Conference of University Rectors in Ireland : University Collaboration Chemistry

Chemistry

Universities Involved Trinity College Dublin
Queen's University Belfast

Department(s) Chemistry

Project Title / Description
A. Ougonucleotide conjugates photochemistry.
B. Transient raman spectroslopy of DNA ruthenium complex systems.

A. Ongoing project first initiated by personal contact and EU funding. Also now funded
by HRP, Northern Ireland Scheme (Dr Mark Lawler). Recent publication in J Amer Chem Soc. Publication of other work now being prepared.

B. Ongoing project initiated by personal contact. Funding sought from National Institute of Health (US) with Prof. G Atkinson. Recent publications in J Amer Chem Soc. & J Phys Chem.

Contacts Prof. RJH Davies
Tel 04890 245133 Prof. JJ McGarvey
Tel 04890 335450

Development Potential
Collaborative project to be funded on cross border or international basis.

Universities Involved	University of Limerick Trinity College Dublin University College Dublin Dublin City University National University of Ireland, Maynooth Queen's University Belfast Galway/Mayo Institute of Technology Athlone Institute of Technology University of Ulster
Department(s)	College of Science Other Universities Institute of Applied Catalysis (UK) University of Cardiff University of Liverpool
Project Title / Description	AllIreland Institute of Catalysis This initiative has been launched to cement NorthSouth relationships and to provide a forum for catalysis researchers from all corners of Ireland to meet and discuss results and to hear distinguished outside speakers. Funding is required to cover the costs of annual meetings, this to include the costs of travel of the outside speakers and some subsidy for research students. In due course, attempts would also be made to cover the costs of some collaborative research programmes.
Contacts	Prof. Bob Lloyd, TCD Tel + 353 1 608 1306/671 2826	Dr D Gilheaney, UCD Prof. J Cunningham, UCC Tel + 353 21 902454/279097	Dr M McCann, NUI Maynooth Prof. Robbie Burch, QUB
	John Roone, QUB	Ken Seddon, QUB	Prof. N Brown, UU
	Dr Chris Adams Institute of Applied Catalysis	Prof. G Hutchings, University of Cardiff	Prof. E Deronane/J Vedrine, Liverpool
Development Potential	There is a strong chance of developing a virtual institute with similar aims and functions as AC.

Universities Involved	Dublin City University Queen's University Belfast
Department(s)	BEST centre, School of Chemical Sciences
Project Title / Description	Chemical analysis of archaeological samples. The project was initiated after informal discussions between the parties. It has been ongoing for two years. It involves the analysis of tree ring samples from bog oak supplied by Prof. Baillie. The analysis is done at DCU, with help from the State Laboratory and National Fisheries Board. The aim is to examine whether there is any evidence of external differences in the composition of 'normal' growth region and abnormal regions where the growth is absent for periods of up to 30 years and is thought to be caused by major climatic disasters such as volcanic eruptions and/or meteor impacts.
Contacts	Prof. Dermot Diamond Tel + 353 1 704 5404/503 Dermot.diamond@dcu.ie
Development Potential	There is enormous scope for development. The technique combines all the value of science and the intrigue of archaeology.

Universities Involved	Dublin City University University of Ulster, Jordanstown
Department(s)	BEST centre, School of Chemical Sciences
Project Title / Description	Synthesis, characterisation and applications of calixarene receptors. Cooperation with UUJ started in 1995 with the launch of the Biomedical and Environmental Sensor Technology Centre (BEST), funded by the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) (also included Queen's University Belfast Pharmacy and University of Limerick as partners, but main interaction was with UUJ). The IFI money is due to run out this summer after which we will have no external support for our support offices. Send X, a US company, is funding a project in the region of IR£200,000. There is a possibility that this project may lead to a spinoff company being set up in Northern Ireland that will incorporate the research effort of SendX with the expertise available at DCU and UUJ BEST centres.
Contacts	Prof. Dermot Diamond Tel + 353 1 704 5404/503 Dermot.diamond@dcu.ie
Development Potential	Main problem is funding of administrative and management support. It would be very useful if there was a research fund to stimulate and support significant research efforts on a cross border basis.

Universities Involved	National University of Ireland, Maynooth Queen's University Belfast
Department(s)	Chemistry
Project Title / Description	Xray Crystallographic Characterisation of Metal Complexes of Carboxylic Acids. Dr McCann approached Dr McKee to canvas interest in such a project based on some metal complexes that had been prepared in NUIM. The availability of the necessary equipment in QUB and Dr McKee expertise in the area meant she agreed to the project, which was mutually beneficial. Under her expert guidance 'hands on' experience was given in. 1. The selection of appropriate single crystalfor analysis. 2. The mounting of the on the Xray diffractometer. This was followed by instruction on the methodology of diffraction data collection and a brief overview of the software operations involved in structure solving was given. The ready access to the well stocked library in QUB also helped. Funding was provided by Enterprise Ireland/The British Council Research Visits Scheme. The outcome was the following three publications: 1. Synthesis, Xray Crystal Structure and Catalytic Activity. 2. Synthesis and anticandida Activity of some Copper (II) Magnesium (II) complexes: Xray crystal structures. 3. Synthesis and Anticandida activity of Cobalt (II).
Contacts	Dr Malachy McCann, NUIM Dr Vickie McKee, QUB
Development Potential	The research group will be producing more new metal complexes that will require Xray structural characterisation and, given that there is no prospect of the required equipment existing in NUIM in the near future, there is definite potential for future collaboration between the two laboratories.

