Management Council - NUS Chemistry · NUS Faculty of Science Outstanding Scientist Award, 2009 •...
Transcript of Management Council - NUS Chemistry · NUS Faculty of Science Outstanding Scientist Award, 2009 •...
Department Management Team
Prof Xu Guo Qin (Head)Assoc Prof Lam Yulin (Deputy Head)Assoc Prof Yao Shao Qin (Deputy Head)Assoc Prof Chuah Gaik Khuan (Assistant Head)Assoc Prof Valiyaveettil Suresh (Assistant Head)
Management CouncilProf Xu Guo Qin (Chair)Prof Chan Sze On Hardy
(Deputy Chair)Assoc Prof Loh Kian Ping
(Deputy Chair)Prof Hor Tzi Sum AndyProf Lee Hian KeeProf Liu Xiang YangProf Jagadese
J VittalAssoc Prof Ang Siau GekAssoc Prof Chin Wee ShongAsst Prof Liu XiaogangMs June ChanMs Tang Chui Ngoh
Specialized ProgrammesProf Zhou Weibiao (Director, Food Science and Technology Programme)Assoc Prof Chang Young-Tae (Leader, Medicinal Chemistry Programme)
Faculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
1 2
ProfessorsChan Sze On Hardy
P5
Hor Tzi Sum Andy
P6
Lee Hian Kee
P7
Li Fong Yau Sam
P8
Liu Xiang Yang
P9
Jagadese
J Vittal
P10
Wong Ming Wah Richard
P11
Xu Guo Qin P12
Zhou Weibiao
P13
Associate ProfessorsAng Siau Gek
P14
Ryan PA Bettens
P15
Chang Young-Tae P16
Cheng Hansong
P17
Chin Wee Shong
P18
Chuah Gaik Khuan
P19
Fan Wai Yip
P20
Huang Dejian
P21
Stephan Jaenicke
P22
Kang Hway Chuan P23
Khor Eugene
P24
Lai Yee Hing
P25
Lam Yulin P26
Loh Kian Ping
P27
Lu Yixin P28
Tan Choon Hong
P29
Valiyaveettil Suresh
P30
Thomas Walcyzk
P31
Thorsten Wohland
P32
Xu Qing-Hua
P33
Yao Shao Qin P34
Yip Hon Kay John
P35
Assistant ProfessorsAng Wee Han
P36
Chan Yin Thai
P37
Chen Wei P38
Faculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
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Assistant Professors (continued)Chua Lay Lay
P39
Huynh Han Vinh
P40
Martin J Lear
P41
Liu Shao Quan
P42
Liu Xiaogang
P43
Christian A Nijhuis
P44
David G Popovich
P45
Wang Jian
P46
Wu Jishan
P47
Xue Feng
P48
Yeung Ying Yeung
P49
Yuk Hyun Gyun
P50
Zeng Huaqiang
P51
Zhang Chun P52
Research FellowsChi Chunyan
P53
Teaching-Track Faculty MembersAdrian M Lee
P54
Leong Lai Peng
P55
Chan Sau Han Edith
P56
Ship Chee Ping
P57
Tan Sue Qing Emelyn
P58Zhao Jin
P59
Emmanuel Dinesh Pillai
P60
Prabhavathy Janardhan
P60
Untung Edy Rusbandi
P60
Bellam Sreenivasulu
P60
Thyagarajan Saradha
P60
Xu Hairuo
P61Zhang Sheng
P61
Chng Ting Ting
P61
Leonard Joachim Pereira P61
Faculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
Emeritus ProfessorsAng How GheeGoh Suat HongHuang Hsing
Hua
Adjunct Faculty MembersProfessor Bosco Bloodworth (Health Sciences Authority)
Assoc Professor Chen Ping (Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics)
Professor Chua Sin Bin (Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority)Assoc Professor Thomas Keller (Novartis Institute of Tropical Diseases)
Assoc Professor Lan Weiguang (Sinomem
Technology Ltd)
Research Fellow Lee Wei Woon, Wayne (Singapore Polytechnic)Professor Lien Wen Sze (Nestle R&D Centre Singapore)
Asst Professor Ong Kheng Chuan Peter (OBS Ingredients Pte
Ltd/OBS Consulting Pte
Ltd)
Professor Joseph Ignatius Rasiah (William Global Partners)
Asst Professor Michael Sullivan (Institute of High Performance Computing)
Assoc Professor Sun Tak On Eric (S*Bio)
Professor Tay Ming Kiong Michael (Health Sciences Authority)
Research Fellow Mahesh Uttamchandani (DSO National Laboratories)
Asst Professor Andrew Wan (Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology)
Professor Jackie Ying (Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology)
Professor Zhou Mei Sheng (Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing)
Faculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
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Professor CHAN Sze On HardyPh.D., Univ. of Manchester Inst. of Science & Technology, 1975; B.Sc., Southbank Polytechnic, 1972
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/chanhardy.htm
Email: [email protected]
Tel : 65 6516 4783 (Singapore-MIT Alliance [SMA)] Office)65 6516 2673 (Chemistry
Office)
RESEARCH INTERESTSI am interested in:
• Functional polymers
• Organic electronics• Nanomaterials
RECENT HIGHLIGHTOur research presently focuses on the preparation of nanostructured
conducting polymers and polymer-metal composites. We have recently observed polyaniline
(PANi) morphology evolution in non-polar media. Various structures, including 1D open-ended microtubes, 2D novel solid microplates
and 3D solid micro-spheres were controllably synthesized in the same reaction system. In diluted
reaction solutions, solid microplates
were mainly produced at the reactor wall/solution interfaces due to adsorption polymerization; while other structures were mainly obtained from solution by employing various reverse micelles as polymerization templates. The PANi
spheres exhibit novel intrinsic hydrophobic properties due to its surface roughness. The microplates
I-V
measurements suggest that at low voltages the charge transport mechanism is consistent with Ohm’s law but at higher voltages the chare transport is consistent with space-charge-limited emission.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
HB Xia, HJ Chung, SH Sow, HSO Chan, J. Nanosci. & Nanotech., 10, 2409 (2010)•
RQ Ping, PJ Chia, JC Tang, HSO Chan, JH Burroughes, RH Friend, PKH Ho, Nature Materials, 9, 152 (2010)•
HB Xia, C Xiao and HSO Chan, Nanotechnology, 15, 1807-1811 (2004)•
SC Ng, HF Lu and Chan HSO, Adv. Mater., 12, 1311-1315 (2000)•
HSO Chan and SC Ng, Prog. in Polymer Sci., 23, 1167-1231 (1998)•
PKH Ho, BGT Tan, KL Tan, SC Ng and HSO Chan, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 117, 8517-8523 (1995)
Faculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
IV measurements of individual and stacked PANi microplates
Polymerization of aniline on glass
Professor HOR Tzi Sum AndyD.Sc., Univ. of London, 1999; Postdoc., Yale Univ., 1984;
D.Phil., Univ. of Oxford, 1983; B.Sc.(Hons), Imperial College of Science and Technology, 1979
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/hor.htm
Email: [email protected]
MAJOR RECOGNITIONExecutive Director, Institute of Materials Research & Engineering, A*STAR, 2010-presentOutstanding Scientist Award, Faculty of Science, NUS, 2007.Fellow, NUS Teaching Academy, 2009-presentPresident, Singapore National Institute of Chemistry (SNIC), 2003-presentMember, Senior Advisory Committee of Graduate Education (SAGE), NGS, 2009-presentAssociate Editor (Commissioning), Australian Journal of Chemistry
(CSIRO), 2008-present Member, International Advisory Board, Chemistry: An Asian Journal (VCH/Wiley), 2006-presentMember, International Advisory Board, Inorganica
Chimica
Acta
(Elsevier), 2003-presentMember, International Advisory Board, International Symposium for Chinese Inorganic Chemists, 1998-present Member, International Advisory Board, 5th
Asia Pacific Congress on Catalysis (APCAT5), Sapporo, Japan, July 18-23, 2010Member, International Advisory Committee, 42nd
IUPAC Congress, Glasgow, Scotland, 2-7 Aug 2009Chair, 1st
International Conference on Green & Sustainable Chemistry, Singapore, 3-5 Aug 2009Chair, 1st
International Conference on Molecular & Functional Catalysis, Singapore, 10-15 July 2010Chair, 41st
International Chemistry Conference on Coordination Chemistry, Singapore, 2014Chair, 15th
Asian Chemical Congress, Singapore, 2013Chair, Advisory Committee on Hazardous Substances & Toxic Wastes, National Environment Agency, 2001-presentVisiting Professor, University of Strasbourg, France, 2009Visiting Professor, Noyori
Lab of Materials Science & Research Center
for Materials Science, Nagoya University, Japan, 2008
RESEARCH INTERESTSOur SMS (Supramolecular
& Molecular Science) laboratory is interested in challenges at the interface of molecular and supramolecular
sciences and their relationship and applications in other intersecting areas such as catalysis, molecular imaging, small molecule activation, inter-metallic cooperation and biomass. Specific foci are:
• Synthesis: Supramolecular
& MOF Assemblies
• Catalysis: Molecule Economy, System & Structural System, Catalytic Intermediates & Mechanism
• Materials: Catalytic Materials, Molecular & Functional Materials, Polymeric & Network Materials
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: Organometallics, 29,
2403–2405
(2010)A “stand-alone”
NHC carbene
without a heterocyclic secondary donor has been crystallographically
identified together with its terminal counterpart, with both coordination isomers cocrystallized
in a single crystal.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
S Q Bai, G Y H Quek, L L Koh and T S A Hor, Crystallographic analysis of different water–halide cluster blends in cationic [(SNS)PdII] pincer complexes, Crystengcomm., 12, 226-233 (2010)
•
X Y Han, L L Koh, Z P Liu, Z Q Weng and T S A Hor, Must an N-Heterocyclic Carbene
Be a Terminal Ligand? Organometallics, 29, 2403-2405 (2010)
•
S Y Li, C W Kee, K W Huang, T S A Hor and J Zhao, Cyclopentadienyl
Molybdenum(II/VI) N-Heterocyclic Carbene
Complexes: Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivity under Oxidative Conditions, Organometallics, 29, 1924-1933 (2010)•
N Ding and T S A Hor, Ruthenium(II) N,S-heterocyclic carbene
complexes and transfer hydrogenation of ketones, Dalton Trans., 39, 10179-10185 (2010)
•
J Zhang, P Teo, R Pattacini, A Kermagoret, R Welter, G Rogez, T S A Hor and P Braustein, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 49, 4443 –4446 (2010)
Faculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
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Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
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Professor LEE Hian KeePh.D.,
University
of
Canterbury,
Christchurch, New
Zealand,
1982;
B.Sc.(Hons),University of Canterbury, 1978
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/leehk.htm
Email: [email protected]
MAJOR RECOGNITION•
Editor, Journal of Chromatography A, 2010 -
current•
Editor, Analytica
Chimica
Acta, 2005 -
2010•
Member, Editorial Board, Journal of Chromatography A, 2004 -
2010 •
Editorial Advisor, Analytica
Chimica
Acta, 2003 -
2005•
Member, International Advisory Board, Analyst, 1997 -
2008 •
Member, Advisory Board, Analytical Sciences, 2004 -
current •
Member, Editorial Advisory Board, LC·GC Asia Pacific, 2006 -
current •
Member, Editorial Advisory Board, LC·GC Europe, 2008 -
current •
Scientific Advisory Board, Separation Science, 2008 -
current •
Federation of Asian Chemical Societies Foundation Lectureship Award, 2009•
NUS Faculty of Science Outstanding Scientist Award, 2009•
NUS Outstanding Researcher Award, 2006 •
National Project Coordinator, United Nations University (Japan) Programme
on the Asia Coastal Hydrosphere
•
Member, External Audit Panel, Singapore Water Reclamation and Marina Bay Projects
RESEARCH INTERESTSOur research interests are focused on the development and applications of solvent-minimized, miniaturized sample preparation procedures techniques, in combination with microscale
chromatographic techniques. A specific
objective is to apply these methods to environmental
analysis. We also have interest to develop these for onsite applications.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: Anal. Chem. 82, 1540-1545 (2010)
This work reports on a novel two-step microextraction
technique, that combines dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction, and dispersive micro-solid-phase extraction that uses magnetic nanoparticles
as sorbent
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
L Xu and HK Lee, Zirconia
hollow fibre: preparation, characterization and microextraction
application, Anal. Chem., 79, 5241-5248 (2007)
•
G Shen and HK Lee, Hollow fiber-protected liquid-phase microextraction
of triazine
herbicides, Anal. Chem., 74, 648-654 (2002)
•
L Zhao and HK Lee, Liquid-phase microextraction
combined with hollow fiber as a sample preparation technique prior to gas chromatograph/mass spectrometry, Anal. Chem., 74, 2486-2492 (2002)
•
Y He and HK Lee, Large-volume sample stacking in acidic buffer for analysis of small organic and inorganic anions by capillary electrophoresis, Anal. Chem., 71, 995-1001 (1999)
•
Y Wang, YC Kwok, Y He and HK Lee, Application of dynamic liquid-phase microextraction
to the analysis of chlorobenzenes
in water using a conventional microsyringe, Anal. Chem., 70, 4610-4614 (1998) •
Y He and HK Lee, Liquid-phase microextraction
in a single drop of organic solvent using a conventional syringe, Anal. Chem., 69, 4634-4640 (1997)
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Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
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Professor LI Fong Yau SamD.Sc., Imperial College, 1998; Ph.D., Imperial College, 1984; B.Sc., Imperial
College, 1981
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/lifys.htm
Email: [email protected]
MAJOR RECOGNITION•
Outstanding Researcher Award, National University of Singapore/IMRE, 1999•
Dupont
Accomplishment Award, DuPont Company, 1993
RESEARCH INTERESTSAreas of research interest include water eco-efficiency, metabolomics, capillary electrophoresis, lab-on-chip devices, environmental analysis, biomedical analysis, bioimaging, sensor technologies, lab-on-chip devices, nanomaterials
analysis, chromatographic techniques, scanning probe microscopy, supercritical fluid extraction and chromatography.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: Zuo, XB; Wu, HA; Toh, J; Li, SFY. 2010. Mechanism of mercury detection based on interaction of single-strand DNA and hybridized DNA with gold nanoparticles. TALANTA 82 (5): 1642-1646.
Mechanisms of interaction of single-strand DNA and hybridized DNA on gold nanoparticles
in the presence of Hg2+ was studied. We compared the interactions of different DNA probes on gold nanoparticles
(AuNPs) using both absorption and fluorescence detection. It was found that there were only small partial dsDNA
dissociated from the surface of AuNPs
after hybridization in the presence of Hg2+. Moreover, we found that the aggregated AuNPs/DNA system tended to be dispersed again with increasingHg2+ concentration up to 250M. Based on these results, the mechanism for interaction of AuNPs/DNA solution in the presence of Hg2+was proposed. Selective detection of mercury at high concentrations of other metal ions was demonstrated.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS1.
Zuo, XB; Wu, HA; Toh, J; Li, SFY. 2010. Mechanism of mercury detection based on interaction of single-
strand DNA and hybridized DNA with gold nanoparticles. TALANTA 82 (5): 1642-1646. 2.
Tok, J; Lai, J; Leung, T; Li, SFY. 2010. Selection of aptamers
for signal transduction proteins by capillary electrophoresis. ELECTROPHORESIS 31 (12): 2055-2062.
3.
Liu, F; Wan, SY; Jiang, ZJ; Li, SFY; Ong, ES; Osorio, JCC. 2009.
Determination of pyrrolizidine
alkaloids in comfrey by liquid chromatography-electrospray
ionization mass spectrometry.
TALANTA 80 (2): 916-923. 4.
Birungi, G; Li, SFY. 2009. Determination of cyanobacterial
cyclic peptide hepatotoxins
in drinking water using CE. ELECTROPHORESIS 30 (15): 2737-2742.
5.
Law, WS; Huang, PY; Ong, ES; Sethi, SK; Saw, S; Ong, CN; Li, SFY. 2009. Combination of H-1 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry with Pattern Recognition Techniques for Evaluation of Metabolic Profile Associated with Albuminuria. JOURNAL OF PROTEOME RESEARCH 8 (4): 1828-1837, Sp. Iss. SI.
Proposed mechanism for interaction of AuNPs/DNA solution in the presence of Hg2+.
Selective detection of mercury.
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Faculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
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Professor Liu Xiang YangSenior Scientist, Unilever Research Port Sunlight Laboratory, 1999; Postdoc., Nijmegen University, 1996; Ph.D. (Cum Laude), Nijmegen University, 1993; M.Sc, Shandong Univ., 1985.
http://www.physics.nus.edu.sg/~interface/New/index.htmlhttp://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/liuxy.html
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTS•Soft and Bio Functional Materials•Biophysics•Biomimicking•Micro/Nano
Structure formation and engineering•Crystallization/molecular assembly and hybrid materials
RECENT HIGHLIGHTAdv. Fun. Mat. 20, 3196–3216
(2010)
(Feature Article). Highlighted by the Frontispiece: “Supramolecular
materials containing three-
dimensional fiber
networks are designed and constructed in the micro-
/nanometer
scale to deliver different benefi
ts
for applications in many fields, such as drug delivery, tissue engineering, nanocrystallite
synthesis, etc. On page 3196, X. Y. Liu and co-workers present novel approaches to engineering the micro-/nanostructure of fiber
networks, based upon the structural characterization and the understanding
of the network formation dynamics.”
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
X.Y. Liu*, P. Bennema
& J.P. Van Der
Eerden: "The rough-flat-rough transition at crystal surfaces", Nature 356, 778 (1992).
•
X.Y. Liu*, E.S Boek, W.J. Briels
& P. Bennema: "Prediction of growth morphology of crystals based on interfacial structure analysis",
Nature 374, 342-345 (1995).•
X.Y. Liu*, and P.D. Sawant, “Micro/Nanoengineering
of Self-Organized Three-Dimensional Fibrous Structure of Functional Materials”, Angew. Chemie Int. Ed. 41, 3641-3645 (2002).
•
X.Y. Liu*, S.W. Lim, “Templating
and Supersaturation
Driven Anti-Templating: Principles of Biominerals
Architecture”,
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 125,888-995 (2003).•
K.-Q. Zhang and X. Y. Liu*, “In situ observation of colloidal monolayer nucleation driven by an alternating electric field”, Nature 429, 739-742 (2004).
•
C. Strom, X.Y. Liu*
and Z.C. Jia, “Ice surface reconstruction as AFP-induced morphological modification mechanism", J. Am. Chem. Soc., 127, 428-440 (2005).
•
Ke-Qin Zhang and X. Y. Liu*, “Two scenarios of the colloidal phase transitions”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 105701-
105704 (2006).•
Tian Hui Zhang, X. Y. Liu*, "How Does Transient Amorphous Precursor Template Crystallization", J. Am. Chem. Soc. 129, 13520-13526 (2007).
•
Tian Hui Zhang and Xiang Yang Liu*, "Nucleation: What Happens at
the Initial Stage?",
Angew. Chemie Int. Ed. 48, 1308-1312 (2009).
•
Rongguo
Xie, Xiang Yang Liu*: "Controllable Epitaxial Crystallization and Reversible Oriented Patterning of Two-
Dimensional Colloidal Crystals", J. Am. Chem. Soc. 131, 4976-4982 (2009).
