This project is focusing on coatings and surface chemistry. During the project, research is done on functional materials which have e.g antimicrobial, self-cleaning or reflecting properties. Moreover, new methods are developed to study metallic, ceramic and bio based coatings and surfaces. The project is funded by the provincial federation of Pohjois-Savo (European regional development fund)
Mariia Beliaeva (mariia.beliaeva@uef.fi)
Synthesis and characterization of new organometallic luminescent compounds, particulary complexes of polydentate phosphines with coinage metals.
Organometallic synthesis
We are interested in the elaboration of synthetic methodologies and studying the physical behaviour of novel metal-based compounds, using an extensive interplay of experimental and computational approaches. In particular, a significant part of our research concerns the molecular design of tailorable light-emitting molecules, evaluation of their photophysical performance as a function of molecular structure and weak intra- and intermolecular non-covalent interactions. The fundamental knowledge on the structure-property relationships, which we acquire in the course of synthetic, theoretical and spectroscopic investigations, allows for rational tuning the optical and electronic behaviour of the new molecular materials. Ultimately, the improvement of physical and chemical properties has a potential to progress a number of photonic applications, which include imaging techniques, sensing and electroluminescent devices.
Peter Wipf (peter.wipf@uef.fi)
Peter Wipf’s research focuses on the total synthesis of natural products, organometallic and heterocyclic chemistry, diversity-oriented synthesis, medicinal chemistry and computational chemistry. At the heart of his research program is the study of chemical reactivity and the use of synthesis to augment the chemical toolbox and investigate new therapeutic strategies. A major emphasis involves the efficient preparation of polyfunctionalized nitrogen-containing building blocks for medicinal chemistry and natural product analog & total synthesis. The discovery of fundamentally new reaction pathways is stimulated by exploratory studies of transition metal complexes, in particular zirconocenes, and strained rings, such as bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes. One of his compounds, a PI-3 kinase inhibitor, progressed into human Phase II clinical trials in the US and Canada, and several others have been licensed by companies. Wipf’s research is highly collaborative, he has worked with dozens of national and international academic and industrial groups, and published joint papers with more than 1,300 co-authors. He has been the Chair of the Safety committee and served as a Chemical Hygiene Officer at the University of Pittsburgh for more than two decades.
Sirpa Jääskeläinen (sirpa.jaaskelainen@uef.fi)
The main areas of the work include teaching and research in inorganic, analytical and organometallic chemistry. The work contains also quality management, student admissions and tutoring.