New publication

Maciej’s paper showing that Vibrational Strong Coupling can make alcohol solvents less polar by influencing their dispersion interactions is accepted for publication in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. The latest in our ongoing collaboration with the Ebbesen group. Thanks to Bianca, Kripa, Cyprien and Eloïse for their efforts at different stages of the project. Congrats to all!

New publication

Quentin’s paper showing substantial cooperative effects between pyridoxal and Fe(III) or Al(III) ions in prebiotic transamination reactions is accepted for publication in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Many thanks to Robert for the DFT studies. The last paper from Kamila’s time in the group – the end of an era. Congrats to all!

New publication

Our collaboration with the Tüysüz lab (Max Planck Institute for Coal Research, Mülheim) and the Martin lab (Düsseldorf) has yielded its latest publication in Nature Communications. Building on our previous papers from 2018 and 2020, CO2 and H2 is shown to react over awaruite (Ni3Fe) nanoparticles to give acetate and pyruvate at room temperature. The pyruvate can react further under those conditions to give the C5 metabolite citramalate, a reaction paralleling microbial metabolism.

Kamila leaves for McKinsey

Congratulations and farewell to long-time group member Dr. Kamila Muchowska, who accepts an associate position in integrative consulting at McKinsey, London, UK. Kamila published eight papers in the group, with one still to come. We are grateful for her many contributions over the years, both scientific and social. She will be missed. Best of luck in the new career and come visit often!

New publication

Valentyn and Marie’s paper on the 1,2-aminoarylation of alkenes to directly form unprotected primary amines has been accepted for publication in Angewandte Chemie International Edition. Our fourth paper in that journal in the past 9 months! Congrats!

Dr. Sophia Rauscher

Congrats to Sophia Rauscher on successfully defending her thesis! She is the twelfth PhD student to graduate from the group. Special thanks to jury members Prof. Sheref Mansy (Alberta), Dr. Thibault Cantat (CEA), and Prof. Xavier Bugaut (Strasbourg) for being part of the jury. After a few months finishing up her last papers, Sophia will join Bachem in Basel, Switzerland. Best of luck and keep in touch!

Dr. Harpreet Kaur

Congrats to Harpreet Kaur on successfully defending her thesis! She is the eleventh PhD student to graduate from the group. Special thanks to jury members Prof. Jeremy Wulff (Victoria), Prof. Yannick Vallée (Grenoble), and Dr. Claudia Bonfio (Strasbourg) for being part of the jury. Harpreet will stick around the lab for a few months to finish some last papers before heading off for industry. Best of luck!

New publication

Robert’s study on quantitatively comparing the hydride donor ability of the biological cofactors NADH and NADPH with standard reducing agents from organic synthesis was published in Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry. Congrats!