MAJOR RECOGNITION•
Outstanding Researcher Award, 2007, National University of Singapore, Singapore.•
Councilor of the International Organization for Crystal Growth•
Vice President of the Singapore-China Association for Advancement of Science and Technology
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Faculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
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Professor Jagadese J VITTALPostdoc., Univ. of Western Ontario, 1987; Ph.D., Indian Inst. of Science, 1982; M.Sc., Madurai Univ., 1977; B.Sc., Univ. of Madras, 1975
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/jjvittal.htm
Email: [email protected]
MAJOR RECOGNITION•
WCU Chair Professor, Gyeongsang
National University, Jinju, S. Korea, 2009-2013•
Outstanding Scientist Award, Faculty of Science, NUS, 2007 •
Associate Editor, Journal of Synthesis and Reactivity in Inorganic, Metal-Organic and Nano-Metal Compounds, 2006-present
RESEARCH INTERESTSCurrent interests include solid-state photoreactivity
and structural transformations in coordination polymers,
luminescent coordination polymeric gels and fibers, water aggregates in crystals, metal-organic frameworks as gas storage materials, chemistry of metal chalcogenocarboxylates, nanomaterials
from coordination polymers, green routes to organic and materials synthesis, metal chalcogenide
and oxide thin films and nanomaterials. Currently we are interested in renewable energy including lithium ion batteries.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: Cover page in Cryst. Growth & Des., 9, 4951 (2009) and
inside cover page in J. Mater. Chem. 19 (2009) 605.
Left: Highly luminescent hierarchical
3D meso-
assemblies of ZnTeO3
and Zn2
Te3
O8
with
interesting morphologies formed by changing the pH of the reaction solution. Right: Ultra thin nanoplates
of thickness 30-40 nm with uniform coating of carbon favor the fast insertion and
excretion of Li+
ions, and results in the high rate performances and excellent capacity retention up to 50 cycles.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
K. Saravanan, M. Nagarathinam, P. Balaya
and J. J. Vittal, Lithium storage in metal organic framework with diamondoid
topology –
A case study on metal formates, J. Mater. Chem.,
20, 8329 (2010)•
G.K. Kole, L.L. Koh, S.Y. Lee, S.S. Lee, and J.J. Vittal, A new ligand
for metal-organic framework and co-
crystal synthesis: Mechanochemical
route to rctt-1,2,3,4-tetrakis-(4'-carboxyphenyl)-cyclobutane, Chem. Comm., 46, 3660 (2010)
•
S.K. Batabyal, W.L. Leong and J.J. Vittal, Fluorescent Coordinatio
Polymeric gel from Tartaric Acid Assisted Self-Assembly, Langmuir,
26, 7464 (2010)•
L.Tian, M. T. Ng, N. Venkatram, W. Ji and J. J. Vittal, Tadpole-Shaped AgInSe2
Nanocrystals
from a Single Molecular Precursor and its Nonlinear Optical Properties, Cryst. Growth & Des.,
10,1237 (2010) •
M.H. Mir, L.L. Koh, G.K. Tan and J. J. Vittal, Single-Crystal to Single-Crystal Photochemical Structural
Transformations of Interpenetrated 3D Coordination Polymers by [2+2] Cycloaddition
Reactions,
Angew. Chem.,
49, 390 (2010)•
A.M.P. Peedikakkal
and J.J. Vittal, Photochemical [2+2] cycloaddition
reaction of rare three-stranded ladder coordination polymer in the solid state, Inorg. Chem.,
49, 10 (2010)•
M. H. Mir, L. Wang, M. W. Wong and J. J. Vittal, Water Helicate, (H2
O)7
Hosted by Diamondoid
Metal–Organic Framework, Chem. Comm., 45, 4539 (2009)
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Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
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Professor WONG M W RichardPostdoc., Yale Univ., 1991; Postdoc., IBM Kingston, 1990; Ph.D., Australian
National Univ., 1989; B.Sc. & B.Math, Univ. of Newcastle, 1985
http://staff.science.nus.edu.sg/~chmwmw/index.htm
Email: [email protected]
MAJOR RECOGNITION•
Chairman, 4th
Asian Pacific Conference on Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, 2009•
International Board Member, Asian Pacific Association on Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, present•
Outstanding Researcher Award, National University of Singapore, 2002•
Australian Research Fellow, Australian Research Council, 1992-1997
RESEARCH INTERESTSSpecific foci are:
• Computational quantum chemistry, organocatalysis, hydrogen storage materials, molecular sensors, • Weaker intermolecular interactions, sulfur chemistry, reactive
intermediates, computer-aided drug design
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., submitted.
A new type of -amino chiral catalyst has been designed computationally mimicking the catalytic triad of chymotrypsin. DFT calculations predict that this designed organocatalyst catalyzes Michael additions of aldehydes to nitroalkenes with excellent enantioselectivities and remarkably high anti
diastereoselectivities. The unusual stacked geometry of the enamine intermediate, hydrogen bonding network and the adoption of an exo
transition state are the keys to understand the stereoselectivity.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
R Steudel
and MW Wong, Dark-red O8
molecules in solid oxygen: Rhomboid clusters, not S8
-like rings, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 46, 1768-1771, (2007)
•
Z. Jiang, Y Pan, Y Zhao, T Ma, R Lee, Y Yang, K.W Huang, MW Wong
and CH Tan, Synthesis of a chiral
quaternary carbon center bearing a fluorine atom: enantioselective
and diastereoselective
guanidine-
catalyzed addition of fluorocarbon nucleophiles, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 48 3627-3631 (2009). •
MW Wong, Y Steudel
and R Steudel, Structures and vibrational
spectra of the sulfur-rich oxides Sn
O (n=4-9): The importance of *-* interactions, Chem. - A Eur. J., 13, 502-514, (2007)
•
CT Wong and MW Wong, Mechanism of metal chloride-promoted Mukaiyama
aldol
reactions, J. Org. Chem., 72, 1425-1430, (2007)
•
T Ghosh, BG Maiya, and MW Wong,
Fluoride ion receptors based on dipyrrolyl
derivatives bearing electron-
withdrawing groups: synthesis, optical and electrochemical sensing and computational studies, J. Phys. Chem. A,
108, 11249-11259, (2004).•
MW Wong, Prediction of a metastable
helium compound: HHeF, J. Am. Chem. Soc.,
122, 6289-6290 (2000).
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Faculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
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Professor XU Guo QinPostdoc., Univ. of Toronto, 1991; Postdoc., Brookhaven National Lab, 1989; Ph.D., Princeton Univ., 1987; B.Sc., Fudan
Univ., 1982
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/xugq.htm
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSMy
specific foci are:
• Surface chemistry• Self-assembled nanostructures and molecular conductivity
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: J. Phys. Chem. C, 114, 16625 -16629 (2010)
Self-assembled molecular corrals have been formed on the Si(111)-(7×7) surface by binding pyrrole
molecules chemically on the silicon centre adatom
through the breakage of the N–H bond. The dissociative adsorption of pyrrole
on Si(111)-(7×7) leads to pyrroyl
and H atom binding with an adatom
and an adjacent rest atom, respectively. The molecular corral has dramatically
modified the electronic property of the silicon surface, which leads to the formation of pyridine dative bonding to Si(111)-(7×7) surface at room temperature. The self-
assembled molecular corral may provide a template for controlling the molecular binding configurations and quantum confinement effect of nanoclusters.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
Y. P. Zhang, G. Q. Xu,
“Self-assembled Molecular Corrals Formed on Si(111)-(7×7) Surface via Covalent Bond”. J. Phys. Chem. C 114, 39, 16625–16629
(2010) •
Y. P. Zhang, S. Wang, E. S. Tok, and G. Q. Xu,”Tuning molecular binding configurations of pyridine on Si(111)-(7×7) via surface modification”. J. Phys. Chem. C (in Press)
•
Y. X. Shao, D. Dong, Y. H. Cai, G. Q. Xu, “Thermal and Photoinduced
Covalent Attachment of 3-Chloro-1-
propanol on Si(100)-2x1. J. Phys Chem C 114, 40, 17159-17165 (2010)•
Y. H. Cai, Y. X. Shao, Y. S. Ning, G. Q. Xu, “Enabling enelike
reactions on Si(111)-7×7 through tuning organic molecular structures”. J. Chem Phys. 132, 21, 214710 (2010)
•
Y. S. Ning, Y. X. Shao, G. Q. Xu, “p-Benzoquinone
on Si(111)-7×7: [6+2]-like Cycloaddtion”. J. Phys. Chem. C 114, 23, 10455-10462 (2010)
•
J. H. Wu, B. Varghese, X. D. Zhou, G. Q. Xu, “Interconnected Networks of Zn(NO3
)2
·6(H2
O) Nanotubes
and its Solid-phase Transformation into Porous Zinc Oxide Architectures”.
Chem. Mater. 22, 4, 1533-1539 (2010)•
F. Tao, S. L. Bernasek, and G. Q. Xu, "Electronic and Structural
Factors in Modification and Functionalization
of Clean and Passivated
Semiconductor Surfaces with Aromatic Systems". Chem. Rev. 109, 9, 3991–4024, (2009)
MAJOR RECOGNITION•
National Youth Award for Excellence in Science and Technology, Singapore National Youth Council, 1997
molecular corrals: self-assembled molecular corrals by chemically binding pyrrole
molecules on the Si(111)-(7×7) surface with a sample bias of -2.5 V. Insert shows close-up of two circles, each individual circle consisting of 12 chemisobed
pyrrolyl
fragments.
13
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
13
Professor ZHOU WeibiaoPostdoc., Univ. of Waterloo, 1991; Ph.D., Univ. of Queensland, 1991; M.Eng., Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1985; B.Sc., Beijing Univ. of Chemical Technology, 1982
http://www.fst.nus.edu.sg/OurPeople/ZhouW.htm
Email: [email protected]
MAJOR RECOGNITION•
Editor, International Journal of Food Properties, Taylor & Francis, 2007-present•
Asia Editor, Food Manufacturing Efficiency, IFIS, UK, 2007-present (International Editorial Board Member 2006-present)
•
Member, Editorial Boards of International Journal of Food Engineering, USA, 2004-present; Food and Bioprocess Technology, Springer, 2007-present; Food Engineering Reviews, Springer, 2008-present
•
Fellow, Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology (AIFST), 2007 •
Board Member, Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), 2008-present•
Appointed Member, Nominations Advisory Committee, International Union of Food Science & Technology (IUFoST), 2001-2003, 2003-2006, 2006-2008, 2008-2010.
•
Member-at-large, Executive Committee, International Society of Food Engineering (ISFE), 2006-present
RESEARCH INTERESTSMy interests are in food processing and food engineering; particularly baking processes, dairy processes, drying processes, functional foods, food process modelling
and optimisation, advanced process control, and the effect of food processing on functional components such as antioxidants, isoflavones
and probiotics. Specific foci are:
• Modeling, optimisation, and advanced control of food processes• Innovative processing technologies for next-generation functional foods
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: Food Chemistry, in press, 2010.
The relative stability of catechins
in the biscuit system can be sequenced as (-)-CG > (-)-GCG > (-)-ECG > (-)-
EGCG. Retention rates of green tea catechins
were improved by reducing the pH of the dough.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
A. Sharma, and W. Zhou, A stability study of green tea catechins
during the biscuit making process, Food Chem., in press (2010).
•
G Bansal, W Zhou, PJ Barlow, P Joshi, HL Lo, and YK Chung, Review of rapid tests available for measuring the quality changes in frying oils and comparison with standard methods, Crit. Rev. Food Sci & Nutr., 50(6), 503-514 (2010).
•
TMP Nguyen, YK Lee, and W Zhou, Stimulating milk fermentation of
bifidobacteria
by high intensity
ultrasound, Int. Dairy J., 19(6-7), 410-416 (2009).
•
G Bansal, W Zhou, TW Tan, FL Neo, and HL Lo, Analysis of trans fatty acids in deep frying oils by three different approaches, Food Chem., 116(2), 535-541 (2009).
•
R Wang, W Zhou and X Jiang, Mathematical modeling of the stability of green tea catechin
epigallocatechin
gallate
(EGCG) during bread baking, J. Food Eng., 87(4), 505-513 (2008).
Microstructure of GTE biscuit (left) and EGCG profile during biscuit baking (right)
14
Assoc Professor ANG Siau GekPh.D., Cambridge Univ., 1987; M.Sc., National Univ. of Singapore, 1984; B.Sc., National Univ. of Singapore, 1981
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/angsg.htm
Email: [email protected]
MAJOR RECOGNITION•
Chevalier in the Order of the Palmes
Academiques, French Ministry of Youth, Education and Research, 2004
RESEARCH INTERESTSWe study structures of organometallic
compounds using a variety of spectroscopic and other physical
techniques including X-ray diffraction and surface analytical methods. Our current main interest is in the fabrication and study of organometallic
nanostructures.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: Nanotechnology, 19, 145606 (2008)
We are studying the fabrication of amine derivatives of metal phthalocyanines
(MTAPc) as organometallic
nanowires
via electropolymerization
using porous alumina filters as templates. The characterization of these nanowires
is carried out using field-
emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and the interaction of these polymeric nanowires
with oxidising gases is being investigated for possible applications as chemical sensors.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
Gu F., C.H. Sow, G.Q. Xu and S.G. Ang. Fabrication and Field Emission Properties of Poly-CuTAPc
Nanowires
and Nanotubes. Aust. J. Chem., 2009, 62, 1-7.
•
Gu, F., G.Q. Xu and S.G. Ang. Studies on CuTAPc-nanotube-modified
electrodes as chemical sensors for NO. Nanotechnology, 2009, 20, 305501 (8pp).
•
Wu, J., S.G. Ang and G.Q. Xu. Atomic force microscopy study of
self-assembled sodium chloride nanocrystallites
and their morphology transitions. J. Phys. Chem. C, 112, 7605-7610 (2008).
•
Gu, F., G.Q. Xu and S.G. Ang. Fabrication of CuTAPc
polymer nanowires
and nanotubes
by
electropolymerization. Nanotechnology, 19, 145606 (2008).
•
B-W Sun, M-S Zhang, G-Y Yang, SG Ang and HG Ang, Decacarbonyl-13C,23C,34
C-(-
pentafluorophenylhydrazine-1N:2N’)-triangulo-triosmium: a hydrazine-edge-bridged triangular triosmium
cluster, Acta Cryst. Crystallograph.,
E61, m2419-m2420 (2005)
•
HG Huang, CL Xiang, YS Ning, JY Huang, SG Ang and GQ Xu, Dry synthesis of triple cumulative double bonds (C=C=C=N) on Si(111)-7x7 surfaces, J. Phys. Chem. B, 109(41), 19296-19300 (2005)
•
SG Ang and B-W Sun, Crystal structure and characterization of organic-inorganic hybridized molecules with molecular zipper structures and two-dimensional grid networks, Cryst Growth & Design, 5, 383-386 (2005)
Faculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
15
Assoc Professor Ryan P A BETTENSPostdoc., Australian National Univ., 1999; Postdoc., Ohio State Univ., 1996;
Postdoc., ETH, 1994; Ph.D., Monash
Univ., 1992; B.Sc., Univ. of Queensland, 1986
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/bettens.htm
Email: [email protected]
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
L Hai-Anh, AM Lee and RPA Bettens. Accurately Reproducing Ab
Initio Electrostatic Potentials with
Multipoles
and Fragmentation. J. Phys. Chem. A, 113, 10527-10533.•
RPA Bettens and AM Lee. On the accurate reproduction of ab
initio interaction energies between an enzyme and substrate. Chem. Phys. Lett.,
449. 341-346 (2007)•
Y Fan, LP Leong and RPA Bettens, The conformers of hydroxyacetaldehyde, J. Phys. Chem. A, 111, 5081-
5085 (2007) •
R P A Bettens and A M Lee, A new algorithm for molecular fragmentation in quantum chemical calculations, J. Phys. Chem. A, 110, 8777-8785 (2006)
•
RPA Bettens, Bound state potential energy surface construction: Ab
initio zero-point energies and vibrationally
averaged rotational constants, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 125, 584-587 (2003)
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: J. Phys. Chem A, 113, 10527-10533.
In the highlighted article we show, amongst other things, that our energy based fragmentation method accurately reproduces the electrostatic potential for a selection of peptides, both charged and uncharged, and other molecules of biological interest at the solvent accessible
surface and beyond when compared with the full ab
initio
or DFT electrostatic potential. We demonstrate that our fragmentation approach can be readily applied to very large systems and provide the fragmentation electrostatic potential for the neuraminidase tetramer (ca. 24000 atom system) at the MP2/6-311(+)G(2d,p) level (Front Cover, below).
RESEARCH INTERESTSMy research area is in the understanding and accurate description, via computational chemistry, of inter-
and intra-molecular interactions. Ultimately the understanding and description will be applied to the dynamics of large systems like proteins and nucleic acids. Specific foci are:
• Accurately describe and predict enzyme-substrate interactions
• Accurately describe water and its interactions with large molecules• Performance of first-principle molecular dynamics of an enzyme and substrate
Left: The error in the electrostatic potential
mapped onto the solvent accessible surface for
BCX±
(upper panels), and tuftsin
(lower panels).
The left two panels
represent the error due to fragmentation approximation, whereas
the right two represents the error using NPA
distributed charges.
For reference, the interaction energy of a 0.5e charge with 0.1 V potential is about 5 kJ mol-1.
Faculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
16
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
16
Assoc Professor CHANG Young-TaePost-doc., Univ. of California at Berkeley/Scripps Research Inst., 1997-2000;
Ph.D., POSTECH, 1996; M.Sc., POSTECH, 1994; B.Sc., POSTECH, 1991
http://ytchang.science.nus.edu.sg/
Email: [email protected]
MAJOR RECOGNITION•
Career Award, National Science Foundation, USA, 2005•
Editorial Board Member, Current Chemical Biology, 2006-present•
Editor for special issue of Chemical Genetics/Genomics, Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry, 2003•
Editorial board member: Molecular Biosystems
(2009-present)•
Head of Bioimaging
probe development lab at Singapore Bioimaging
Consortium (2007-present)
RESEARCH INTERESTSDevelopment of Bioimaging
probes & sensors for in vitro, in vivo and clinical applications by Diversity Oriented Fluorescence Library Approach
(DOFLA) and chemical genetics. Specific foci are:
• Stem cell specific optical probe & regulator development • Protein target identification by tagged small molecule library• Molecular evolution & artificial tongue
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. Engl., 2010, 49, 7497-7500
The first pluripotent
stem cell probe CDy1 (compound of designation yellow 1) was developed by Diversity Oriented Fluorescence Library Approach
(DOFLA). This work was highlighted at “Fluorescence method
detects stem cells, C&En
News, 2010 (September 20).
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
Control of muscle differentiation by a mitochondria-targeted fluorophore, Kim, Y. K.; Ha, H. H.; Lee, J. S.; Bi, X. Z.; Ahn, Y. H.; Hajar, S.; Lee, J. J.; Chang, Y. T. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 576-579.