Universities Involved	Queen's University Belfast Trinity College Dublin
Department(s)	Chemistry
Project Title / Description	Interaction of metal complexes with DNA The project with TCD began in 1995, with visits by Dr Kelly's group to Belfast. The main aim of the programme was to combine Prof. McGarvey's group's expertise in Raman spectroscopy, with Dr Kelly groups expertise on Nucleic acids and their interactions with metal complexes. The project is continuing and is currently funded by a major ESPSRC grant to the Belfast group, with Prof. Kelly as a named collaborator in some aspects of the programme. The outcome was the following publications: 1. Resonance Raman Probing of the interaction between Dipyridophenazine Complexes of Ru (II) and DNA. 2. Resonance Raman Investigation of the interaction between Dipyridophenazine Complexes of Ru (II) and DNA. 3. Comment on "Resonance Raman investigation of [Ru(phen)(2)(dppz)(2+)] and related complexes in water and in the presence of DNA. 4. Transient resonance Raman studies of Ru (II) complexes in DNA and in homogeneous media. 5. Transient resonance Raman investigation of excited states and deuterated analogues in aqueous and nonaqueous environments.
Contacts	Prof. John Kelly Tel + 353 1 608 1947 Fax + 353 1 671 2826 jmkelly@tcd.ie
Development Potential	This work is continuing, partly through the EPSRCsponsored programme and there is scope for further development, with new collaboration being explored with a group in the USA.

Universities Involved	Queen's University Belfast Dublin City University
Department(s)	Chemistry
Project Title / Description	Time resolved Raman Spectroscopy of Ru (II) complexes The work with DCU began through informal meetings between DCU and QUB group leaders at Irish Universities Research Colloquia in the early 1990's.Visits to Belfast by researchers from DCU, ensued, to carry out studies by timeresolved spectroscopy on compounds prepared in the Dublin laboratories. The programme continued with several further visits. Recent papers arising from the investigations as listed: 1. Electronic properties of Hydroquinone containing Ruthenium complexes in different Oxidation States. 2. Photophysics of mixedligand Polypyridyl Ru (II) complexes in SolGel Matrix. 3. Resonance Raman and spectro electrochemical investigation of the location of the lowest excited state in mono and dinuclear ruthenium (II) complexes containing pyrazine moieties. 4. Time resolved spectroscopic studies of the influence of the electronic environment on the charge transfer excited states of mono and dinuclear Ru (II) complexes. 5. Isotope and temperature dependence of dual emissions in a nonnuclear Ru (II) Polypyridal compound.
Contacts	Prof. JG Vos Tel + 353 1 704 5307 Fax + 353 1 704 5503 hvos@dcu.ie	Prof. JJ McGarvey Tel 048 903 35450 Fax 048 903 82117 j.mcgarvey@ub.ac.uk
Development Potential	This work is not in progress at present. New groups of metal complexes currently being development at DCU are likely to provide opportunities for further series of experiments in the near future.

Universities Involved	National University of Ireland, Galway Queen's University Belfast
Department(s)	Chemistry
Project Title/Description	Investigation of Anion binding constants by Azacryptate hosts. Collaboration began Mid1999. Ongoing project, no definite completion date. Original contacts via personal contacts. Project is not open to new collaborators at present. Main objectives are to study interactions of anions with Azacryptate hosts. Outputs are paper in refereed journals. One of the papers submitted was a good success. No separate funding at present. Resources in NUIG are computer and time of collaborator.
Contacts	Prof. Michael J Hynes Tel + 353 91 524411 ext 2488 Michael.j.hynes@nuigalway.ie	Prof. Jane Nelson Tel 04890 274158 Fax 04890 665297 Jane.nelson@qub.ac.uk
Development Potential	Yes. Project is ongoing and will depend on availability of personnel.

