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


1 3

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


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)


5

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)


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


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.


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)


7

Faculty Highlights 2011/2012 Department of ChemistryFaculty Highlights 2011 Department of Chemistry

7

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


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


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)

8


8

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



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.

9


9

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


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.”


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).


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

10


10

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



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.


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)

11


11

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



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.


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).

12


12

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


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.


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)


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


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



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.


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



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.


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)


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



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.


16


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/



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).


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


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.


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


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


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


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.


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


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


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.


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


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


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.


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


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


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


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


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


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.


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


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


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.


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


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



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.


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


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


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.


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


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


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


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


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



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


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


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.


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


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


RESEARCH INTERESTSWe are interested in Synthetic Organic Chemistry and Medicinal and Biological Chemistry.


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.


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


30

Assoc Professor VALIYAVEETTIL SureshBSc, MSc, MTech, PhD

http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/ourpeople/academic_staff/suresh.htm


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)


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


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.


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


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/


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


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


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


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


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.


Young Scientist Award, Faculty of Science, NUS 2008

34


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



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


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


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).


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


38


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


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.


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)


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


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


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


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



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.


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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)


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


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)


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)


45


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


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


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



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


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


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


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.


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).


NUS Young Investigator Award, NUS, 2007•

Singapore National Young Scientist Award, 2010

48


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


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.


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


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



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.


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


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


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.


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


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


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


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


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


RESEARCH INTERESTSOur research interests are theoretical modeling and simulation of materials at nanoscale

Specific foci are:

• Molecular electronics

• Nanocatalysis


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.


CNMS Research Scholar Award, Oak Ridge National Lab (US), 2005

53


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.


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


Si

Si

CF3

CF3

CF3

CF3

54


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



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.


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


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


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.


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


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


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.


Associate Scientist, GP NanoTechnology

Group Ltd., 2001-2003.•

Hon. Treasurer and Scientific Co-Chair, International Conference on Green & Sustainable Chemistry

(ICGSC), 2009.

57


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



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)


Ph.D. ORS Award and Research Studentship, University of Southampton, 2002•

Mentor for the Singapore team at the International Chemistry Olympiad, Cambridge 2009

58


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


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.


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


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


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


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


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


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]

62


62

Notes

63


63

Notes

64


64

Notes

Management Council - NUS Chemistry · NUS Faculty of Science Outstanding Scientist Award, 2009 •...

Documents

Transcript of Management Council - NUS Chemistry · NUS Faculty of Science Outstanding Scientist Award, 2009 •...