•
Synthesis of a bodipy
library and its application to the development of live cell glucagon imaging probe, Lee, J. S.; Kang, N. Y.; Kim, Y. K.; Samanta, A.; Feng, S.; Kim, H. K.; Vendrell, M.; Park, J. H.; Chang, Y. T. J. Am. Chem. Soc.,
2009,
131, 10077-10082.•
Small-molecule fluorophores
to detect cell-state switching in the context of high-throughput screening., Wagner B. K.; Carrinski, H. A.; Ahn, Y. H.; Kim, Y. K.; Gilbert, T. J.; Fomina, D. A.; Schreiber, S. L.; Chang, Y. T.; Clemons, P. A.. J. Am. Chem. Soc.,
2008, 130, 4208-4209.•
Forward chemical genetic approach identifies new role for GAPDH in insulin signaling, Min, J. K.; Kim, Y. K.; Cipriani, P. G.; Kang, M.; Khersonsky, S. M.; Walsh, D. P.; Lee, J. Y.; Niessen, S.; Yates, J. R.; Gunsalus, K.; Piano, F.; Chang, Y. T. Nat. Chem. Biol. 2007, 3, 55-59
17
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
17
RESEARCH INTERESTSWe use the state-of-the-art computational chemistry methods and experimentations to understand mechanistic aspects of physical and chemical processes and thus to enable design and discovery of novel materials for a variety of applications. Specific areas of our current research interests include 1. high capacity hydrogen storage materials for on-board automotive applications and for hydrogen delivery at near ambient conditions; 2. semiconductor thin film growth via chemical vapor deposition and atomic layer deposition;3. thin film deposition of transparent conducting oxide nanoparticles
on temperature sensitive flexible substrates4. heterogeneous catalysis of small molecules on transition metal surfaces; 5. reactive force field development for metallic nanoparticles.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
Sha, X.; Cooper, A.C.; Bailey, III, W. H.; Cheng, H.* Revisiting Hydrogen Storage in Bulk BC3
, J. Phys. Chem. C, 2010, 114, 3260.
•
Cheng, H.*; Sha, X.; Chen, L.; Cooper, A. C.; Foo, M.; Lau, G. C.; Bailey, W. H.; Pez, G. P. An Enhanced Hydrogen Physisorption
in Fluoride Intercalated Graphite Compounds, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 17732.•
Cheng, H.* Cooper, A. C.; Sha, X.; Chen, L.; Pez, G. P., Hydrogen Spillover in the Context of Hydrogen Storage Using Solid-state Materials, Energy & Environmental Science (invited Perspective Review) 2008, 1, 338.
•
Zhou,C.; Li, J.; Chen, S.; Wu, J.; Heier, K.R.; Cheng, H.*, First-Principles Study on Water and Oxygen Adsorption on Surfaces of Indium Oxide and Indium Tin Oxide Nanoparticles, J. Phys. Chem. C, 2008, 112, 14015.
•
Tempel, D. J.; Henderson, P. B.; Brzozowski, J. R.; Pearlstein, R. M.; Cheng, H.*, High Gas Storage Capacities for Ionic Liquids through Chemical Complexation, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 400.
•
Guvelioglu, G.; Ma, P.; He, X.; Forrey, R. C.; Cheng, H.*, On the Evolution of strcture
of Copper Clusters and their Chemical Reactivity with Hydrogen, Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 026103, 2005.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010, 122, 152.
Assoc Professor CHENG HansongSenior Scientist, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. 1991-2010; Ph.D., Princeton Univ. 1991; B.Sc., Wuhan Univ. 1982
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/chenghs.htm
Email: [email protected]
We have discovered three fundamental conditions for a glue layer (G) to be effective in promoting adhesion of a thin film material (M) to the substrate (S) and to suppress agglomeration of the film at the interface. These conditions are most critical for selecting the appropriate glue layer for optimizing the interfacial interactions of the metal layer with the substrate.
1.
EMG
> EMS
2.
EGS
> EMS
3.
EGS
> EMG
The performance of a Cu monolayer on TaN(111) surface and on TaN(111) supported Ru
and Al glue layers is illustrated using ab
initio
molecular dynamics simulations.
18
Faculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
18
Assoc Professor CHIN Wee ShongCommewealth
Fellowship., Univ. of Bristol, 1994; Ph.D., National Univ. of Singapore, 1993; B.Sc.(Hons), National Univ. of Singapore, 1987
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/chinws.htm
Email: [email protected]
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: M. S. Neo, N. Venkatram, G. S. Li, W. S. Chin, J. Wei, Size-Dependent Optical Nonlinearities and Scattering Properties of PbS
Nanoparticles, J. Phys. Chem. C, 113, 19055–19060 (2009)
We report the size-dependent optical nonlinearities of PbS
nanoparticles
in both film and solution. Different sizes of PbS
nanoparticles
were synthesized by chemical methods; and the sizes were controlled by varying surfactant and reaction temperature. PbS-Polystyrene thin films adhered on glass slide were successfully prepared by a simple imprinting thermal cross linking method. We found that smaller nanoparticles
show higher nonlinear absorption and refraction of photo-excited free carriers and larger optical Kerr nonlinearity. Our studies also revealed that nonlinear scattering be strongly dependent on size and play a dominant role in the case of bigger nanoparticles
in solution at higher excitation.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
M. S. Neo, N. Venkatram, G. S. Li, W. S. Chin, J. Wei, Size-Dependent Optical Nonlinearities and Scattering Properties of PbS
Nanoparticles, J. Phys. Chem. C, 113, 19055–19060 (2009)•
T. Liu, H. Xu, W. S. Chin, Z. Yong, A. T. S. Wee,
Local structural evolution of co-doped ZnO
nanoparticles
upon calcination
studied by in situ quick-scan XAFS, J. Phys. Chem. C, 112(10), 3489-3495 (2008)•
Z.H. Zhang, M. Lu, H. Xu, W. S. Chin, Shape-Controlled Synthesis of Zinc Oxide: A Simple Method for the Preparation of Metal Oxide Nanocrystals
in Non-Aqueous Medium, Chem. – A Eur. J., 13, 632-638 (2007)•
Lim W P, Wong CT, Ang SL, Low H Y and Chin W S,
Phase-selective Synthesis of Copepr
Sulfide Nanocrystals, , Chem. Mater., 18, 6170-6177 (2006)
•
W. P. Lim, Z. Zhang, H. Y. Low and W. S. Chin, A Neat Preparation of Ag2S nanocrystals
with Predictable Shapes and Sizes, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 43, 5685 (2004)
RESEARCH INTERESTSOur research focuses on the field of nanostructures and their assemblies. The targets include finding good methodologies to synthesize size-, shape-
and phase-controllable nanocrystals, as well as doped and core-shell nanomaterials; understanding their properties and developing methods to assemble them into novel
nanostructures for applications. Current projects include:
• Synthesis and studies of core/shell doped sulfide and oxides nanoparticles• Synthesis and assembly of multilayered metal/semiconductor/polymer nanowires
and nanocomposites
MAJOR RECOGNITIONUniversity Quality Service Award , NUS, 2005Faculty Teaching Excellence Award, Faculty of Science, NUS, 2007
& 2008
19
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
19
Assoc Professor CHUAH Gaik KhuanPostdoc., Fritz-Haber-Institüt, 1987; Ph.D., Texas A&M Univ., 1987; B.Sc., Univ. of Singapore, 1984
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/chuahgk.htm
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSOur main research area is on heterogeneous catalysis :
• Applications of zeolites
in fine chemicals synthesis
• Green chemistry and catalysis
• Synthesis and applications of materials with tunable textural properties
• Sorbents for uremic toxins
RECENT HIGHLIGHTMaterials with tunable
pore sizes are investigated as catalysts. In one application, supported niobium oxide catalysts were prepared by grafting niobium ethoixde
onto MCM-41 and hydrous zirconia. These materials contain Brønsted
acid sites whereas bulk niobium oxide has predominantly Lewis acid sites. Hence, they are able to act as solid acids. In one application, the catalysts are tested for the esterification
of glycerol with lauric
acid. The desired product is glycerol monolaurate
which is an important ingredient in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Good activity and a high monolaurate
selectivity was achieved when the active niobium oxide phase was coated within the pore channels of an MCM-41 support with a mean pore diameter of 2.2 nm. Phosphated
Nb2O5/MCM-41 showed an even higher activity without any penalty in selectivity, enabling
monolaurate
yields of 89-90 %. A key feature of these pore confined-catalysts is the sustained high selectivity to monolaurate
even at high conversions. In contrast, niobium oxide supported on wide pored hydrous zirconia
showed lower selectivity. The catalysts are active in solventless
esterification
of a number of alcohols and acids and can be easily recycled for subsequent batch reactions, making them attractive as green catalysts for sustainable processes.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
Yuntong
Nie, Gaik-Khuan Chuah, and Stephan Jaenicke, Domino-cyclisation
and hydrogenation of
citronellal to menthol over bifunctional
Ni/Zr-Beta and Zr-beta/Ni-MCM-41 catalysts, Chem. Commun., 790 –
792 (2006)•
Yuntong
Nie, Stephan Jaenicke, Herman van Bekkum, Gaik-Khuan Chuah, Stereoselective
Cascade Hydrogenation of 4-tert-Butylphenol and p-Cresol over Zr-Zeolite
Beta-Supported Rhodium, J. Catal., 246, 223 –
231 (2007)•
Yuntong
Nie, Weilin
Niah, Stephan Jaenicke, Gaik-Khuan Chuah, A Tandem Cyclisation
and Hydrogenation of (±)-Citronellal to Menthol over Bifunctional
Ni/Zr-Beta and Mixed Zr-Beta & Ni/MCM-41, J. Catal., 248, 1-
10 (2007)•
Y. Nie, S. Jaenicke, G. K. Chuah, Zr-Zeolite
Beta: A New Heterogeneous Catalysts System for the Highly Selective Cascade Transformation of Citral
to (±)-Menthol, Chem. - A Eur. J., 15,1991-1999 (2009)•
Vadivukarasi
Raju, Stephan Jaenicke and Gaik-Khuan Chuah, Effect of hydrothermal treatment and silica on thermal stability and oxygen storage capacity of ceria–zirconia, Appl. Catal. B, 91 92-100 (2009)
•
Vadikukarasi
Raju, Rajitha
Radhakrishnan, Stephan Jaenicke, Gaikkhuan
Chuah, KF on gamma-alumina: an efficient catalyst for the aldol
condensation to pseudoionones, Catal. Today, in press.
CH3
(CH2
)10
COOH
HOCH2
-CH(OH)-CH2
OH
20
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
20
Assoc Professor FAN Wai YipPostdoc., Univ. of California at Berkeley, 2000; Ph.D., Univ. of Cambridge, 1998; M.Sc., Univ. of Toronto, 1996; B.Sc., Univ. of London, 1994
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/fanwy.htm
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSEmphasis of the research is on the organometallic
reactions and homogeneous catalysis using transition metal carbonyl complexes and the preparation and functionalization
of nanomaterials. Specific areas are:
• Manganese and ruthenium-based homogeneous catalysis and mechanism studies
• Rhenium and ruthenium-based nanomaterials
for photochemical applications
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: Organometallics, 2010, 29, 4459-4463
UV photolysis of CpMn(CO)3
with thiols
effected the following catalytic transformation: 2 RSH R2
S2
+ H2. This reaction is a greener way towards making disulfides, as it produces H2
as the only side-product. The manganese system exhibits high chemo-selectivity as the transformation proceeds efficiently even in the presence of numerous functional groups. A manganese dicarbonyl
complex, CpMn(CO)2RSH and cyclopentadiene
have also been detected using FTIR and NMR spectroscopic techniques respectively.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
K Y D Tan, J W Kee and WY Fan, CpMn(CO)3-Catalyzed Photoconversion
of Thiols
into Disulfides and Dihydrogen, Organometallics, 2010, 29, 4459-4463.
•
S T Tan and W Y Fan, Ligand-Controlled Regio-
and Stereoselective
Addition of Carboxylic Acids Onto Terminal Alkynes Catalyzed by Carbonylruthenium(0) Complex, Eur.J.Inorg.Chem,
2010, 4631–4635 •
B Swennenhuis, R Poland, W Y Fan, D J Darensbourg
and A Bengali, Ligand
Substitution from the (η5-
DMP)Mn(CO)2(Solv) [DMP = 2,5-dimethylpyrrole, Solv
= solvent] Complexes: To Ring Slip or Not to Ring Slip?, Inorg. Chem. 2010, 49, 7597–7604
21
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
21
Assoc Professor HUANG DejianPostdoc., MIT, 2001; Ph.D., Indiana Univ. Bloomington, 1999; M.Sc., Chinese Acad. of Sciences, 1990; B.Sc., Fujian Teachers Univ., 1987
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/huangdj.htm
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSMy group focuses on transition metal complexes with proanthocyanidins
and their derivatives, functionalized fluorescent quantum dots for sensing of reactive oxygen species,
and evidence-based functional foods development. Specific foci are:
•
Synthesis and catalytic activity of metal complexes with polydentate
ligands
derived from proanthocyanidins
obtained from agricultural wastes• Design and fabrication of functional semiconductor quantum dots for sensing reactive oxygen species
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
Wang, S.; Han, M.-Y.; Huang, D.. Nitric Oxide Switches on the Photoluminescence of Molecularly Engineered Quantum Dots. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 131, 11692-11694 (2009).
•
Chen, W.; Fu, C.; Qin, Y.; Huang, D.. One-pot depolymerizative
extraction of proanthocyanidins
from mangosteen
pericarps. Food Chem., 114, 874-880 (2009),
•
Feng, S.; Saw, C. L.; Lee, Y. K.; Huang, D.. Novel Process of Fermenting Black Soybean [Glycine
max (L.) Merrill] Yogurt with Dramatically Reduced Flatulence-Causing Oligosaccharides but Enriched Soy Phytoalexins. J. Agric. Food Chem. 56, 10078-10084 (2008),
•
KX Hay, VY Waisundara, Y Zong, M-Y Han and D Huang, CdSe
nanocrystals
as peroxide scavengers: a new approach to highly sensitive quantification of lipid hydroperoxides, Small, 3, 290-293 (2007).
•
C Fu, AEK Loo, FPP Chia and D Huang, Oligomeric
proanthocyanidins
from mangosteen
pericarps, J. Agric. Food Chem., 55, 7689-7694 (2007).
•
Huang, D.; Ou, B.; Prior, R. L. The Chemistry behind Antioxidant Capacity Assays. J. Agric. Food Chem., 53, 1841-1856 (2005).
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: Nitric Oxide Switches on the Photoluminescence of Molecularly EngineeredQuantum Dots
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 11692–11694
Summary: The photoluminescence of non-fluorescent molecularly engineered quantum dots with iron(III) dithiocarbamates
was selectively switched on by nitric oxide. Such functional QDs
consisted of CdSe-ZnS
nanocrystal
as fluorophores
and surface bound tris-(N-(dithiocarboxy)sarcosine)iron(III) as reactive centers for nitric oxide. The fluorescence of the QDs
was quenched by energy transfer between the excited QDs
cores and the surface bound iron(III) dithiocarbamates
due to their optical energy overlapping. Nitric oxide restored
the fluorescence of the QDs
through reduction of the surface bound iron(III) complexes to iron(I)-NO adducts and thus shutting down the energy transfer pathway. The fluorescence
of the iron (III) complex engineered QDs
was selectively and quantitatively restored by nitric oxide but not by other reactive oxygen species. Such property of the functional QDs
could be used for sensing nitric oxide based on fluorescence “turn on”
mechanism.
22
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
22
Assoc Professor Stephan JAENICKEPostdoc., Max Planck Society, 1988; Postdoc., Michigan State Univ., 1983; Ph.D., Dr. rer. nat., Univ. of Karlsruhe, 1981; B.Sc., Diplomchemiker, Univ. of Cologne, 1976
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/jaenicke.htm
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSThe research in my group centers around two topics: development of new catalytic reactions and process integration. Nature provides enzymes which are unsurpassed as catalysts for very specific reactions. We try to enhance the substrate spectrum of enzymes, and work on methods to use these enzymes in a continuous flow reactor (enzyme membrane reactor) for stereoselective
transformations. We are also interested in selective reductions and oxidations using coinage (Cu, Ag, Au) metal nanoparticles, as well as in C-C bond formation by Ag-catalyzed decarboxylation. Specific foci are:
• Heterogeneous catalysis (zeolites
and metal nanoparticles)
• Enzyme catalysis and whole cell fermentation as route to chiral
synthons
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: J. F. Ng, Y. Nie, G.-K. Chuah, S. Jaenicke, A wall-coated catalytic capillary microreactor
for the direct formation of hydrogen peroxide, J. Catal. 269, 302–308 (2010) (“most downloaded”
article Jan.-April 2010 with 1470 downloads)
The direct formation of hydrogen peroxide from H2
and O2
was carried out in a capillary microreactor
under ambient conditions using polymer micelle incarcerated (PMI) palladium nanoparticles
in an amphiphilic
polystyrene-based polymer. Excess of oxygen in the feed stream is necessary to suppress the catalytic reduction of hydrogen peroxide to water. A two-fold oxygen excess was identified as close to the economic optimum. The immobilization of palladium from a soluble precursor by the PMI method resulted in uniform palladium nanoparticles
of 2.5 to 3.6 nm diameter, which were outstandingly resistant to leaching. The stability of the catalyst was demonstrated during the continuous production of hydrogen peroxide for eleven days. Using a 2 mm ID microreactor
coated with PMI-Pd, a maximum concentration of 1.4 wt% of H2
O2
corresponding to a turnover frequency of 0.54 mol H2
O2
/h·gPd was obtained.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
Kam
Loon Fow, Stephan Jaenicke, Thomas E. Müller
and Carsten
Sievers, Enhanced Enantioselectivity
of Chiral
Hydrogenation Catalysts after Immobilisation
in Thin Films of Ionic Liquid, J. Mol. Catal. A: Chem., 279, 239-247 (2008)
•
K.-L. Fow, L.C.H. Poon, S.T. Sim, G.K. Chuah, S. Jaenicke, Enhanced Asymmetric Reduction of Ethyl-3-
Oxobutyrate by Baker’s Yeast via Substrate Feeding and Enzyme Inhibition, Eng. Life. Sci. 8, 372-380 (2008)
•
Jeck Fei Ng and Stephan Jaenicke, Immobilized Whole Cells as Effective Catalysts for Chiral
Alcohol Production, Aust. J. Chem. 62, 1–6 (2009)
•
J. F. Ng, Y. Nie, G.-K. Chuah, S. Jaenicke, A wall-coated catalytic capillary microreactor
for the direct formation of hydrogen peroxide, J. Catal. 269, 302–308 (2010)
•
J.F. Ng, S. Jaenicke*, K. Eisele, J. Dorn, T. Weil*, cBSA-147 for the Preparation of Bacterial Biofilms
in a Microchannel
Reactor, Biointerphases (in print)
H2 O2H2 O2
PMI-PdOO
OOH
x y4
z
23
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
23
Assoc Professor KANG Hway ChuanPh.D., Caltech, 1989; B.Sc., Yale Univ., 1983
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/kanghc.htm
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSSurface chemistry and physics and computational chemistry are my
main interests. My specific
foci include:
• Silicon-germanium surfaces/interfaces
• Electronic structure and reactivity of nanoclusters
of pure and mixed transition metals • Sputtering dynamics
RECENT HIGHLIGHTMy research focuses upon the use of simulations grounded in statistical and quantum mechanics to provide molecular scale "pictures" of physical and chemical processes in
molecules, clusters, surfaces and bulk
materials. We are interested in modelling
the kinetics of catalytic reactions, the structure and properties of solid and cluster surfaces, reaction energetics, the interactions and reactions of molecules adsorbed on surfaces, and the energetics
of defects on surfaces and in the bulk.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
R.Q.M. Ng, E.S. Tok, and H.C. Kang, “Disilane
chemisorptions on Six
Ge1-x
(100)-(2×1): Molecular mechanisms and implications for film growth rates”, J. Chem. Phys. 131, 044707 (2009)
•
W.J. Ong, E.S. Tok, H. Johll, and H.C. Kang, “Self-assembly, dynamics, and structure of Si magic clusters”, Phys. Rev. B 79, 235439 (2009).