Universities Involved	University of Limerick Queen's University Belfast
Department(s)	Chemistry
Other Universities	A Number of European Universities
Project Title / Description	Selective reduction of Nitrogen Oxides. The project involves two EU funded research projects (BRITEURAM and Environment) which have a largely common membership. Both projects involve various aspects of novel schemes for controlling the emissions of nitrogen oxide from mobile and stationary sources; using both absorption and catalytic steps. Particular attention is given in one of the projects to the problems arising when sulphur is present in the fuel used.
Contacts	Prof. Julian Ross Tel + 353 61 202641 Fax + 353 61 202602 julian.rose@ul.ie
Business Involvement	Johnson Mattews (U.K.) Volkswagen (Denmark)
Development Potential	Further applications will be made as follow up to this work.

Universities Involved	University College Dublin Queen's University Belfast
Department(s)	Chemistry
Project Title / Description	"Studies of the reactivity and Stability of Microbial Oxidation Products of Aromatic Molecules." Inspired by a lecture by Prof. DR Boyd and with the realisation that compounds he had access to by using microbiological fermentation techniques were of interest within our own studies of chemical reactivity in UCD. The collaboration has produced a number of publication, and is continuing to investigate several fundamental problems affecting the stability of oxidative metabolites of (polycyclic) aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In practical terms these control susceptibility to a well known mutagenic reaction path (of PAHs) competing with the normal benign detoxification by liver enzymes.
Contacts	Prof. RA Moore O'Ferrall Tel + 353 1 706 7777
Development Potential	There is certainly scope development. Currently work is ongoing on a hitherto unrecognised factor influencing the reactivity of cis and trasnsbenzenedihrdrodiols, which are characteristic products of mammalian and microbial metabolism as well as being important starting reagents for chemical synthesis.

Universities Involved	University College Cork Queen's University Belfast
Department(s)	Chemistry Department
Project Title / Description	Investigation of EdgetoFace Aromatic Interactions in Flexible Organic Molecules. The Objective is to assess the importance of novel attractive aromatic interactions in determining the conformation of organic molecules. The joint work to date has established that novel intramolecular attractive interactions between aromatic residues can markedly affect the conformation of flexible organic molecules both in solution and in the crystalline state. These investigations have for the first time provided experimental estimates of the strength of the attractive intramolecular edgetoface aromaticaromatic interaction. It has also been found that entropic factors play an important role in these type of interactions in solution in addition to enthalpic factors. Output to date includes two papers completed plus several in preparation as well as several presentations at conferences.
Publications and Presentations to Date arising from Collaboration	DR Boyd, TA Evans, WB Jennings, JF Malone, W O'Sullivan and A Smith. Edgetoface aromatic interactions in alkenes, ntirones and imines. Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications. 1996, 64. WB Jennings. Attractive molecular tees. Irish Scientist Year Book. 1996, 64 B Farrell, WB Jennings, W O'Sullivan, DR Boyd, TA Evans and JF Malone. Edgetoface aromatic ring interactions in model compounds. 49th Irish Universities Chemistry Research Colloquium, Dublin City University, June 2527, 1997. JF Malone, DR Boyd, TA Evans, A Smith, WB Jennings and W O'Sullivan.Attractive edgetoface aromatic interactions in a range of simple nitrones, oxaziridines imines. International Union of Crystallography Congress, Seattle, USAAugust 817, 1996. W O'Sullivan, WB Jennings, DR Boyd, TA Evans and JF Malone. Attractive edgetoface aromatic interactions in simple model systems. Autumn Meeting of the Royal Society of Chemistry, London, September 913, 1996.
Funding Bodies	This collaborative work has been funded through the contributing Departments' internal recurrent resources. Postgraduate research workers have been funded partly by Enterprise Ireland, Higher Education or UCC support Grants (Cork) or by DENI studentships (Belfast).
Resources Required	Good highfield NMR and Xray crystallographic facilities (existing). Funding for research personnel and consumables needed.
Contacts	Professor WB Jennings, UCC Tel + 353 21 902989 Fax + 353 21 274097 brianj@ucc.ie	Dr JF Malone, QUB Tel 04890 245133 Fax 04890 382117	Professor DR Boyd, QUB Tel 04890 274421 Fax 04890 382117 d.r.boyd@qub.ac.uk
Development Potential	Yes. There is an ongoing project that can be extended to new systems containing aromatic residues.

Universities Involved	Trinity College Dublin Queen's University Belfast
Department(s)	Chemistry
Project Title / Description	A. Ougonucleotide conjugates photochemistry. B. Transient raman spectroslopy of DNA ruthenium complex systems. A. Ongoing project first initiated by personal contact and EU funding. Also now funded by HRP, Northern Ireland Scheme (Dr Mark Lawler). Recent publication in J Amer Chem Soc. Publication of other work now being prepared. B. Ongoing project initiated by personal contact. Funding sought from National Institute of Health (US) with Prof. G Atkinson. Recent publications in J Amer Chem Soc. & J Phys Chem.
Contacts	Prof. RJH Davies Tel 04890 245133	Prof. JJ McGarvey Tel 04890 335450
Development Potential	Collaborative project to be funded on cross border or international basis.