EPR and nanoscale chemistry

Chemists have excelled at making small molecules and understanding their properties. However, most processes in nature and many industrial reactions include large ordered molecular assemblies, eg protein aggregates, cell membranes, catalyst surfaces etc. We are interested in understanding the factors which determine the structure and properties of such nanometre-scale molecular aggregates. We are often using free radicals and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) to characterise the properties and reactivity of nanostructures. We are also interested in the mechanistic chemistry of free radicals in other systems.

Gd-functionalised Au nanoparticles as targeted contrast agents in MRI: relaxivity enhancement by polyelectrolyte coating. M F Warsi, R W Adams, S B Duckett, V Chechik, Chem Commun, 2010, 46, 451-453. Spin Trapping of Au−H Intermediate in the Alcohol Oxidation by Supported and Unsupported Gold Catalysts. M Conte, H Miyamura, S Kobayashi, V Chechik, J Am Chem Soc, 2009, 131, 7189-7196. Studying Supramolecular Assemblies by ESEEM Spectroscopy: Inclusion Complexes of Cyclodextrins. G Ionita, M Florent, D Goldfarb, V Chechik, J Phys Chem B, 2009, 113, 5781-5787. Self-assembly of cross-linked β-cyclodextrin nanocapsules. L C Jones, W M Lackowski, Y Vasilyeva, K Wilson, V Chechik, Chem Commun, 2009, 1377-1379. TEMPO-inhibited polymerisation: simultaneous determination of oxygen and inhibitor concentrations by EPR. M Conte, Y Ma, C Loyns, P Price, D Rippon, V Chechik, Org Biomol Chem, 2009, 7, 2685-2687. Lateral Diffusion of Thiol Ligands on the Surface of Au Nanoparticles: An Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Study. P Ionita, A Volkov, G Jeschke and V Chechik, Anal Chem, 2008, 80, 95-106.