•
H. Johll, E.S. Tok, and H.C. Kang, “Electronic structure of iron, cobalt, nickel, and platinum adatoms
and dimers
on graphene”, Phys. Rev. B 79, 245416 (2009).
•
R.Q.M. Ng, E.S. Tok, and H.C. Kang, “Molecular mechanisms for disilane
chemisorption
on Si(100)-
(21)”, J. Chem. Phys. 130, 114702 (2009).
Q Li, ES Tok and HC Kang, “Energetics
of adsorbed hydrogen and surface germanium on stepped SixGe1-x(100)-(21) surfaces”, Phys. Rev. B 77, 205306 (2008) (United States)
24
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
24
Assoc Professor KHOR EugenePh.D., Virginia Tech, 1983; B.Sc., Lakehead
Univ., 1979
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/khore.htm
Email: [email protected]
MAJOR RECOGNITION•
Associate Editor, Biomaterials, 2005•
International Advisory Committee, 11th International Chitin Chitosan
Conference
and 8th
Asia Pacific Chitin Chitosan
Symposium 2009•
Founder of Biomedical Research And Support Services Private Limited, an NUS spin-off company serving the Biomedical sector in Singapore and the region since 1999. www.brass-asiapacific.com
RESEARCH INTERESTSGeneral research interest is in the area of Biomaterials and their applications to medical devices. Present
interest is in the design and use of biomaterials for medical devices
RECENT HIGHLIGHTSet up of Anatomic Replacement Materials Private Limited to produce a medical device for the spine.On-going research in developing medical devices for ophthalmology applications.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
Y. Zou
and E Khor, Preparation of sulfated-chitins under homogeneous conditions, Carbohyd. Polym., 77, 516-525, 2009
•
Y Zou
and E Khor, Preparation of C-6 substituted chitin derivatives under homogeneous conditions, Biomacromolecules, 6, 80-87 (2005)
•
Z Ge, A-S Baguenard, LY Lim, A Wee and E Khor, Hydroxyapatite-chitin materials as potential tissue engineered bone substitutes,
Biomaterials, 25, 1049-1058 (2004)•
E Khor and LY Lim, Implantable applications of chitin and chitosan, Biomaterials, 24, 2339-2349 (2003) {Invited review}
25
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
25
Assoc Professor LAI Yee HingPostdoc., Univ. of California at Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, 1982; Ph.D., Univ. of Victoria, 1980; B.Sc., Nanyang
Univ., 1978
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/laiyh.htm
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSMy
primary interest lies on
organic chemistry.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTOur research interests are centred
mainly on the studies of conjugated aromatic systems going from
theoretically interesting molecules to organic materials for specific applications.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
WL Wang, JW Xu, Z Sun, XH Zhang, Y Lu and YH Lai, Effect of transannular
pi-pi interaction on emission spectral shift and fluorescence quenching in dithia[3.3] paracyclophane-fluorene
copolymers, Macromolecules, 39, 7277-7285 (2006)
•
F Wang, MY Han, KY Mya, YB Wang and YH Lai, Aggregation-driven growth of size-tunable organic nanoparticles
using electronically altered conjugated polymers, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 127, 10350-10355 (2005)
•
YH Ting and YH Lai, Extreme projection of a proton into the pi-cloud of an aromatic ring: Record shielding of an aromatic proton in trans-10b-methyl-10c-(1-naphthyl)-10b,10c-dihydropyrene, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 126, 909-914 (2004)
•
YP Zhang, KS Yong, YH Lai, GQ Xu and XS Wang, Formation of order
molecular nanostructures on the Si(111)-(7x7) surface by patterned assembly, Appl. Phys. Lett., 85, 2926-2928 (2004)
•
F Wang, YH Lai and MY Han, Post-coordination of multinuclear transitional metal clusters to azulene-based polymers: A novel strategy for tuning properties in pi-conjugated polymers, Org. Lett., 5, 4791-4794 (2003)
26
Faculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
26
Assoc Professor LAM YulinResearch Fellow, Inst. of Molecular and Cell Biology,
1994-1996; Research Fellow, The Scripps Research Inst., 1992-1994; Ph.D., National Univ. of Singapore, 1992; B.Sc.(Hons), National Univ. of Singapore, 1987
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/lamyl.htm
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSOur research interests are (i) combinatorial synthesis and biological evaluation of small molecules as potential therapeutic agents, and (ii) development of polymer-supported reagents and catalysts. Specific
foci are:
•
Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluations of Novel Organic Compounds and Natural Product Derivatives as Potential Anticonvulsants, DHFR Inhibitors, NOS Inhibitors, Anti-cancer and Antiviral Agents
• Development of Polymer-supported Oxidants, Reductants
and Catalysts
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: J. Med. Chem., 53, 7967-7978 (2010)
A class of polyenylpyrroles
and their analogs were designed from a hit compound identified in a thermophilic
fungus. The compounds synthesized were evaluated for their cell
cytotoxicity
against human non-small cell lung carcinoma cell lines A549. Two compounds
were found to exhibit high cytotoxicity
against A549 cells with IC50 being 0.6 and 0.01 M
respectively. The underlying mechanisms for the anti-cancer activity were demonstrated as caspases
activation dependent apoptosis
induction through loss of mitochondrial
membrane potential, release of cytochrome
c, increase in Bax
level, and decrease in Bcl-2 level. The two compounds were non-toxic to normal human lung Beas-2b cells (IC50 > 80 mM) indicating that they are highly selective in their cytotoxicity
activities. Furthermore, one compound showed in vivo anti-cancer activity in human lung cancer cells-bearing mice.
O
OCH3
OHN
ClAuxarconjugatin B, IC50 = 0.6 M
O
OCH3
OHN
Cl1g, IC50 = 0.01 M
Vehicle
Compound 1g
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8Vehicle control
Compound 1g
Day after treatment initiation
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Rela
tive tu
mo
r v
olu
me
A B
Figure: (A) Inhibition of human lung cancer xenografts
growth in vivo
by 1g; (B) human lung tumor tissues with in vivo
1g treatment displayed an increase in activated caspase
3 protein expression
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
Z Fang, P-C Liao, Y-L Yang, F-L Yang, Y-L Chen, Y L Lam, K-F Hua, S-H Wu, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Polyenylpyrrole
Derivatives as Anti-cancer Agents Acting through Caspases-dependent Apoptosis, J. Med. Chem., 53, 7967-7978 (2010)
•
P Puneet, C T Yap, L Wong, Y L Lam, D R Koh, S. MooChhalla, J Pfeilschifter, A Huwiler
and A J Melendez, SphK1 Regulates Proinflammatory
Responses Associated with Endotoxin
and Polymicrobial
Sepsis, Science, 328, 1290-1294 (2010)
•
J Che
and Y L Lam, Polymer-Supported Hantzsch
1,4-Dihydropyridine Ester: An Efficient Biomimetic
Hydrogen Source for the Reduction of Ketimines
and Electron-Withdrawing Group Conjugated Olefins, Adv. Synth. Cat., 352, 1752-1758 (2010)
•
L K Wong, S S L Tan, Y L Lam and A J Melendez, Synthesis And Evaluation Of Sphingosine
Analogues As Inhibitors Of Sphingosine
Kinases, J. Med. Chem., 52, 3618-3626 (2009)•
Y Gao and Y L Lam, Polymer-Supported N-Phenylsulfonyloxaziridine
(Davis Reagent): A Versatile Oxidant, Adv. Synth. Cat., 350, 2937-2946 (2008)
27
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
27
Assoc Professor LOH Kian PingPostdoc., National Inst. for Material Science, Tsukuba, Japan, 1998; Ph.D., Oxford Univ., 1996; B.Sc., National Univ. of Singapore, 1994
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/lohkp.htm
Email: [email protected]
MAJOR RECOGNITION•
Dean’s chair professor
•
Faculty Young Scientist Award, NUS, 2009, Outstanding Chemist Award, 2009•
University Young Scientist Award, NUS, 2008•
NRF-CRP award, NRF, 2007
RESEARCH INTERESTSGeneral interests include advanced functional carbon materials, nanomaterials
for drug delivery and bioimaging, surface science. Specific foci are: •Diamond and Graphene
RECENT HIGHLIGHT"Graphene
Oxide-Organic Dye Ionic Complex with DNA Sensing and Optical Limiting Properties " by Kian Loh, Janardhan
Balapanuru, Jia-Xiang Yang, Si Xiao, Qiaoliang
Bao, Ji Wei , Angewandte Chemie, 49 (2010), 6549
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS1. Maryam
Jahan, QL Bao, Jia0xiang Yang, Loh KP, Structure Directing Role of Graphene
in the synthesis of Metal Organic Framework Nanowire, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 32, 41, 14481 (2010)
2. Zhong YL, Midya
A, Ng Z, Loh KP, Diamond-Based Molecular Platform for Photoelectrochemistry, J. Am. Chem. Soc.; 130, 51 17218-(2008)
3. Ang PK, Chen W, Wee ATS, Loh KP, Solution-Gated Epitaxial Graphene
as pH Sensor J. Am. Chem. Soc., 130, 44 14392 (2008)
4. Zhang XJ, Chen ZK, Loh KP, Coordination-Assisted Assembly of 1-D Nanostructured
Light-Harvesting Antenna , J. Am. Chem. Soc.; 131, 21 Pages: 7210-(2009)
5. JZ Wang,Loh
KP, Z. Wang, Y.Yan, Y Zhong, QH Xu, PC Ho, Fluorescent Nanogel
of Arsenic Sulfide
Nanoclusters
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl.; 2009, 48, 6282 –6285. 6. JZ Wang, M Lin, Y Yan, Z Wang,
PC Ho, Loh KP, CdSe/AsS
Core-Shell Quantum Dots: Preparation and Two-Photon Fluorescence J. Am. Chem. Soc.; 131, 11300 (2009)
http://www.natureasia.com/asia-materials/highlight.php?id=788
28
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
28
Assoc Professor LU YixinPostdoc., Nagoya Univ., 2001; Postdoc., Clinical Research Inst. of Montreal, 2000; Ph.D., McGill Univ., 2000; B.Sc., Fudan
Univ., 1991
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/luyx.htm
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSMain areas of study are asymmetric organocatalysis//medicinal chemistry. Specific foci include:
• Organocatalytic
asymmetric reactions
• Development of analgesics and anti-cancer agents
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference:
Zhu, Q.; Lu, Y., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010, 49, 7753 (highlighted in SYNFACTS
2010, 1305).
Enantioselective conjugate addition of 3-aryl oxindoles to vinyl sulfone
2 was achieved by employing 7 as a catalyst. To effect an asymmetric conjugate addition of 3-alkyl oxindoles to 2, a novel class of trifunctional catalysts containing natural amino acid residues were designed and prepared for the first time. Applying the synthetic method developed as a key step, enantioselective synthesis of 3,3-alkyl/aryl-substituted oxindoles and indolines with an all-carbon quaternary stereogenic center were realized.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
Luo, J.; Wang, H.; Han, X.; Xu, L.-W.; Kwiatkowski, J.; K.-W. Huang, Lu, Y. “Direct Asymmetric Vinylogous
Aldol
Reaction of Furanones
with -Ketoesters: Access to Chiral
-butenolides
and Glycerol Derivatives”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2011, DOI: 10.1002/anie.201003837).
•
Zhu, Q.; Lu, Y. “Stereocontrolled
Creation of All-Carbon Quaternary Stereocenters
by Organocatalytic
Conjugate Addition of Oxindoles
to Vinyl Sulfone”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010, 49, 7753. (highlighted in SYNFACTS 2010, 1305).
•
Han, X.; Kwiatkowski, J.; Xue, F.; Huang, K.-W.; Lu, Y. “Asymmetric Mannich
reaction of fluorinated ketoesters
with a tryptophan-derived bifunctional
thiourea
catalyst”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2009, 48, 7604.
(highlighted in SYNFACTS 2010, 102).
•
Xu, L.; Luo, J.; Lu, Y. “Asymmetric catalysis with primary amine-based organocatalysts”,
Chem. Commun. 2009, 1807
(the top cited ChemComm feature article in 2009, with >60 citations to date).
•
Jiang, Z.; Liang, Z.; Wu, X.; Lu, Y., “Asymmetric Aldol
Reactions Catalyzed by Tryptophan in Water”, Chem. Commun. 2006, 2801. (highlighted in SYNFACTS 2006, 842, with >100 citations to date).
29
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
29
Assoc Professor TAN Choon HongPostdoc., Harvard Univ., 2002; Ph.D., Univ. of Cambridge, 1999; B.Sc. (Hons), National Univ. of Singapore, 1996
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/tanch.htm
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSWe are interested in Synthetic Organic Chemistry and Medicinal and Biological Chemistry.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
J. Shen, T. T. Nguyen, Y.-P. Goh, W. Ye, X. Fu, J. Xu and C.-H. Tan, Chiral
Bicyclic
Guanidine Catalyzed Enantioselective
Reactions of Anthrones. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2006, 128, 13692–13693. •
X. Fu, Z. Jiang and C.-H. Tan, Bicyclic
Guanidine-Catalyzed Enantioselective
Phospha-Michael Reaction: Synthesis of Chiral
β-Aminophosphine
Oxides and β-Aminophosphines, Chem. Commun., 2007, 5058–
5060. •
W. Ye, Z. Jiang, Y. Zhao, Serena L. M. Goh, D. Leow, Y.-T. Soh and C.-H. Tan. Chiral
Bicyclic
Guanidine as a Versatile Brønsted
Base Catalyst for the Enantioselective
Michael Reactions of Dithiomalonates
and β-
Keto
Thioesters, Adv. Syn. Catal., 2007, 349, 2454–2458. •
D. Leow, S. Lin, S. K. Chittimalla, X. Fu and C.-H. Tan, Enantioselective
Protonations
Catalyzed by Chiral
Bicyclic
Guanidine, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 2008, 47, 5641–5645 •
Z. Jiang, W. Ye, Y. Yang and C.-H. Tan, Rate Acceleration of Triethylamine-Mediated Guanidine-Catalyzed Enantioselective
Michael Reaction, Adv. Syn. Catal., 2008, 350, in press.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: D. Leow, S. Lin, S. K. Chittimalla, X. Fu and C.-H. Tan, Enantioselective
Protonations
Catalyzed by Chiral
Bicyclic
Guanidine, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Eng., 47, 5641–5645 (2008)
Chiral
bicyclic
guanidine 1
is found to catalyze the tandem conjugate addition –
enantioselective
protonation. It is useful for the reactions between phthalimidoacrylates
with thiols
and itaconimides
with secondary phosphine
oxides. Optically pure analogues of cysteine
and cystine
can be obtained using this methodology. Highly enantioselective
deuteration
reaction can also be achieved. A small but significant level of
kinetic isotope effect was also observed.
MAJOR RECOGNITION•
UK-Singapore Partners In Science Collaboration Development Awards, British High Commission, 2008
NH
N
NtBu tBu
P
ROR
H
N
O
O
+
N
O
O
POR
R 79-95% yield87-98% ee
H
+ NO
O
O
O
RS-H(D) 82-99% yield84-94% ee
N
O
O
O
O H(D)
SR
1(1-20mol%)
R3
R2 R1
R4R4
R3
R2 R1
30
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
30
Assoc Professor VALIYAVEETTIL SureshBSc, MSc, MTech, PhD
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/suresh.htm
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSOrganic/ Polymer synthesis, Nanomaterials and Biomaterials
Current research interest of my group involves the synthesis and
characterization of nanostructured
materials (polymers, hybrid materials and bionanomaterials). Another area of interest involves establishing the toxicity of nanomaterials
in both in vitro (cell models) and in vivo (in fish models) to identify the impact of nanomaterials
in environment. Nanohybrid
materials are prepared from organic and inorganic components for specific applications such as sensors, photovoltaics
and molecular electronic applications.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS1.
G. Balaji, Ganapathy; S. Valiyaveettil. Org. Lett., 2009, 11, 3358-61.2.
P. V. AshaRani
, G. L. K. Mun, M. P. Hande, S. Valiyaveettil. ACS Nano, 2009, 3, 279 –
2903.
S. Vajiravelu, R. Lygaitis, J. V. Grazulevicius, V. Gaidelis, V. Jankauskas, S. Valiyaveettil, J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 4268 –
4275.4.
M. H. Nurmawati; P. K. Ajikumar, R. Ravindranath; C. H. Sow, S. Valiyaveettil. ACS Nano, 2008, 2(7), 1429–
1436.5.
S. Barik, S. Valiyaveettil. Macromolecules, 2008, 41, 6376 –
6386.6.
M. H. Nurmawati, P. K. Ajikumar, L. A. Heng, H. R. Li , S. Valiyaveettil, Chem. Commun., 2008, 4945 –
4947.7.
M. H. Nurmawati, P. K. Ajikumar, R. Renu, S. Valiyaveettil. Adv. Funct. Mater., 2008, 18, 3213–32188.
H. R. Li, M. Parameswaran, M. H. Nurmawati, Q. H. Xu, S. Valiyaveettil. Macromolecules, 2008, 41, 8473 –
8482.9.
P. V Asharani, Y. Lianwu, Z. Gong, S. Valiyaveettil. Nanotechnology, 19, 255102 (2008)10.R. Lakshminarayanan, S. Vivekanandan, R. P. Samy, Y. Banerjee, E. Ooi; K. W. Teo, S. D. S. Jois,.; R. M.
Kini, S. Valiyaveettil. J. Am. Chem. Soc.,130(14), 4660-4666 (2008)11.Li HR and S Valiyaveettil. Macromolecules, 40, 6057-6066 (2007) 12.Sindhu, Swaminathan, Jegadesan, Subbiah, Hairong, Li, Ajikumar, Parayil
Kumaran, Vetrichelvan, Muthalagu, Valiyaveettil, Suresh. Adv. Funct. Mater., 17 (10): 1698-1704 (2007)
MAJOR RECOGNITION•
Visiting Professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan, 2008. •
Visiting Professor, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, 2006-current •
Visiting Professor, University of Houston, 2007
A
2
m mB C
Fluorescent Polymer film
Protein fibers
X XX
Y Y Y
X XX
Y Y Y
2
mC
Fluorescent Polymer film
Protein fibers
ANanotoxicity
B
31
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
3131
Assoc Professor Thomas WALCYZKPostdoc., Swiss Federal Inst. of Technology (ETH Zurich), 1996; Ph.D. (Dr. rer. nat.), Univ. of Regensburg, 1994; Dipl. Chem., Univ. of Regensburg, 1991
Dept.: http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/walczyk.htmlGroup: http://www.fst.nus.edu.sg/research/ResearchGroup/Walczyk/home.htmlEmail: [email protected]
joint appointment
with
Yong Loo
Lin School
of Medicine, Department
of Biochemistry
RESEARCH INTERESTSMy research is directed towards a better understanding of mineral and trace element metabolism in humans and their role in health and disease with a special focus on iron and calcium. Specific foci are:
•
Development and application of stable isotope techniques for element tracing in human intervention
studies
• Analysis and modeling of tracer kinetics in human experiments• Exploration of natural isotope signatures in the human body for essential elements • Inorganic trace analysis and elemental speciation analysis by isotope dilution mass spectrometry
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: Anal. Chem. 81, 7368-7372 (2009)
Ferritin
is the major iron storage protein in living organisms from bacteria to men. Increasing ferritin
content of plant foods either by genetic engineering or conventional breeding (biofortification) is globally pursued as a sustainable strategy to combat iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia, the most common nutrient deficiency disorders worldwide. However, techniques are lacking to assess the amount of ferritin
bound iron in seeds for the design and evaluation of breeding strategies.
