemistry taking place in Toulouse (France) from 3rd to 7th July 2011.

    4 NJC lectures were given by Young Invited Speakers:

    From left to right: L. Ackerman, C. Nevado, J.-C. Hierso and K. K. Hii

    Lutz Ackerman from the GeorgAugust-University Gottingen (Germany) on Transition metal-catalyzed C-H bond functionalizations for sustainable synthesis;

    Cristina Nevado from the University of Zurch (Switzerland) on the Dual roles in gold catalysis;

    Jean-Cyrille Hierso from the University of Burgundy (France) on Polydentate ligands for Palladium-catalyzed C-C, C-N and C-O coupling reactions. A paradigm shift from electron-rich bulky monophosphines chemistry;

    King Kuok (Mimi) Hii from the Imperial College London (United Kingdom) on the Development of atom-efficient catalytic processes.

    Further information about this conference and other photographs can be found at: http://www.eucomc2011.org/

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    Exploring the nanoscale properties of spin crossover materials

    In this collaborative work from the universities of Toulouse and Montpellier (France), Lionel Salmon, Azzedine Bousseksou and co-workers have built on their development of synthetic routes to spin crossover compound (SCO) nanoparticles, to investigate the structure-property relashionships of the various nano-objects morphologies, be it as dispersed colloids, fibrous structures or nanoparticle powders.

    Amongst other findings, their work now shows that the cooperativity of spin crossover transition does not require that the complex is in solid state, and that even ultra-small (down to 3 nm) spin crossover nanoparticles can exhibit a cooperative transition, offering interesting perspectives for practical applications of SCO compounds.

    Interested in reading further? Why not download the full article now, FREE to access for a period of 4 weeks!

    Synthesis of spin crossover nano-objects with different morphologies and properties
    Alexey Tokarev, Lionel Salmon, Yannick Guari, Gábor Molnár and Azzedine Bousseksou
    New J. Chem., 2011, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/C1NJ20218A, Paper

    This article will be part of the themed issue of NJC honouring the life and work of Prof. Didier Astruc, on the occasion of his 65th birthday – Coming soon.

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