Han Zuilhof and group members from the Laboratory of Organic Chemistry of Wageningen University & Research have been named as winners of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Robert Robinson Award in Synthetic Organic Chemistry, the new Organic Divisi
Fabrice Simeon, PhD
Dr. Fabrice Simeon, PhD is a Staff Scientist who joined the PET Radiopharmaceutical Sciences Section, Molecular Imaging Branch, National Institute of Mental Health as a Visiting Fellow in March 2003. He received his BSc (Organic Chemistry, 1993) and PhD (Synthetic Organic Chemistry, 1998) from the University of Caen, France. Dr. Simeon’s early research focused on the fast methods for the synthesis of organic molecules using either microwave irradiation or organometallic catalytic systems. Before joining the MIB in Bethesda, MD, he spent two years at the department of Life Sciences of the French Energy Atomic Commission (Cyceron, Caen) as a postdoctoral Chemist Engineer. During this period he was introduced to PET radiochemistry for imaging brain receptors. One of his first targets was the preparation and labeling with [11C]KCN of a high affinity ligand to the trypsine plasminogen activator (tPA) which is involved in the processes leading to cerebral ischemia.
Date Time
Replacing toxic chlorine and bromine
Researchers at ETH Zurich and the University of Mainz developed a new method to replace molecular chlorine and bromine in chemical synthesis with less toxic molecules. The technology helps to make chemical processes safer and more sustainable and to remediate contaminated soils.
Chlorine and bromine in their molecular form (as Cl
2 and Br
2 molecules) are notoriously toxic and corrosive chemicals. This has been tragically illustrated, for example, in the use of chlorine as a chemical weapon, from the First World War to recent attacks in Iraq and Syria. Additionally, these highly unstable chemicals containing chlorine and bromine have been implicated in thousands of reported chemical accidents. And yet they are still among the most widely used industrial chemicals to produce valuable flame retardants, pest control agents, polymers and pharmaceuticals.
“Buy a reputable hand sanitiser” – Toxicologist Gerhard Verdoorn Updated
Breakfast with Martin Bester
Source: saafost.org.za
A wave of panic buying struck many countries when national states of disaster were announced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the absence of a vaccine in South Africa currently, hand hygiene has become a critical part of the response to COVID-19.
Washing hands at regular intervals during the day is viewed as essential, but how safe is your sanitiser and those at the door of a grocery store?
Dr Gerhard Verdoorn of the Griffon Poison Information Centre spoke to Breakfast with Martin Bester. He warns which sanitisers not to use and which are 100% safe.
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Catalysis is an area of chemical sciences which has fascinated a wide range of academicians, researchers, chemical technologists and industries throughout the world. Progress in this field has been made owing to the thrust provided by this research and commercial interest. The field of catalysis is interdisciplinary by its nature, as it requires knowledge of organic synthesis, coordination and organometallic chemistry, reaction kinetics and mechanisms, stereo-chemical concepts and materials science.
Fundamentals and Prospects of Catalysis highlights many important topics and sub-disciplines in catalysis by presenting 7 chapters on different but varied catalytic processes. This volume presents the following topics: Organocatalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Spiroacetals and Bridged Acetals