Based on isotope dilution mass spectrometry we have developed a fully traceable method for accurate assessment of ferritin
bound iron in seed samples. This technique utilizes
57Fe labeled ferritin
which we produced by cloning and overexpressing
the Phaseolus
vulgaris
ferritin
gene pfe
in Escherichia coli in the presence of 57Fe.
Plant ferritin
and added spike ferritin
were extracted and separated by anion exchange chromatography followed by isotopic analysis by thermal ionization mass spectrometry. Repeatabilities
that can be achieved are on the order of <5% RSD for quintuplicate analyses at an absolute detection limit of 60 ng
of ferritin-bound iron for plant seeds. Studies in six different legumes revealed ferritin-iron contents ranging from 15% of total iron in red kidney beans up to 69% in lentils.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
M Hoppler, C Zeder
and T Walczyk, Quantification of Ferritin-Bound Iron in Plant Samples by Isotope Tagging and Species-Specific Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry, Anal. Chem. 81, 7368-7372 (2009)
•
M Hoppler, A Schonbachler, L Meile
, RF Hurrell
and T Walczyk, Ferritin-iron is released during boiling and in vitro gastric digestion, J. Nutr. ,138, 878-884 (2008)
•
M Hoppler, L Meile
and T Walczyk, Biosynthesis, isolation and characterization of Fe-57-enriched Phaseolus
vulgaris
ferritin
after heterologous
expression in Escherichia coli, Anal. Bioanal. Chem., 390, 53-59 (2008)•
E Denk, D Hillegonds, RF Hurrell, J Vogel, K Fattinger, HJ Häuselmann, M Kraenzlin
and T Walczyk, Evaluation of 41Calcium as a new approach to assess changes in bone metabolism: effect of a
bisphosphonate
intervention in postmenopausal women with low bone mass, J. Bone Min. Res., 22, 1518-
1525 (2007)•
E Denk, D Hillegonds, J Vogel, A Synal, C Geppert, K Wendt, K Fattinger, C Hennessy, M Berglund, RF Hurrell
and T Walczyk Labeling the human skeleton with Ca-41 to assess changes in bone calcium metabolism, Anal. Bioanal. Chem., 386, 1587-1602 (2006) -
ABC Best Paper Award 2007•
PA Krayenbuehl, T Walczyk, R Schoenberg, F von Blanckenburg
and G Schulthess, Hereditary
hemochromatosis
is reflected in the iron isotopic composition of blood, Blood, 105, 3812-3816 (2005)
32
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
32
Assoc Professor Thorsten WOHLANDPostdoc., Stanford Univ.; Ph.D., Swiss Federal Inst. of Technology at Lausanne; Dipl. Phys., Univ. of Heidelberg
Dept. Website: http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/tw.htmGroup Website: http://staff.science.nus.edu.sg/~chmwt/
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSMy group works on the development of new fluorescence spectroscopy techniques for the measurement of biomolecular
interactions in cells, tissues, and organisms. Specific foci are:
•
Techniques: Single wavelength excitation fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (SW-FCCS) and
EMCCD based fluorescence correlation spectroscopy•
Biological systems: Transmembrane
protein receptors and peptides and their interaction with membranes, measurement of biomolecular
actions and interactions in living cells and organisms
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
T. Wohland, X. Shi, J. Sankaran, E. H.K. Stelzer, “Single Plane Illumination Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (SPIM-FCS) probes inhomogeneous three-dimensional environments”, Opt. Exp. 2010, 18(10): 10627-41
•
J. Sankaran, M. Manna, L. Guo, R. Kraut, T. Wohland, “Diffusion, transport, and cell membrane organization investigated by imaging fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy“, Biophys. J. 2009; 97(9):2630-9.
•
X. Wang, T. Wohland, V. Korzh
,”Developing in vivo biophysics by fishing for single molecules”, Dev. Biol., 347(1): 1-8, 2010
•
X. Ma, S. Ahmed, T. Wohland, “EGFR activation monitored by SW-FCCS in live cells”, Front. Biosci. (Elite Ed). 2011 Jan 1;3:22-32.
•
X. Shi, Y.H. Foo, T. Sudhaharan, S.-W. Chong, V. Korzh, S. Ahmed, T. Wohland, “Determination of dissociation constants in living zebrafish
embryos with single wavelength fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy”, Biophys. J. (97)2:678-686 (2009).
•
T. Sudhaharan, P. Liu, Y.H. Foo1, W. Bu1, K.B. Lim, T. Wohland, S. Ahmed, ”Determination of in vivo dissociation constants, KD, of Cdc42-effector complexes in living mammalian cells using single wavelength fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (SW-FCCS)”, J. Biol. Chem. 284: 13602-13609 (2009).
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: Opt. Exp.18(10): 10627-41 (2010)
The life sciences require new highly sensitive imaging tools, which allow the quantitative measurement of molecular
parameters within a physiological three-dimensional (3D) environment. Therefore, we combined single plane illumination microscopy (SPIM) with camera based fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). SPIM-FCS provides contiguous particle number and diffusion coefficient images with a high spatial resolution in homo-
and heterogeneous 3D specimens and live zebrafish
embryos. Our SPIM-FCS recorded up to 4096 spectra within 56 seconds at a laser power of 60 mW
without damaging the embryo. This new FCS modality provides more measurements per time and more less photo-toxic measurements per sample than confocal
based methods. In essence, SPIM-FCS offers new opportunities to observe biomolecular
interactions quantitatively and functions in a highly multiplexed manner within a physiologically relevant 3D environment.
Fig.: In the figure are shown a range of correlation functions measured over a whole plane within a
zebrafish. For that purpose we injected 200 nM
ploystyrene
beads into the bloodstream of the
zebrafish
and monitored the blood flow profile in a cadrinal
vein. In the last graph one can see how the whole bllodflow
profile can be mapped within a single less than 1 minute measurement. This system can be extended to the observation of molecules, their concentration, diffusion, transport and binding.
33
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
33
Assoc Professor XU Qing-HuaPostdoc., UC Santa Barbara, 2005; Postdoc., Stanford Univ., 2002; Ph.D., UC Berkeley, 2001; B.Sc., Zhejiang Univ., 1993
http://staff.science.nus.edu.sg/~chmxqh
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSWe are mainly interested in development of various light based applications, such as sensing, imaging, photo-
sensitization and optoelectronics using nano-materials and organic/polymer materials, as well as investigation of the underlying fundamental mechanisms and photophysical
processes using various novel optical spectroscopy and imaging techniques to understand their working principles, which provide insights for device design of better performance. Specific foci are:
• Materials physics and biophysics • Optical spectroscopy and imaging
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
V. Mamidala, L. Polavarapu, J. Balapanuru, K.P. Loh, Q.-H. Xu and W. Ji, "Enhanced Nonlinear Optical Responses in Donor-Acceptor Ionic Complexes via Photoinduced
Electron/Energy Transfer", Optics Express, 2010, 18(25), 25928-25935.
•
T.T. Zhao, H. Wu, S.Q. Yao, Q.-H. Xu, and G.Q. Xu, "Nanocomposites
Containing Gold Nanorods
and Porphyrin
Doped Mesoporous
Silica with Dual Capability of Two-photon Imaging and Photodynamic Therapy", Langmuir, 2010, 26(18), 14937-14942.
•
L. Polavarapu, M. Manna and Q.-H. Xu, "Biocompatible Glutathione Capped Gold Clusters as One-
and Two-
photon Excitation Fluorescence Contrast Agents for Live Cells Imaging", Nanoscale, 2010, in press (DOI:10.1039/C0NR00458H).
X.S. Ren and Q.-H. Xu, "Label Free DNA Sequence Detection with Enhanced Sensitivity and Selectivity using Cationic Conjugated Polymers and PicoGreen", Langmuir, 2009, 25(1), 43-47.
•
L. Polavarapu and Q.-H. Xu, "Water Soluble Conjugated Polymers Induced Self-Assembly of Gold Nanoparticles
and Its Application to SERS", Langmuir, 2008, 24, 10608.•
L. Polavarapu and Q.-H. Xu, M. S. Dhoni
and W. Ji, "Optical limiting properties of silver nanoprisms", Appl. Phys. Lett. 92, 263110 (2008)
•
N. Tian, and Q.-H. Xu, “Enhanced Two-Photon Excitation Fluorescence by Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Using Conjugated Polymers”, Adv. Mater.,
19
(15), 1988-1991 (2007)•
D. Cheng and Q.-H. Xu, "Separation distance dependent fluorescence enhancement of fluorescein
isothiocyanate
by silver nanoparticles",
Chem. Commun., 248-250 (2007)
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: Z.P. Guan, L. Polavarapu, Q.-H. Xu,"Enhanced
Two-photon Emission in Coupled Metal Nanoparticles
Induced by Conjugated Polymers",
Langmuir, 2010, 26 (23), 18020-18023. .
The cationic conjugated polymers were found to induce the aggregate formation and plasmonic
coupling of the Ag and Au nanoparticles, which resulted in significant enhancement in the two-photon emissions of metal nanoparticles. These studies could be further extended to the applications of
two-photon imaging and sensing.
MAJOR RECOGNITION•
Young Scientist Award, Faculty of Science, NUS 2008
34
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
34
Assoc Professor YAO Shao QinPostdoc. 1998-2001, Scripps Research Institute & Univ. of California Berkeley;
Ph.D., Purdue Univ., 1998; B.Sc., Ohio State Univ., 1993
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/yaosq.htm
Email: [email protected]
MAJOR RECOGNITION•
Dean’s Chair Professor, National University of Singapore (2009-2012) •
ASAIHL-Scopus Young Scientist Award (2008), international•
Outstanding Scientist Award, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapaore, 2007•
Mr
& Mrs
Sun Chan Memorial Award, International, 2006•
Young Research Award, National University of Singapore, 2005 •
Young Investigator Award, A*STAR Singapore, 2002
RESEARCH INTERESTS“Catalomics”
-
We are interested in developing powerful strategies in Chemical
Biology and Chemical Proteomics that enable organism-wide, high-throughput studies of enzymes. Specific foci are:
• Chemical Biology
• Medicinal Chemistry
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: Wu, H.; Ge, J.; Yao, S.Q.* “Microarray-Assisted High-
Throughput Identification of a Cell-Permeable Small Molecule Binder of 14-3-3 Proteins”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2010, 49, 6528-6532.
En route to new 14-3-3 binder: A fragment-based combinatorial small molecule microarray (SMM) generates affinity-based fingerprints of the 14-3-3
protein. One small molecule that disrupts the 14-3-3/protein interaction has been identified (see picture). The compound is cell-
permeable and possesses both in vitro
and in-cell activities.
PREMIUM PUBLICATIONS•
Liu, K.; Shi, H.; Xiao, H.; Chong, A.G.L.; Bi, X.; Chang, Y.T., Tan, K.; Yada, R.Y.; Yao, S.Q. “Functional Profiling, Identification and Inhibition of Plasmepsins
in Intra-erythrocytic
Malaria Parasites”, Angew. Chem. Intl. Ed., 48, 8293-8297 (2009)
•
Lu, C.H.S.; Sun, H.; Bakar, F.B.A.; Uttamchandani, M.; Zhou, W.;
Liou, Y.-C.; Yao, S.Q. “Rapid Affinity-
Based Fingerprinting of 14-3-3 Isoforms
Using A Combinatorial Peptide Microarray”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 47, 7438-7441 (2008).
•
Sun, H.; Lu, C.H.S.; Uttamchandani, M.; Xia, Y.; Liou, Y.-C.; Yao, S.Q. “Peptide Microarray for High-
throughput Determination of Phosphatase
Specificity and Biology”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 47, 1698-
1702 (2008)•
Uttamchandani, M.; Lee, W.L.;Wang, J.; Yao, S.Q. “Quantitative Inhibitor Fingerprinting of Metalloproteases
using Small Molecule Microarrays”,
J. Am. Chem. Soc., 129, 13110-13117 (2007) •
Uttamchandani, M.; Wang, J.; Li, J.; Hu, M.; Sun, H.; Chen, K. Y.-T.; Liu, K.; Yao, S.Q. “Inhibitor Fingerprinting of Matrix Metalloproteases
Using a Combinatorial Peptide Hydroxamate
Library”,
J. Am. Chem. Soc., 129, 7848-7858 (2007)
•
Hu, Y.; Chen, G.Y.J.; Yao, S.Q. “Activity-based high-throughput screening of enzymes using DNA
microarray”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 44, 1048-1053 (2005)
•
Chan, E.W.S.; Chattopadhaya, S.; Panicker, R.C.; Huang, X.; Yao, S.Q. “Developing photo-active affinity probes for proteomic profiling: hydroxamate-based probes for metalloproteases”, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 126, 14435-14446 (2004)
+
+
35
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
35
Assoc Professor YIP Hon Kay JohnPostdoc., Caltech, 1997; Postdoc., Technical Univ. of Munich, 1995; Ph.D., Univ. of Hong Kong, 1993; B.Sc., Univ. of Hong Kong, 1989
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/yipjohn.htm
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSWe are interested in supramolecular
chemistry, especially molecular recognition and constitutional dynamic chemistry of metallacycles
and metallopolymers. Another research area is design and synthesis of inorganic luminescent materials which have potential applications in bioimaging, catalysis and sensing.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: Y. Wang, R. Lin, J. H. K. Yip*, Templated
Assembly of a Pseudorotaxane
of Gold Rectangle, Dalton Trans., 2806, 2008
(Selected as Hot paper and cover page)
Templated
assembly of nanoscopic
macrocycles
was demonstrated in the self-assembly of nanoscopic
pseudorotaxane
(1)22 which is composed of the gold rectangle [Au4(μ-PAnP)2(μ-bipy)2](OTf)4 (1) and the linear template 4,4’-bis(9’’-anthryl)biphenyl (2).
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
Jian Hu, J. H. K. Yip*, Switching on the Phosphorescence of Pyrene
by Cycloplatination, Organometallics, 51 (2009).
•
Y. Wang, R. Lin, J. H. K. Yip*, Templated
Assembly of a Pseudorotaxane
of Gold Rectangle, Dalton Trans., 2806, (2008) (Selected as Hot paper and cover page)
•
W. Y. Heng, J. Hu, J. H. K. Yip*, Attaching Gold and Platinum to the Rim of Pyrene: A Synthetic and Spectroscopic Study, Organometallics, 26, 6760 (2007)
•
J. Hu, R. Lin, J. H. K. Yip*, K.Y. Wong, D. Ma, J. J. Vittal, Synthesis and Electronic Spectroscopy of Luminescent Cyclometalated
Platinum−Anthracenyl
Complexes, Organometallics, 26, 6533 (2007) •
R. Lin, J. H. K. Yip*, K. Zhang, K.-Y. Wong, K. P. Ho, Self-Assembly and Molecular Recognition of a Luminescent Gold Rectangle, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 126, 15852-15869 (2004)
•
J. H. K. Yip*, J. Wu, K.-Y. Wong*, K. P. Ho, C. S.-N. Pun, J. J. Vittal, Electronic Communication Mediated By a PtI-PtI
s-Bond, Organometallics, 21, 5292-5233 (2002)
Asst Professor ANG Wee HanPostdoc., Massachusetts Inst. of Technology, 2009;
Ph.D., Ecole
Polytechnique
Fédérale
de Lausanne, 2007; B.Sc. (Hons), Imperial College of Science,
Technology and Medicine, 1995
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/angwh.html
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSWe are interested in the development of therapeutic metallopharmaceuticals
and techniques to investigate the interactions of transition metal-based drugs with their biological targets
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: WH Ang, LJ Parker, A De Luca, L Juillerat-Jeanneret, CJ Morton, M Lo Bello, MW Parker and PJ Dyson, Rational design of an organometallic
glutathione transferase
inhibitor and its interaction with GST P1-1, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 48, 3854 -3857 (2009)
A small-molecule organometallic
glutathione transferase
inhibitor was developed by tethering ethacrynic
acid to a ruthenium-arene
complex, yielding excellent inhibitors with multiple modes of activity. Its interaction with the target GSTP1-1 enzyme was investigated using kinetic and structural studies.
PREMIUM PUBLICATIONS•
WH Ang, M Myint
and SJ Lippard, Transcription inhibition by platinum-DNA cross-links in live mammalian cells, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 132, 7429-7435 (2010)
•
WH Ang and SJ Lippard, Functional consequence of plasmid DNA modified site-specifically with 7-deaza-
deoxyadenosine at a single, programmable site, Chem. Commun. 5820-5822. (2009)•
WH Ang, LJ Parker, A De Luca, L Juillerat-Jeanneret, CJ Morton, M Lo Bello, MW Parker and PJ Dyson, Rational design of an organometallic
glutathione transferase
inhibitor and its interaction with GST P1-1, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 48, 3854 -3857 (2009)
•
WH Ang, A De Luca, C Chapuis-Bernasconi, L Juillerat-Jeanneret, M Lo Bello and PJ Dyson, Organometallic
ruthenium inhibitors of glutathione-S-tranferase
P1-1 as anticancer drugs, ChemMedChem, 2, 1799-1806 (2007)
•
WH Ang, E Daldini, L Juillerat-Jeanneret
and PJ Dyson, Strategy to tether organometallic
ruthenium-
arene
anti-cancer compounds to recombinant human serum albumin, Inorg. Chem., 46, 9048-9050 (2007)
•
WH Ang, S Pilet, R Scopelliti, F Bussy, L Juillerat-Jeanneret
and PJ Dyson, Synthesis and characterization of platinum(IV) anticancer drugs with functionalized aromatic carboxylate
ligands: Influence of the ligands
on drug efficacies and uptake, J. Med. Chem., 48, 8060-8069 (2005) •
WH Ang, I Khalaila, CS Allardyce, L Juillerat-Jeanneret, PJ Dyson, Rational design of platinum(IV) compounds to overcome glutathione-S-transferase
mediated drug resistance, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 127, 1382-1383 (2005)
MAJOR RECOGNITIONEPFL Doctorate Prize , Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
, 2008
Faculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
37
Asst Professor CHAN Yin ThaiPostdoc., Stanford Univ., in progress; Ph.D., Massachusetts Inst. of Technology, 2006; B.Sc., Univ. of California at Berkeley, 2001
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/chanyt.html
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSOur research interests generally lie in the development of novel
hierarchically complex semiconductor
nanomaterials
for optoelectronic , photocatalytic
and biological imaging applications. Specific foci are:
• Biological and chemical sensing using nanoparticle-based multilayer microfluidics
• Synthesis and characterization of hybrid metal-semiconductor nanostructures
• Developing the surface chemistry of semiconductor nanoparticles
for bio-imaging
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
Wu, Y.; Chakrabortty, S.; Gropeanu, R.A.; Wilhelmi, J.; Xu, Y.; Er, K.S.; Kuan, S.L.; Koynov, K.; Chan, Y.; Weil, T., “pH-Responsive Quantum Dots via an Albumin Polymer Surface Coating”, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 132, 5012 (2010)
•
Xing, G.; Chakrabortty, S.; Chou, K.L.; Mishra, N.; Huan, C.H.A.; Chan, Y.
