Division of Organic Chemistry

At the Division of Organic Chemistry, fundamental research in organic chemistry is conducted with an emphasis on the preparation of new organic compounds with potential applications in biotechnology, the pharmaceutical industry, medicine and materials chemistry. Classical organic synthesis is complemented by modern methods such as microwave-assisted reactions, mechanochemical reactions and biocatalyst-assisted syntheses, which are used to prepare bioactive compounds (peptides, glycoconjugates, heterocycles, peptidomimetics, etc.). The compounds are evaluated as antitumor, antibacterial and anti-adhesive agents, immunostimulants, cholinesterase inhibitors (potential therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease), and/or for their reactivation potential toward cholinesterases inhibited by toxic organophosphorus compounds. Research is combined with advanced quantum-chemical methods and machine learning, enabling refinement and further optimization of the most active compounds. New synthetic methodologies are also developed, and natural organic compounds and their derivatives are synthesized with a focus on potential new classes of antibiotics. Supramolecular systems based on coordination cages with potential applications in stereoselective catalysis are also investigated. In addition, the synthesis and photochemistry of compounds with possible applications in phototherapy and/or optoelectronics are studied. Research is further directed toward the development of functional organic materials, including polymer organic semiconductors and their thin films, as well as porous organic polymers for catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide and adsorption of greenhouse and industrially relevant gases. Experimental characterization methods for porous organic polymers are complemented by computational approaches used to study their structural, electronic and adsorption properties. Periodic DFT methods are employed to investigate relationships between structure and mechanical properties of organic materials. Part of the Division’s research is focused on developing innovative and affordable instrument models and experiments for teaching fundamental chemical concepts in an educational context.