New paper in J Org Chem

Our latest paper has been published online in the Journal of Organic Chemistry. The paper is Avene’s first paper, and details her identification of an impurity that was acting as a catalyst poison in thiourea-catalysed glycosylations. The impurity arose from the benzylation of an alcohol in DMF – a procedure that is carried out thousands of times per year all around the world. Despite this, the side-reaction that generates the impurity had not been noted in the scientific literature before. Well done to Avene on her excellent detective work, and congratulations also on her first crystal structure.

The paper can be read online at the link below:

J Org Chem 2016, Article ASAP; DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.6b01914

If you don’t have a subscription and would like to read the article please email eoghan dot mcgarrigle at ucd dot ie to request a free article-on-request code.

The research was funded by the Irish Research Council and SFI.

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New Paper in Angewandte Chemie

Our latest publication was published online in Angew Chem Int Ed today. The paper describes how a cyclic disiloxane group controls the conformation of oxacarbenium ions, and leads to high selectivities in the synthesis of 2-deoxyglycosides from glucals and rhamnals. Some additional effects leading to higher selectivity were observed in the glucal series. This paper arose from a collaboration with Dr M Carmen Galan and Prof Roger Alder at the University of Bristol and Dr Diane Coe at GSK. Congratulations to Ed Balmond in particular – this is his second paper as first author in Angew Chem Int Ed.

The paper is published as an open access article in Angew Chem Int Ed and can be obtained at the following links:

Angew Chem Int Ed 2014, early view. DOI: 10.1002/anie.201403543

Angew Chem 2014, early view. DOI: 10.1002/ange.201403543

The research was funded by EPSRC (Bristol Chemical Synthesis CDT), GSK, SFI and Marie-Curie COFUND.

Pictures from SFI SIRG announcement

Prof Declan Gilheany, Dr Eoghan McGarrigle, Minister Sean Sherlock TD, Dr Stephen Simpson (Director of Lifesciences, SFI)

We can now post a picture from the recent event where SFI announced the recipients of 2012 SIRG awards. Eoghan was one of 22 researchers given one of these prestigious awards. Thanks to the award, we are currently recruiting a PhD student. For full story see earlier post.

Eoghan wins an SFI SIRG Award

Eoghan has been awarded a Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Starting Investigator Research Grant (SIRG). Eoghan is one of 22 young scientists to be awarded a grant under the 12.3 million Euro scheme which covers all areas of science in SFI’s remit. The highly-sought-after award includes full funding for a PhD studentship to work in Eoghan’s new research group in University College Dublin.

The announcement was made in the Tyndall National Institute in Cork on Friday by the Minister of Research and Innovation, Mr Sean Sherlock TD. Announcing the investment, Minister Sherlock said: “We are determined as a Government to ensure that the very best young scientific talent is given compelling reasons to either stay in Ireland or come from abroad and conduct research here. The SIRG Programme provides an opportunity for researchers at a pivotal juncture in their careers to propel themselves to the next level and realise their potential in their respective fields.”

Funding for the award comes from SFI and the international Marie-Curie COFUND scheme.

SFI Press Release             Government Press Release         The Irish Times                  More Irish Times

Pictures to follow.