; Sum, T.C., “Enhanced Tunability
of the Multi-photon Absorption Cross-Section in Seeded CdSe/CdS
Nanorod
Heterostructures”, Appl. Phys. Lett., 97, 061112 (2010)
•
Chakrabortty, S.; Yang, J.A.; Tan, Y.M.; Mishra, N.; Chan, Y., “Asymmetric Dumbbells from Selective
Deposition of Metals on Seeded Semiconductor Nanorods”, Angew. Chem. Intl. Ed., 49, 2888 (2010).
•
Chan Y., Snee
PT, Caruge
J-M, Yen BKH, Nair GP, Nocera
DG and Bawendi
MG, “A solvent stable nanocrystal-silica composite laser”, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 128, 3146 (2006)
MAJOR RECOGNITION
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Postdoctoral Fellow , Stanford University , 2006-2008
Faculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
38
Faculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
38
Asst Professor CHEN WeiPostdoc
National University of Singapore, 2004-2008, Ph.D., National University of Singapore., 2004; B.Sc., Nanjing Univ., 2001
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/chenwei.html
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSMy research focuses on the investigation of the interface problems associated with molecular electronics, organic electronics and graphene-related devices., with specific focus on:
• Self-assembled molecular nanostructures • Molecule-substrate interfaces
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: W Chen, HL Zhang, H Huang, L Chen, ATS Wee, Self-Assembled Organic Donor/Acceptor Nanojunction
Arrays, Appl. Phys. Lett. 92, 193301 (2008). (Issue Cover), Highlighted by Nature Nanotechnology 3, 375 (2008).
Self-assembly of molecules on pre-patterned surface nanotemplates
represents a promising way for the
fabrication of highly periodical functional nanostructure arrays
over macroscopic areas. We use p-sexiphenyl
nanostripes
on Ag(111) as a surface nanotemplate
to fabricate the long-range ordered C60 linear chain arrays.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
W Chen, DC Qi, H Huang, XY Gao, ATS Wee, “Organic-Organic Heterojunction
Interfaces: Effect of
Molecular Orientation” (invited review article) Advanced Functional Materials (Accepted)
•
W Chen, DC Qi, XY Gao, ATS Wee, “Surface Transfer Doping of Semiconductors”
(invited review article) Prog. Surf. Sci. 84, 279-321 (2009).
•
W Chen, H Li, H Huang, YX Fu, HL Zhang, J Ma, ATS Wee,
2D Pentacene:PTCDA
supramolecular
chiral
networks on Ag(111),
J. Am. Chem. Soc., 130, 12285-12289 (2008). •
W Chen, S Chen, DC Qi, XY Gao, ATS Wee, Surface transfer p-type doping of epitaxial graphene,
J. Am. Chem. Soc.,
129,
10418-10422 (2007) •
W Chen, L Wang, C Huang, TT Lin, XY Gao, KP Loh, ZK Chen, ATS Wee, Effect of functional group (fluorine) of aromatic thiols
on the electron transfer at the molecule-metal interface,
J. Am. Chem. Soc., 128, 935-939 (2006)
MAJOR RECOGNITION•
NUS Young Investigator Award, Singapore, 2010•
Hitachi Research Fellowship, Japan, 2010•
IPS Omicron nanotechnology Award, Singapore, 2009•
Lee Kuan Yew Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, NUS, 2006
39
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
39
Asst Professor CHUA Lay LayPh.D., Univ. of Cambridge, 2007;
Research Fellow, ONDL, Physics, NUS (2004-
2008); Research Associate, Cavendish Laboratory, Univ. of Cambridge (2002-
2003); Member of Technical Staff, Bell Laboratories (2001-2002); Engineer, then Principal Engineer, Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing (1995-2001); B.Sc. Computational Chemistry, NUS (1995)
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/chualaylay.html
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSI am interest in the device physics and spectroscopy of solution-processable graphene and conjugated polymers for organic semiconducting applications (field-effect transistors, solar cells, light-emitting diode)
RECENT HIGHLIGHTR-Q. Png, P-J. Chia, J-C. Tang, B. Liu, S. Sivaramakrishnan, M. Zhou, S-H. Khong, H.S.O. Chan, J.H. Burroughes, L-L. Chua, R.H. Friend and P.K.H. Ho, “High-performance polymer semiconducting heterostructure
devices by nitrene-mediated photocrosslinking
of alkyl side chains”, Nature Mater.
9(2010) 152. Highlighted by Nature Publishing Group( Asia Materials)
Short-circuit external quantum efficiency spectra of interpenetrating heterostructure
ITO/ PEDT:PSSH/ PFB/ F8BT/ Ca/ Al PVs
with different PFB thicknesses, compared to a bulk-distributed heterostructure
diode. The lateral length scale of the columnar nanostructured
is 200nm.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS
•
B. T. Anto, S. Sivaramakrishnan, L-L. Chua and P.K-H. Ho, “Hydrophilic sparse ionic monolayer-protected metal nanoparticles: Highly concentrated nano-Au and nano-Ag ‘‘Inks’’
that can be sintered to near-bulk conductivity at 150ºC”, Adv. Funct. Mater. 20 (2010) 296
•
J-M. Zhuo, L-H. Zhao, R-Q. Png, L-Y. Wong, P-J. Chia, J-C. Tang, S. Sivaramakrishnan, M. Zhou, E.C.-W. Ou, S-J. Chua, W-S. Sim, L-L. Chua, and P.K.-H. Ho, “Direct Spectroscopic Evidence for a photodoping
mechanism in polythiophene
and poly(bithiophene-alt-thienothiophene) organic semiconductor thin films involving oxygen and sorbed
moisture”, Adv. Mater.
21(2009) 1.•
S. Wang, P-Q. Chia, L-L. Chua, L-H. Zhao, R-Q Png, S. Sivaramakrishnan, M. Zhou, R.G-S. Goh, R.H. Friend, A.T.-S. Wee, P.K.H. Ho, “Band-like transport in surface-functionalized highly solution-processable graphene graphene
nanosheets”, Adv. Mater.,
20 (2008) 3440•
Sivaramakrishnan, P-J. Chia, Y.C. Yeo, L.-L. Chua, P.K.H. Ho, “Controlled insulator-to-metal transformation in printable polymer composites with nanometal
clusters”, Nature Mater.,
6, (2007) 149
0
2
4
6
8
400 500 600 700
Shor
t-circ
uit
ext (
%)
Wavelength (nm)
50nm
35nm
20nm
100nm
PFB/F8BT contiguous interpenetrating heterostructure
0
2
4
6
8
400 500 600 700
Shor
t-circ
uit
ext (
%)
Wavelength (nm)
50nm
35nm
20nm
100nm
50nm
35nm
20nm
100nm
PFB/F8BT contiguous interpenetrating heterostructure
MAJOR RECOGNITION • Dual University (Cambridge and NUS) Assistant Professorship Scheme
40
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
40
Asst Professor HUYNH Han VinhDr. rer. nat, Univ. Münster (WWU), Germany, 2002; Dipl. Chem., Univ. Münster (WWU), Germany, 1999
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/huynh.htm
Email: [email protected]
MAJOR RECOGNITION•
Feodor Lynen
Research Fellowship, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, 2003-2004•
Asian Core Program Lectureship Award for Hong Kong
2010
RESEARCH INTERESTSOur research involves organic ligand
design for applications in organometallic
and classical coordination Chemistry. Specific foci are:
• Transition metal complexes of N-heterocyclic carbenes
(NHCs) and their applications
• Development of unprecedented and non-classical carbenes
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: Organometallics, 28, 5395-5404 (2009) The electronic parameters of various ligands
including backbone and substituent effects have been determined
by 13C NMR spectroscopy on mixed iPr2
-bimy/co-ligand Pd(II) complexes as probes. This method allows an easy, safe and more accurate evaluation of donor strengths compared to well-known carbonyl-based systems, and unprecedentedly, puts Werner-type and organometallic
ligands
on an unified scale.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
H V Huynh, C H Yeo, G K Tan, Hemilabile
Behavior of a Thioether-functionalized N-Heterocyclic Carbene
ligand, Chem. Commun., 3833-3835 (2006)
•
Y Han, H V Huynh, Preparation and Characterization of the first Pyrazole-based Remote N-heterocyclic Carbene
Complexes of Palladium(II), Chem. Commun.,
1089-1091 (2007)
•
Y. Han, H. V. Huynh, Pd(II) Pyrazolin-4-ylidenes: Substituent-Effects on the Formation and Catalytic Activity of Pyrazole-based Remote NHC Complexes, Organometallics, 28, 2778-2786 (2009)
•
Y. Han, L. J. Lee, H. V. Huynh, Pyrazole-Derived Remote Dicarbenes: Versatile Ligands
for Di-
and
Tetranuclear
Complexes, Chem. Eur. J., 16, 771-773 (2010)
•
R. Jothibasu, H. V. Huynh, Versatile coordination chemistry of indazole-derived carbenes, Chem. Commun., 46, 2986–2988 (2010)
N
NPd L
strong donor
weak donor
downfield shift
highfield shift
Br
Br
decreasing donor ability
NMR
41
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
41
Asst Professor Martin J LEARAsst. Prof., Tohoku Univ., 2000; Postdoc., Parke-Davis & CNRS, 1997; Ph.D., Univ. of Glasgow, 1995; B.Sc. (Hons), Univ. of Glasgow, 1991
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/lear.htm
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSTotal & analogue synthesis of natural products & glycolipids
of high biological relevance & structural complexity.
• Total synthesis of antimalarial
(e.g.
bielschowskysin) and antibiotic (e.g.
platensimycin) leads • Development of transannulation
and desymmetrisation
strategies to natural product carbon frameworks• Discovery of biological targets of natural products and biologics through chemical biology approaches
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
A bismuth(III)-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts Cyclization
and Stereocontrolled
Organocatalytic
approach to
(-)-Platensimycin, SEC Eey, MJ Lear, Org. Lett. 2010, 12 (23), 5510-5513.•
Click-based Synthesis and Proteome Profiling of Lipstatin
Analogues, P Yang, K Liu, MH Ngai, MR Wenk, SQ Yao, MJ Lear Chem. Commun.
2010, 46, 8335-8337 (with front-page; November 2010 issue)•
Activity-Based Proteome Profiling of Potential Cellular Targets of Orlistat
–
An FDA-Approved Drug with Anti-
Tumor Activities, P Yang, K Liu, MH Ngai, MJ Lear, MR Wenk, SQ Yao J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 656-666.•
Total synthesis confirms laetirobin
as a formal Diels-Alder adduct, S Oliver, B Reux, JJ La Clair, MJ Lear,
Chem. Asian J. 2010, 5, 342-351 (featured with cover-page). •
Total synthesis of a fully lipidated
form of phosphatidyl-myo-inositol
dimannoside
(PIM-2) of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, A Ali, MR Wenk, MJ Lear,
Tetrahedron Lett., 2009, 50, 5664-5666.•
Identification of the binding of sceptrin
to MreB
via a bidirectional affinity protocol, AD Rodriguez, MJ Lear, JJ La Clair,. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2008, 130, 7256-7258.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
SceptrinSceptrin - potent antibacterial agent
MreBMreB - regulates bacterial cell walls
JACS 2008
TL 2009
In progress …
CAJ 2010 CC 2010
OL 2010
JACS 2010
42
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
42
Asst Prof LIU Shao QuanPostdoctoral Fellow, New Zealand Dairy Research Institute, 1994-1997; Ph.D, Massey University, New Zealand, 1994; M.S., Massey University, New Zealand 1990; B.S., South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China, 1985
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/liusq.html
E-mail: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSGeneral interests are food science and technology . Specific foci are:
• Flavour
generation via biocatalysis
and fermentation • Food and beverage fermentation
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
Lee, P.-R., Ong, Y.-L., Yu, B., Curran, P. and Liu, S.-Q.
Profile of volatile compounds during papaya juice fermentation by a mixed culture of Saccharomyces
cerevisiae
and Williopsis
saturnus.
Food Microbiol., 27(7), 253-261 (2010)
•
Lee, P.-R., Ong, Y.-L., Yu, B., Curran, P. and Liu, S.-Q.
Evolution
of volatile compounds in papaya wine fermented with three Williopsis
saturnus
yeasts. Int. J. Food Sci. Technol., 45, 2032-2041 (2010)•
Liu, S.-Q. and Tsao, M. Enhancement of survival of probiotic
and non-probiotic
lactic acid bacteria by yeasts in fermented milks under non-refrigerated conditions. Int. J. Food Microbiol., 135, 34-38 (2009)
•
Seow, Y.X., Ong, P.KC. and Liu, S.-Q. Production of flavour-active methionol
from methionine
metabolism by yeasts in coconut cream. Int. J. Food Microbiol., 143, 235-240 (2010)
•
Tan, H.S.G., Yu, B., Curran, P. and Liu, S.-Q. Lipase-catalysed
synthesis of natural aroma-active 2-phenylethyl esters in coconut cream.
Food Chem., 124, 80-84 (2011)•
Trinh, T.-T.-T., Woon, W.Y., Yu, B., Curran, P. and Liu, S.-Q.
Effect of L-isoleucine
and L-phenylalanine addition on aroma compound formation during longan
juice fermentation by co-culture of Saccharomyces
cerevisiae
and Williopsis
saturnus. S. Afr. J. Enol. Vitic., 31, 116-124 (2010)
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: Food Microbiol. 27(7), 253-261 (2010)
This study reports on the enhancement of flavour
compound formation in papaya wine fermented with a mixed-
yeast culture of Saccharomyces
cerevisiae
and Williopsis
saturnus
by leveraging off the high ethanol-producing capability of the former yeast and the high ester-synthesizing activity of the latter yeast.
Saccharomyces
cerevisiae
yeast + Williopsis
saturnus
yeast enhanced papaya wine flavour
Higher alcohols + Acetyl-CoA
Acetate esters
43
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
43
Asst Professor LIU XiaogangPostdoc, Massachusetts Inst of Tech, 2006; Ph.D., Northwestern Univ, 2004; M.Sc., East Carolina Univ, 1999; B.Sc., Beijing Tech and Business Univ, 1996
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/liuxg.htm
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSMy general interests are supramolecular
chemistry, materials science, and nanotechnology:
• Developing nanoparticle-based ultrasensitive sensor systems for metal ions and biological molecules • Designing novel nanomaterials
with high catalytic activity and recyclability• Synthesizing low-dimensional nanomaterials• Developing lanthanide-doped fluorescent nanoparticle
probes
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
Xue, X.; Xu, W.; Wang, F.; Liu, X. “Multiplex Colorimetric Genotyping by Nanoparticle-Coupled DNA-
Templated
Reaction,”
J. Am. Chem. Soc., 131, 11668 (2009).
•
Xu, W.; Xue, X.; Li, T.; Zeng, H.; Liu, X. “Ultra-Sensitive and Selective Colorimetric DNA Detection via Nicking Endonuclease-Assisted Nanoparticle
Amplification,”
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 48, 6849 (2009)
•
Wang, F.; Liu, X. “Recent Advances in the Chemistry of Lanthanide-Doped Upconversion
Nanocrystals,”
Chem. Soc. Rev., 38, 976 (2009).•
Wang, F; Liu, X. "Upconversion
Multicolor Fine-Tuning: Visible to Near-Infrared Emission from Lanthanide-
Doped NaYF4 Nanoparticles," J. Am. Chem. Soc., 130, 5642
(2008) •
Xue, X.; Wang, F; Liu, X. "One-Step, Room-Temperature, Colorimetric Detection of Mercury (Hg2+) Using DNA/Nanoparticle
Conjugates," J. Am. Chem. Soc., 130, 3244
(2008) •
Wang, F; Xue, X.; Liu, X. "Multicolor Tuning of (Ln, P)-doped YVO4
nanoparticles
by single wavelength excitation," Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 47, 906 (2008)
•
Yuan, J.; Liu, X.; Akbulut, O.; Hu, J.; Suib, S.; Kong, J.; Stellacci, F. "Recyclable, Thermal-Stable, Selective, Superwetting
Nanowire
Membranes," Nature Nanotech., 3, 332 (2008)
MAJOR RECOGNITION•
NUS Young Investigator Award, 2006•
Young Scientist Award, 2008•
Young Chemist Award, 2009
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: Chem. Soc. Rev., 38, 976 (2009)
Lanthanide ions exhibit unique luminescent properties, including the ability to convert near infrared long-wavelength excitation radiation into shorter visible wavelengths through a process known as photon upconversion. In recent years lanthanide-doped upconversion
nanocrystals
have been developed as a new class of luminescent optical labels that have become promising alternatives to organic fluorophores
and quantum dots for applications in biological assays and medical imaging.
44
Asst Professor Christian A. NIJHUISPostdoc., Harvard University, 2007; Ph.D., University of Twente, 2002; M. Sc., University of Groningen, 1996
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/nijhuis.html
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSMy general research interests include molecular electronics, supramolecular
chemistry & self-assembly to- design, characterize, and self-assemble organic-inorganic hybrid nano-structures - develop test-beds to study the mechanisms of charge transport across nano-structures - to explore new physics
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: Nano Lett. 2010, 10, 3611.
This paper describes a new class of molecular diodes based on self-assembled monolayers
(SAMs) that have ferrocenes
only in the top. These molecular diodes block the current in one direction of bias, but allows the current to pass through the molecules in the other.
The mechanism of charge transport across this so-called molecular diode is based on mechanisms of charge transport that change with the polarity of bias: from tunneling (at one bias), to hopping combined with tunneling (at the opposite bias)
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
Wimbush, K. S.; Reus, W. F.; Whitesides, G. M.; Reinhoudt, D. N.; van der
Wiel, W. G.; Nijhuis, C. A.;* Velders, A.;* Control over Rectification in Supramolecular
Tunneling Junctions, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. DOI:
10.1002/anie.201003286.•
Nijhuis, C. A.; Reus, W. F.; Barber, J.; Dickey, M. D.; Whitesides, G. M. Charge Transport and Rectification in Arrays of SAM-Based Tunneling Junctions, Nano Lett. 2010, 10, 3611.
•
Nijhuis, C. A.; Reus, W. F.; Whitesides, G. M. The Mechanism of Rectification in Tunneling Junctions Based on Molecules with Asymmetric Potential Drops, J. Am. Chem. Soc. DOI: 10.1021/ja108311j
•
Nijhuis, C. A.; Reus, W. F.; Whitesides, G. M. Organometallic
Molecular Rectification in Metal-SAM-Metal Junctions J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 17814-17827.
•
Nijhuis, C. A.; Ravoo, B. J.; Huskens, J.; Reinhoudt, D. N. Redox-Active Supramolecular
Systems Coord. Chem. Rev. 2007,
251, 1761-1780.•
Nijhuis, C. A.; Oncel, N.; Huskens, J.; Zandvliet
H.; Ravoo, B. J.; Poelsema, B.; Reinhoudt, D. N.
