The Stereocontrolled Organic Synthesis Team operating at the JU Faculty of Chemistry has published the results of innovative research into the synthesis of carbohydrates (sugars). Last year the prestigious magazine "Chemical Society Reviews" (Impact Factor 28.7) published an article by Bartosz Gut, JU PhD student, and Prof. Jacek Młynarski.The article described the syntheses of monosaccharides with the use of organocatalysts. The idea to use simple organic molecules not containing metals as catalysts is a new dynamically developing field of research in the world. The article by JU researchers describes the application of organocatalytic reactions in the synthesis of sugars – compounds that play a vital role in biological processes. This subject has been explored by Prof. Jacek Młynarski's group since 2009, i.e. the year when the group was set up. The JU researches are designing new catalysts, which activate substrates in a way similar to enzymes, i.e. in biomimetic conditions.

The magazine "Advances Synthesis & Catalysis" (IF 6.0) has recently published the latest research results related to the synthesis of ulosonic acids. These compounds participate in metabolic pathways (biosynthesis of amino-acids) as well as constitute essential parts of bacterial lipopolysaccharides. Osama El-Sepelgy, JU PhD student presents an innovative method for the synthesis of these compounds from pyruvic acid and sugar aldehydes by imitating a biosynthesis that is normally controlled in living organisms by enzymes called aldolases.

A similar idea was described in an article recently published in "European Journal of Organic Chemistry". The paper concerned the synthesis of iminosugars. While conducting the research, the team cooperated with Prof. Olivier Martin (Université d'Orléans, France). The research was driven by the possibility of practical application of these compounds in a treatment of rare genetic diseases, especially Gaucher disease.

Chiral organic molecules synthesized by the research group are also applied as new ligands in multifunctional molecular materials. The most recent research conducted by the Inorganic Molecular Materials Group run by Professor Barbara Sieklucka has been described in "Journal of the American Chemical Society" (IF 9.9). Magnetic molecular materials exhibit sensitivity and selectivity unattainable to conventional magnetic materials; whereas multifunctional materials by combining a wide range of physical and chemical properties enable alternative methods of recording and storing information. They may be used as rewritable computer storage,  memory chips sensitive to temperature and pressure, or as nanosensors.
Professor Jacek Młynarski is a winner of the following Foundation for Polish Science grants: TEAM and International PhD Projects. More details about the research is available at www.jacekmlynarski.pl.