Room Temperature Single Electron Tunneling in Dendrimer
Stabilized Gold Nanoparticles
Anchored at a Molecular Printboard
Small 2006, 2, 1422-1426.•
Nijhuis, C. A.; Huskens, J.; Reinhoudt, D. N. Binding Control and Stoichiometry
of Ferrocenyl
Dendrimers
at a Molecular Printboard
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 12266-12267.
MAJOR RECOGNITIONNRF research fellowship award (2010)
Veni
award, the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research NWO
(2010)
Rubicon award, the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research NWO (2007)
Faculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
45
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
45
Asst Professor David G POPOVICHPostdoc., NSERC, 2005; Postdoc., Univ. of British Columbia, 2004; Ph.D., Univ. of British Columbia, 2004; M.Sc., Univ. of Toronto, 1996; B.Sc., Univ. of Toronto, 1991
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/popovich.htm
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTS1.Cellular models to study natural medicinal plant compounds and
extracts influence on cultured adipocytes, hepatocytes
and colonocytes. 2.Components that are cytotoxic
and induce apoptosis or necrosis and influence cytokine production. 3.Synergy between bioactive plant compounds 4.Phytochemistry
RECENT HIGHLIGHTZhang W.; Popovich D.G. Chemical and Biological Characterization of Oleanane
Triterpenoids
from Soy. Molecules 2009 14: 2959-75
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONSPopovich, D. G.; Yeo, S. Y.; Zhang, W. Ginseng (Panax
quinquefolius) and Licorice (Glycyrrhiza
uralensis) Root Extract Combinations Increase Hepatocarcinoma
Cell (Hep-G2) Viability. Evid. Based. Complement Alternat. Med. 2009 PM:19617200.
Zhang, W.; Yeo, M. C.; Tang, F. Y.; Popovich, D. G. Bioactive responses of Hep-G2 cells to soyasaponin
extracts differs with respect to extraction conditions. Food Chem Toxicol. 2009. PM:19520140Zhang, W.; Teng, S. P.; Popovich, D. G. Generation of group B soyasaponins
I and III by hydrolysis. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2009, 57 (9), 3620-3625.
Wei Zhang and David G. Popovich. Effect of soyasapogenol
A and soyasapogenol
B concentrated extracts on Hep-G2 cell proliferation and apoptosis. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2008 23;56(8):2603-8)
Group B SoyasaponinOleanane
triterpenoid
Confocal
mages of hepatocytes
indicatingapoptosis after oleanane
triterpenoidtreatment derived from soy
46
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
46
Asst Professor WANG JianPostdoc., The Scripps Research Institute, USAPh.D., The University of New Mexico, USA
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/Wangjian.htm
Email: [email protected]
MAJOR RECOGNITION•
Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-Financed Oversea Students.•
Sigma Xi Excellent Graduate Research Award, USA.•
Dean’s Dissertation Fellowship, The University of New Mexico, USA.•
Ph.D. with Distinction, The University of New Mexico, USA.
RESEARCH INTERESTSDevelopment of novel synthetic methodology for the synthesis of natural products, pharmaceuticals and othervery interesting biologically active molecules, particularly focusing on asymmetric synthesis, is the majortheme of my lab•
C-H Activation Via Fe, Cu and Pd•
Asymmetric Organocatalysis•
Total Synthesis •
Medicinal Chemistry•
Chemical Biology
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
Boitano, A. E.; Wang, J.; Romeo, R.; Bouchez, L. G.; Parker, A. E; Sutton, S. U.; Walker, J. R.; Flaveny, C. A.; Perdew, G. H; Denison, M. S.; Schultz, P. G., Cooke, M. P. “Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Antagonists Promote the Expansion of Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells”, Science, 2010, 329, 1345-1348.
•
Ren, Q.; Gao, Y. J.; Wang, J. “Enantioselective
Synthesis of Densely Functionalized Pyrano–chromenes
via an Unpredictable Cascade Michael–Oxa-Michael–Tautomerization
Sequence”, Chem. –Eur. J. 2010, DOI: 10.1002/chem.201002490.
•
Gao, Y. J.; Ren, Q.; Wu, H.; Li, M. G.; Wang, J. “Enantioselective
Heterocyclic Synthesis of Spiro Chromanone-Thiochroman
Complexes Catalyzed by a Bifunctional
Indane
Catalyst,”
Chem. Commun. 2010, DOI: 10.1039/c0cc03489d.
•
Zhu, S. T.; Wurdak, H.; Wang, J.; Lyssiotis, C. A.; Peters, E. C.; Cho, C. Y.; Wu, X.; Schultz, P. G. "A Small Molecule Primes Embryonic Stem Cells for Differentiation", Cell Stem Cell, 2009, 4(5), 416-426.
•
Wang, J.; Xie, H.-X.; Li, H.; Zu, L.-S.; Wang, W. "A Highly Stereoselective
Hydrogen-Bond-Mediated Michael-
Michael Cascade Process through Dynamic Kinetic Resolution", Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 4177.•
Wang, J.; Li, H.; Zu, L.-S.; Wang, W. "Organcatalytic
Enantioselective
Conjugate Additions to Enones", J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2006, 128, 12652.
•
Wang, J.; Li, H.; Xie, H.-X.; Zu, L.-S.; Shen, X.; Wang, W. "Organocatalytic
Enantioselective
Cascade Michael-Aldol
Condensation Reactions: Efficient Assembly of Densely Functionalized Chiral
Cyclopentenes", Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2007, 46, 9050.
•
Wang, W.; Wang, J.; Li, H. "Direct, Highly Enantioselective
Pyrrolidine
Sulfonamide Catalyzed Michael Addition Reactions of Aldehydes
to Nitrostyrenes", Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2005, 44, 1369.
47
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
47
Asst Professor WU JishanPostdoc., Univ. of California at Los Angeles, 2005-2007; Ph.D., Max-Planck Inst. for Polymer Research, 2004; M. Sc., Chinese Acad. of Sciences, 2000;
B.Sc., Wuhan Univ., 1997
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/wujs.html
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSWe study Functional π-systems for electronics & supramolecular
chemistry and responsive materials. Specific
foci are:
• Graphene-related materials and devices • Template-directed synthesis of supramolecular
architectures and their materials applications
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: Chem. – A Eur. J. 16, 464-468 (2010) (Highlighted in Synfacts, 2010, 3, 0299).
A 2D semiconductor! A cruciform 6,6’-dipentacenyl (TIPS-DP) molecule was prepared and it can self-assemble into an ordered structure with two π-stacking axes (a
and b) as disclosed by crystallographic analysis. Therefore, it can be regarded a novel 2D semiconductor allowing 2D isotropic charge transport along the two π-stacking axes. The thin film materials showed FET mobility up to 0.11 cm2/Vs which is the highest among all cross-
shaped semiconductors.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
J Wu, W Pisula
and K Müllen, Graphene
Molecules as Potential Material for Electronics, Chem. Rev., 107, 718-743
(2007)•
J Wu, K C F Leung and J F Stoddart, Efficient Production of [n]Rotaxanes
By Using Template-directed Clipping Reactions, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. (USA), 104, 17266-17271 (2007)
•
J Wu, K C F Leung, D Benítez, J Han, S J Cantrill, L Fang, J F Stoddart, An Acid-Base-Controllable [c2]Daisy Chain, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 47, 7470-7474 (2008)
•
J Yin, C Chi, and J Wu, Efficient preparation of separable pseudo[n]rotaxanes
by selective threading of oligoalkylammonium
ions with curcubit[7]uril, Chem. – A Eur. J. 15, 6050-6057(2009)•
J Yao, C Chi, J Wu, K Loh, Bisanthracene
bis(dicarboxylic
imide)s
as soluble and stable NIR dyes,
Chem. Eur. J. 15, 9299-9302 (2009).
•
X Zhang, X Jiang, J Luo, H. Chen, J Wu, A Cruciform 6, 6’-Dipentacenyl: Synthesis, Solid State Packing and Applications for Thin Film Transistors,
Chem. Eur. J. 16, 464-468 (2010).
MAJOR RECOGNITION•
NUS Young Investigator Award, NUS, 2007•
Singapore National Young Scientist Award, 2010
48
Faculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
48
Asst Professor XUE FengPostdoc., The Wistar
Inst., 2005; Ph.D., The Chinese Univ. of Hong Kong, 2000; B.Sc., Tsinghua
Univ., 1993
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/xf.htm
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSWe aim to further our understanding of chemical and biological systems through molecular structures, leading to engineered molecular assemblies and structure-based drug design. Specific foci are:
• Crystal engineering and supramolecular
self-assemblies • Protein crystallography and structural bioinformatics
RECENT HIGHLIGHTCyclin-Dependent Kinase
5 (CDK5) is targeted in neurodegenerative diseases, regulates downstream proteins by phosphorylation
specific residues. To understand CDK5 activation mechanism, which significantly differs from typical CDK activation, we built a 3D model of inactive CDK5 (apo-CDK5) based on the crystal structure of apo-CDK2 (PDB: 1PW2) using homology modeling. Inactive kinases
have been recognized to be another possible avenue to achieve selectivity among kinase
targets. Imatinib, a selective tyrosine kinase
inhibitor, was docked into the binding site of apo-CDK5 to evaluate the possibility of novel inhibitors. Interestingly, the results showed that the inhibitor is capable of reaching the back floor of apo-CDK5 binding site, as well as reveals additional hydrophobic pocket created by T-loop.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
SL Pichla-Gollon, M Drinker, X Zhou, F Xue, JJ Rux, GP Gao, JM Wilson, HC Ertl, RM Burnett and JM Bergelson, Structure-based identification of a major neutralizing site in an adenovirus hexon, J. Virol.,
81, 1680-1689 (2007)
•
F Xue and RM Burnett, Capsid-like arrays in crystals of chimpanzee adenovirus hexon, J. Struct. Biol., 154, 217-21 (2006)
•
CK Lam, F Xue, JP Zhang, XM Chen and TC Mak, Hydrogen-bonded anionic rosette networks assembled with guanidinium
and c3-symmetric oxoanion
building blocks, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 127, 11536-7 (2005) •
R Thaimattam, F Xue, JA Sarma, TC Mak and GR Desiraju, Inclusion compounds of tetrakis(4-
nitrophenyl)methane: C-h...O networks, pseudopolymorphism, and structural transformations, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 123, 4432-45 (2001)
•
TCW Mak and F Xue, Supramolecular
rosette ribbon constructed from guanidinium
and hydrogen carbonate ions in the crystal engineering of hydrogen-bonded networks, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 122, 9860-9861 (2000)
Targeting
inactive kinase
49
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
49
Asst Professor YEUNG Ying YeungPostdoc., Harvard Univ., 2005-2008; Ph.D., The Chinese Univ. of Hong Kong, 2005; B.Sc.(1st Hons), The Chinese Univ. of Hong Kong, 2001
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/yeungyy.html
Email: [email protected]
MAJOR RECOGNITION•
Asian Core Program Lectureship Award, 2010•
Young Scholars Dissertation Award, The Chinese Univ. of Hong Kong, 2005
RESEARCH INTERESTSOur research group has board interests in synthetic organic chemistry. The main focuses are centered on novel methodologies development and complex molecules synthesis. Research directions include:• Asymmetric halogenation
reactions• Mulit-component synthesis• Novel functional molecules synthesis for biologcial
studies
RECENT HIGHLIGHTElectrophilic
bromination
is a very useful reaction. Recently, we developed an efficient one-pot four-
component electrophilic
aminoalkoxylation
in the synthesis of substituted morpholine. In addition, a novel bromolactonization
catalyzed by an amino-thiocarbamate
catalyst was developed.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
Zhou, Ling; Tan, Chong Kiat; Jiang, Xiaojian; Chen, Feng; Yeung, Ying-Yeung, Asymmetric Bromolactonization
Using Amino-thiocarbamate
Catalyst, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 132, 15474-15476
(2010)•
Zhou, Ling; Tan, Chong Kiat; Zhou, Jing; Yeung, Ying-Yeung, Facile, Efficient, and Catalyst-Free Electrophilic
Aminoalkoxylation
of Olefins: Scope and Application, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 132, 10245-10247 (2010)
•
Ying-Yeung Yeung, Rong-Jie Chein, E. J. Corey, Conversion of Torgov’s
Synthesis of Estrone
into a Highly Enantioselective
and Efficient Process, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 129, 10346-10347 (2007) •
Ying-Yeung Yeung, Xuri
Gao, E. J. Corey, A General Process for the Haloamidation
of Olefins. Scope and Mechanism, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 128, 9644-9645 (2006)
•
Ying-Yeung Yeung, Sungwoo
Hong, E. J. Corey, A Short Enantioselective
Pathway for the Synthesis of the Anti-Influenza Neuramidase
Inhibitor Oseltamivir
from 1,3-Butadiene and Acrylic Acid, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 128, 6310-6311 (2006)
•
T. K. M. Shing, Ying-Yeung Yeung, Total Synthesis of (-)-Samaderine
Y from (S)-(+)-Carvone, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 44, 7981-7984 (2005)
50
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
50
Asst Professor YUK Hyun GyunResearch Associate, USDA/ARS/ERRC, USA , 2007-2009; Postdoc., University of Florida, USA, 2004-2007; Ph.D., Mississippi State University, USA, 2000-2003; B.S. and M.S., Kyungnam
University, Korea, 1993-1999
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/yukhg.html
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSI am interested in bacterial stress response to elucidate the foodborne
pathogen’s ability to survive in unfavorable environment, in post-harvesting control and preservation technologies to minimize microbial risk in foods, and in the development and the improvement of rapid methods to detect foodborne
pathogens in foods. The overall goal of research projects is to improve microbial safety of foods.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: International Journal of Food Microbiology, 138, 91-99 (2010)It has been known that carbon dioxide of supercritical state can
kill microorganisms in liquid foods. Newly developed a continuous supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO2) system using a gas-liquid contactor is cost-
effective because of using low pressure and temperature. This study evaluated the bactericidal effect of this system against Escherichia coli
K12 in apple cider. Results show that increased CO2 concentrations and temperatures significantly enhanced the bactericidal effect, resulting in a maximum reduction of 7.31 log CFU/mL
at 8% CO2
and 42 °C. SEM observations showed morphological changes in the cell envelope after SCCO2 processing. At a processing condition of 8% and 38 °C, the reduction of E. coli was 6.03 log and the sublethal
injury of the survivors was 84%. The regrowth
or survival of E. coli in SCCO2 processed apple cider was not observed during storage for 28 days at 4, 8, and 20 °C. Thus this study showed the potential of SCCO2 processing with a gas–liquid porous metal contactor for the nonthermal
pasteurization of apple cider.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
Yuk, H. G., D. J. Geveke, and H. Q. Zhang. 2010. Efficacy of supercritical carbon dioxide for nonthermal
inactivation of Escherichia coli K12 in apple cider. Int. J. Food Microbiol. 138:91-99.•
Yuk, H. G., S. C. Jo, H. K. Seo, S. M. Park, and S. C. Lee. 2008. Effect of storage in juice with or without pulp and/or calcium lactate on the subsequent survival of Escherichia coli
O157:H7 in simulated gastric fluid. Int. J. Food Microbiol. 123:198-203.
•
Yuk, H. G., B. R. Warren, and K. R. Schneider. 2006. Preliminary evaluation of flow-through immunocapture
followed by real-time PCR for the detection of Salmonella
serovars
on tomato surfaces within 8 hours. J. Food Prot. 69:2253-2257.
•
Yuk, H. G., J. A. Bartz, and K. R. Schneider. 2005. The effectiveness of individual or combined sanitizer treatments in elimination of Salmonella
spp. on smooth surface, stem scar, and wounds of tomatoes. J. Food Sci. 70:M409-M414.
•
Yuk, H. G. and D. L. Marshall. 2004. Escherichia coli
O157:H7 pH adaptation changes membrane lipid composition, verotoxin
secretion, and acid resistance in stimulated gastric fluid. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70:3500-3505
51
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
51
Asst Professor ZENG HuaqiangPostdoc., The Scripps Research Institute, 2002-2006; Ph.D., The State University of New York at Buffalo, 2002; B.Sc., University of Science & Technology of China (USTC), 1996
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/zenghq.htm
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSThe central theme in our research group is focused on the applications of broadly defined, bioinspired
Supramolecular
Chemistry to address many challenging issues at the interface of chemistry and biology. Specific foci are:
• Synthetic ion channels• High-throughput screening systems for discovering highly efficient, stereoselective
catalysts of varyingkinds for catalyzing wide-ranging chemical transformations
• Alzheimer’s Disease• Targeting telomers
for anticancer therapy• Catalytic drugs that can catalytically cleave any chosen disease-causing proteins
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
B Qin, C L Ren, H Q Zeng,* et al, Persistently Folded Circular Aromatic Amide Pentamers
Containing Modularly Tunable
Cation-Binding Cavities with High Ion Selectivity,
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 9564•
Y Yan, B Qin, H Q Zeng,* et al, Synthesis, Structural Investigations, Hydrogen−Deuterium
Exchange Studies, and Molecular Modeling of Conformationally
Stablilized
Aromatic Oligoamides, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 5869
•
Y Yan, B Qin, H Zeng,* et al, Helical Organization in Foldable Aromatic Oligoamides
by a Continuous Hydrogen-Bonding Network,
Org. Lett., 2009, 11, 1201.•
B Qin, X Y Chen, H Zeng,* et al, Crystallographic Evidence of an Unusual, Pentagon-Shaped Folding Pattern in a Circular Aromatic Pentamer, Org. Lett., 2008, 10, 5127.
•
B Gong,* H Zeng, J Zhu, etc, Creating nanocavities
of tunable sizes: Hollow helices, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 2002, 99, 11583
•
H Zeng, X Yang, RA Flowers, II and B Gong,* A non-covalent approach to anti-parallel β-sheet formation, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2002, 124, 2903
•
H Zeng, RS Miller, RA Flowers, II and B Gong,* A highly stable, six-hydrogen-bonded molecular duplex, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2000, 122, 2635
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReferences: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 9564; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 5869; Org. Lett. 2009, 11, 1201; Org. Lett. 2008, 10, 5127
To capture Nature’s astonishing ability in creating sophisticated folding biopolymers with nanosized
cavities, we have developed a general strategy for designing folded structures with modifiable outer surfaces and easily tunable interior cavities, which may find important applications
in catalysis, separation & molecular recognition, etc.
52
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
52
Asst Professor ZHANG ChunPostdoc., Georgia Institute of Technology, 2005-2008; Ph.D., University of Florida, 2004; M.S., Fudan
University, 2000 ; B.S., Fudan
University, 1996
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/zc.html
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSOur research interests are theoretical modeling and simulation of materials at nanoscale
Specific foci are:
• Molecular electronics
• Nanocatalysis
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
C Zhang, Barnett RN and U Landman, Bonding, Conductance, and Magnetization of Oxygenated Au Nanowires, Phys. Rev. Lett., 100, 046801 (2008)
•
C Zhang, B Yoon and U Landman, Predicted Oxidation of CO Catalyzed by Au Nanoclusters
on a Thin Defect-free MgO, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 129, 2228 (2007)
•
A Marchenkov, Z Dai, C Zhang, Barnett RN and U Landman, Atomic Dimmer Shuttling and Two-level Conductance Fluctuations in Nb
Nanowire, Phys. Rev. Lett., 98, 046802 (2007) •
C Zhang, LL Wang, and HP Cheng, Spin-dependent Transport through A Magnetic Carbon Nanotube-
molecule Junction, , J. Chem. Phys., 124, 201107 (2006) •
C Zhang, M Du, HP Cheng, et. al., Coherent Electron Transport through An Azobenzene
Molecule: A Light-
driven Molecular Switch, Phys. Rev. Lett., 92, 158301 (2004)
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: C Zhang, et. al., Bonding, Conductance, and Magnetization of Oxygenated Au Nanowires, Phys. Rev. Lett., 100, 046801 (2008)
Spin-density-functional calculations of tip-suspended gold chains, with molecular oxygen, or dissociated oxygen atoms, incorporated in them, reveal structural transitions for varying lengths.
MAJOR RECOGNITION•
CNMS Research Scholar Award, Oak Ridge National Lab (US), 2005
53
Faculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
53
Dr CHI ChunyanResearch Fellow
RESEARCH INTERESTSWe study the structural design, synthesis and physical properties of the new organic materials with their applications on organic electronic/optoelectronic devices, chemosensors
and biosensors, with specific focus as follows:
• Design and synthesis of high-performance n-type organic semiconductors for electronic devices
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: H. Qu, C. Chi*, “A Stable Heptacene
Derivative Substituted With Electron-Deficient Trifluoromethylphenyl
and Triisopropylsilylethynyl
Groups”
Org. Lett., 2010, 12, 3360.
A heptacene
derivative substituted with four electron-
deficient trifluoromethylphenyl
and two triisopropylsilyl-
ethynyl
(TIPSE) groups was prepared by a new synthetic strategy. Photo-oxidative resistance studies showed that this newly developed heptacene
compound persisted 47 h in solution under ambient light and air conditions, and it represents the most stable heptacene
derivative reported to date.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
J. Luo, K.-W. Huang, H. Qu, X. Zhang, L. Zhu, H. S. O. Chan, C. Chi* “H-shaped Oligothiophenes
with Low Band Gaps and Amphoteric
Redox
Properties”
Org. Lett., 2010, 12, 5660-5663.•
H. Qu, C. Chi* “A stable Heptacene
Derivative substituted With Electron-Deficient Trifluoromethylphenyl
and Triisopropylsilylethynyl
Groups”
Org. Lett., 2010, 12, 3360-3363.•
J. Luo, B. Zhao, H. S. O. Chan, C. Chi*, “Synthesis, Physical Properties and Self-assembly of Star-shaped Oligothiophenes-Substituted and Fused Triphenylenes”
J. Mater. Chem.,
2010, 20, 1932-1941. •
J. Luo, B. zhao, J. Shao, K. A. Lim, H. S. O. Chan, C. Chi*, “Room-temperature Discotic
Liquid Crystals Based on Oligothiophenes
–
Attached and Fused Triazatruxenes”
J. Mater. Chem.,
2009, 19,
8327-8334. •
J. Luo, H. Qu, J. Yin, X. Zhang, K.-W. Huang, C. Chi*, “-Conjugated Oligothiophene-anthracene
Co-
oligomers: Synthesis, Physical Properties, and Self-assembly.”
J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8202-8211.•
C. Chi, A. Chworos, J. Zhang, A. Mikhailovsky
and G. C. Bazan*, Anatomy and Growth Characteristics of Conjugated Polyelectrolyte/DNA Aggregates, Adv. Funct. Mater., 2008, 18, 3606-3612. Inside Front Cover in issue
22, November 24, 2008. •
C. Chi, A. Mikhailovsky
and G. C. Bazan*, Design of Cationic Conjugated Polyelectrolytes
for DNA Concentration Determination, J. Am. Chem. Soc.,
2007, 129, 11134-11145.•
C. Chi, C. Im, V. Enkelmann, A. Ziegler, G. Lieser, G. Wegner*, Monodisperse
Oligofluorenes
with Keto
Defect as Models to Investigate the Origin of Green Emission From Polyfluorenes: Syntheis, Self-assembly, and Photophysical
Properties, Chem. – A Eur. J.,
2005, 11, 6833-6845.
Postdoc., Univ. California at Santa Barbara, 2007; Ph.D., Max-Planck-Inst. for Polymer Res., 2004; M.Sc., Chinese Acad. of Sciences, 2001.
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/chicy.html
Email: [email protected]
Si
Si
CF3
CF3
CF3
CF3
54
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
54
Dr Adrian M LEESenior Lecturer
Singapore Millenn. Found. Fellow, National Univ. of Singapore, 2002-2004;
Postdoc., Univ. of Cambridge, 2002; Ph.D., Univ. of Cambridge, 1997; M.A., Univ. of Cambridge, 1996; B.A., Univ. of Cambridge, 1992
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/aml.htm
Email: [email protected]
MAJOR RECOGNITION•
NASA Achievement Award, NASA, 1996
RESEARCH INTERESTSWe study the development and application of fragment-based quantum chemical methods to accurately
describe the properties and interactions of very large molecules. Specific foci are:
•
Calculating the interaction energy between a neuraminidase substrate and several inhibitors, including tamiflu
and relenza•
Optimisation
of molecules within the energy-based fragmentation approximation and the application of such techniques to nmr
structure elucidation
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: R. P. A. Bettens and A. M. Lee, On the accurate reproduction of ab
initio interaction energies between an enzyme and substrate, Chem. Phys. Lett., 449, 341–346, (2007)
This study reports the fragmentation of an entire
enzyme and substrate and shows that the majority of the small fragment molecule interactions can be accurately evaluated without the need to compute the ab
initio
interaction energy. The perturbation approach presented in this work indicates the possibility to perform accurate first principles molecular dynamics in systems as large as proteins.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
AM Lee and RPA Bettens, First principles NMR calculations by fragmentation, J. Phys. Chem. A, 111, 5111–5115 (2007)
•
RPA Bettens and AM Lee, A new algorithm for molecular fragmentation in quantum chemical calculations, J. Phys. Chem. A, 110, 8777–8785 (2006)
•
AM
Lee, HK Roscoe, AE Jones, PH Haynes, EF Shuckburgh, MW Morrey
and HC Pumphrey, The impact of the mixing properties within the Antarctic stratospheric vortex on springtime ozone loss, J. Geophys. Res., 106, 3203–3211 (2001)
•
HK Roscoe, AE
Jones and AM Lee, Midwinter start to Antarctic ozone depletion: Evidence from observations and models, Science, 278, 93–96 (1997)
•
DJ
Wales and AM
Lee, Structure and rearrangements of small trapped-ion clusters, Phys. Rev. A, 47, 380–
393 (1993)
The −0.018 a.u. isosurface
of the electrostatic potential for the influenza neuraminidase tetramer computed from first
principles via energy-based molecular fragmentation. This
isosurface
reveals that the most energetically favorable
approach of an anion to the tetramer is only along a path that leads to a region of the enzyme that includes the active site and secondary binding site for sialic
acid.
55
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
55
Dr LEONG Lai PengSenior Lecturer
Ph.D., Univ. of Leeds, 2000; M.Sc., Univ. of Leeds, 1996; B.Sc., Universiti
Kebangsaan
Malaysia, 1995
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/leonglp.htm
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSMain interest is in Kinetics of chemical reactions in application to foods either during processing or involving the development of methods for the analysis of foods. Specific foci are:
•
Analysis of antioxidants in foods especially in relation to synergistic effect of antioxidants in micro and nanoemulsion.• Kinetics of Maillard
reaction and antioxidant reactions in foods and in model system.
Other research area includes the migration of toxic contaminants
in foods and the authenticity of indigenous foods.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: Thavasi
V, Bettens RPA, Leong LP. Temperature and Solvent Effects on Radical Scavenging Ability of Phenols. J. Phys. Chem. A. 113 (13) 3068-3077, 2009.
The kinetic of phenols and DPPH was studied focusing on the number and position of the groups in different solvents and at varioius
temperatures. It shows the presence of internal hydrogen bonding and interactions with solvents plays a significant role in the H donation abililty
of the phenols studied.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
Leong LP, Shui
G. An investigation of antioxidant capacity of fruits in Singapore markets. Food Chem., 76 (1) 69-75 (2002)
•
Leong LP, Wedzicha
BL. A critical appraisal of the kinetic model for the Maillard
browning of glucose with glycine. Food Chem., 68(1)21-28 (2000)
•
Shui
GH, Leong LP. Separation and determination of organic acids and
phenolic
compounds in fruit juices and drinks by high-performance liquid chromatography. J. Chromatogr. A, 977(1)89-96 (2002).
•
Shui
GH, Leong LP. Analysis of polyphenolic
antioxidants in star fruit using liquid chromatography and mass
spectrometry. J. Chromatogr. A, 1022(1-2)67-75 (2004). •
Wong SP, Leong LP, Koh JHW. Antioxidant activities of aqueous extracts of selected plants. Food Chem., 99(4)775-783 (2006)
•
Sun CL, Leong LP, Barlow PJ, et al. Single laboratory validation
of a method for the determination of Bisphenol
A, Bisphenol
A diglycidyl
ether and its derivatives in canned foods by reversed-phase liquid chromatography. J. Chromatogr. A, 1129(1) 145-148, 2006.
•
Fan YP, Leong LP, Bettens RPA. The conformers of hydroxyacetaldehyde. J. Phys. Chem. A, 111 (23) 5081-5085, 2007.
•
Thavasi
V, Bettens RPA, Leong LP. Temperature and Solvent Effects on Radical Scavenging Ability of Phenols. J. Phys. Chem. A, 113 (13) 3068-3077, 2009.
56
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
56
Dr CHAN Sau Han EdithLecturer
Ph.D, The University of Hong Kong, 2007; M.Phil., The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001; B.Sc.(Hons), The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1999
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/chansh.html
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSGeneral interests include chemical biology and chemical education.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS-
S. V. Pavlova, H. L. To, E. S. H. Chan, H. W. Li, T. C. W. Mak, H. K. Lee and
S. I. Chan, Synthesis, structure and dioxygen
reactivity of a bis(µ-iodo)dicopper(I) complex supported by the [N-(3,5-di-tert-
butyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)-N,N-di-(2-pyridylmethyl)] amine ligand, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., 2006,
2232-2243.
-
Y. L. Wong, Y. Yan, E. S. H. Chan, Q. Ying, T. C. W. Mak, D. K. P. Ng, cis-Dioxo-tungsten(VI) and molydenum(VI) complexes with N2
O2
tetradentate
ligands: synthesis, structure, electrochemistry and oxo-
transfer properties, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., 1998, 3057-3064.
MAJOR RECOGNITION•
Associate Scientist, GP NanoTechnology
Group Ltd., 2001-2003.•
Hon. Treasurer and Scientific Co-Chair, International Conference on Green & Sustainable Chemistry
(ICGSC), 2009.
57
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
57
Dr SHIP Chee PengLecturer
Postdoc., Ghent Univ., 2003; Ph.D, Univ. of Southampton, 2002; B.Sc.(Hons), Univ. of Malaya, 1997
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/shipcp.htm
Email: [email protected]
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
Y Zhu, CP Ship, A Emi, ZM Su and RA Kemp, Supported ultra small palladium on magnetic nanoparticles
used as catalysts for Suzuki cross-coupling and heck reactions,
Adv. Synth. Catal., 349, 1917-1922 (2007)•
T Campbell, JM Corker, AD Dent, SA EL-Safty, J Evans, SG Fiddy, MA Newton, CP Ship and S Turin, Synthesis, characterization and chemistry of transition metals in mesoporous
silica, Stud. Surf. Sci. Catal., 132, 667 (2001)
•
CP Ship, A Zainudin
and YY Lim, Effects of aminocarboxylate
ligands
of surface active copper(II) complexes on the hydrolysis of p-Nitrophenyldiphenylphosphate,
J. Coll. Interf. Sci., 217, 211 (1999)
MAJOR RECOGNITION•
Ph.D. ORS Award and Research Studentship, University of Southampton, 2002•
Mentor for the Singapore team at the International Chemistry Olympiad, Cambridge 2009
58
Faculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
58
Dr TAN Sue Qing EmelynLecturer
Ph.D., Univ. of Canterbury, 2006; B.Sc. (Hons), Univ. of Canterbury, 2002
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/tansq.html
Email: [email protected]
TEACHING AND RESEARCH INTERESTS
• Teach general, physical and material chemistry modules.
• Teaching interests also include coordinating outreach programs
such as the Singapore Chemical Science
Fairs (SCSF) and National Chemistry Weeks (NCW).
• Research interests include chemical education, nanomaterials, chemically modified surfaces and
electrochemistry.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
Tan, E. S. Q.;
Wivanius, R.; Toh C. S., Heterogeneous and homogeneous aptamer-based electrochemical sensors for thrombin,
Electroanalysis,
21(6), 749-754 (2009)
•
Invited publication: Downard, A. J.; Garrett, D. J.; Tan, E. S. Q., Microscale
patterning of organic films on carbon surfaces using electrochemistry and soft lithography, Langmuir, Special Issue on Electrochemistry, 22(25), 10739-10746 (2006)
•
Cover featured article: Downard, A. J.; Tan, E. S. Q.; Yu, S. S. C., Controlled assembly of gold
nanoparticles
on carbon surfaces, New J. of Chem., 30, 1283-1288 (2006) •
Cruickshank, A. C.; Tan, E. S. Q.; Brooksby. P. A.; Downard, A. J., Are redox
probes a useful indicator of surface film stability? An electrochemical, AFM, XPS study of electrografted
amine films on carbon, Electrochem. Comm., 9(7), 1456-1462 (2007)
•
Yu, S. S. C.; Tan, E. S. Q.; Jane, R. T.; Downard, A. J., An electrochemical and XPS study of reduction of nitrophenyl
films covalently grafted to planar carbon surfaces, Langmuir, 23(22), 11074-11082 (2007)
59
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
59
Dr ZHAO JinLecturer
Ph.D., Technological Univ. of Munich, 2005; M.Sc., Chinese Acad.
of Science, 1995; B.Sc., Liaoning Univ., 1992
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/zhaoj.htm
Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH INTERESTSOrganometallic
chemistry and catalysis are our main areas of study. Specific foci are:
•
Organometallic
chemistry of metals with high oxidation state and their application in oxidation catalysis and environmental catalysis• Transition metal complexes and their application in catalytic oligomerization
of ethylene
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS•
S. Li, C. W. Kee, K.-W. Huang, T. S. A. Hor,* J Zhao*, The Cyclopentadienyl
Molybdenum(II/VI) N-
Heterocyclic Carbene
Complexes: Synthesis, Structure and Reactivity under Oxidative Conditions, Organometallics,
2010, 29, 1924-1933
•
A. M. Al-Ajlouni, D. Veljanovski, A. Capape, J. Zhao, E. Herdtweck, M. J. Calhorda, F. E. Kuehn, Kinetic Studies on the Oxidation of η5-Cyclopentadienyl
Methyl Tricarbonyl
Molybdenum(II) and the Use of Its Oxidation Products as Olefin Epoxidation
Catalysts,
Organometallics, 2009, 28, 639-645
•
J Zhao, KR Jain, E Herdtweck
and FE Kuehn, Ansa-bridged η5-cyclopentadienyl molybdenum and tungsten complexes: synthesis, structure and application in olefin epoxidation, Dalton Trans.,
2007, 5567-5571•
M Zhou, J Zhao, J Li, S Yue, C Bao, J Mink, S Zang
and FE Kühn, MTO Schiff base complexes: Synthesis, structures and catalytic application in olefin epoxidation, Chem. - A Eur. J., 2006, 13, 158-166
•
J Zhao, E Herdtweck
and FE Kühn, Chiral
ansa-bridged η5-cyclopentadienyl molybdenum complexes: Synthesis, structure and application in asymmetric olefin epoxidation, , J. Organomet. Chem., 2006, 691,
2199-2206•
J Zhao, A Sakthivel, AM Santos and FE Kühn, Cyclopentadienyl-molybdenum complexes with a siloxane
functional group as models for efficient heterogeneous epoxidation
catalysts, Inorg. Chim. Acta, 2005, 358, 4201-4207
•
J. Zhao, A. M. Santos, E. Herdtweck, F. E. Kühn, Molybdenum and Tungsten Complexes of Composition (η5-C5R5)MR’(CO)3 and Their Use as Olefin Epoxidation
Catalyst Precursors, J. Mol. Catal. A. Chem, 2004,
222, 265-271
RECENT HIGHLIGHTReference: Organometallics, 2010, 29, 1924-1933A series of N-heterocyclic carbene
(NHC) complexes CpMo(CO)2
(NHC)X (1-5) and [CpMo(CO)2
(IMes)][BF4
] (6) have been synthesized and fully characterized. The stability of metal-NHC ligand
bonds in these compounds under oxidative condition has been investigated. The thermally stable Mo(VI) dioxo
NHC complex, [CpMoO2
(IMes)][BF4
] has been isolated by the oxidation of the ionic complex
6 by TBHP (tert-butyl hydrogen peroxide). Complex 6 can be applied as very active and selective olefin epoxidation
catalyst. While under oxidative condition (in the presence of TBHP), compounds 1-5 decompose into imidazolium
bromide and imidazolium
polyoxomolybdate.
60
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
Dr Emmanuel Dinesh PILLAIInstructor
B.A., 2002, Berea College; Ph.D., 2007, University of Georgiahttp://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/edpillai.htmlEmail: [email protected]
Ms Prabhavathy JANARDHANAInstructor
M.Sc., National Univ. of Singapore, 2004; M.Sc., Bangalore Univ., 1996; B.Sc., Bangalore Univ., 1994 http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/jp.htmEmail: [email protected]
Dr Bellam SREENIVASULUInstructor
Ph.D., National Univ. of Singapore, 2006http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/bs.htmlEmail: [email protected]
Dr Untung Edy RUSBANDIInstructor
PhD from University of Neuchatel (2007, Switzerland),
DEA of Process &
Environment Engineering from ENSIACET Toulouse (2003, France), Bachelor of Engineering from ITS Surabaya (2002, Indonesia)http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/Rushandi.htmEmail: [email protected]
Ms THYAGARAJAN SaradhaInstructor
M.Phil., Bharadhidasan
University,India, 2005., M.Ed., University of Madras,1998 M.Sc., University of Madras., 1992; http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/thyag.htmEmail: [email protected]
61
Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
61
Dr ZHANG ShengInstructor
Ph.D., National University of Singapore, 2010; B. Sc., Peking University, 2003.http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/zhangs.htmlEmail: [email protected]
Dr XU HairuoInstructor
Ph.D., National University of Singapore, 2009; B. Sc., Peking University, 2003.http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/xuhr.htmlEmail: [email protected]
Ms CHNG Ting TingTeaching Assistant
B.Sc., 2006, National University of Singapore; M.Sc., in progress, National University of SingaporeEmail: [email protected]
Dr Leonard Joachim PEREIRATeaching Assistant
B Sc Nanyang
University, 1980 (Chemistry, Physics); B Sc (Hons) NUS, 1981 (Chemistry); Ph D NUS, Nov 2004 (Chem); Dip Ed, IE 1983 (Chemistry, Physics)Email: [email protected]
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62
Notes
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Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry
63
Notes