Welcome to the Mastalerz Group

14.08.2023 - Paper accepted!

Congrats to Mattes!

His paper on Single Crystals of Insoluble Porous Salicylimine Cages was accepted in Chem. Eur. J.!!

With a lot of patience and by the optimization of the reaction and crystallisation conditions, Mattes was able to obtain single crystal X-ray structures of insoluble [4+4]- as well as endo- and exo-functionalized [4+6]-cages and study their packing as well as gassorption behavior. This study is a nice addition to his work on solubilizing these cages which he managed before and he added Ostwald ripening to our tool box in crystal growth.

If you are interested in the story, click here or directly on the picture on the left.

Great job Mattes!

11.08.2023 - PhD Defense!

Congrats to Jochen Christian Lauer to the successful defense of his PhD thesis with the title "Synthesis and Postfunctionalisation of Organic Imine Cage Molecules".

Jochen investigated the influence of side-chains on the formation of [4+4]-imine cages and converted theses cages to hydrocarbon scaffolds as well as highly stable amide cages. Some of his cages not only act as hosts for ammonium ions but additionally by careful molecular design, Jochen was able to obtain cages that bind nitrate ions in a highly efficient manner. Jochen furthermore established several separation and evaluation techniques in our group and lifted the groups knowledge to higher levels in several aspects.

It was a pleasure for us to be a part of Jochen's academic journey, we wish him all the best for his future, thank him for everything he did for the group and he will be missed as a member of our team.

16.05.2023 - Paper accepted!

Congrats to Tobi!

His paper on the Synthesis of a Benzotrisazulene via a Trioxobenzotrisazulene was accepted in Chem. Eur. J.!!

Using the coupling/condensation-cascade he established during his studies on the monkey-saddles, Tobi was able to synthesis a contorted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) with three azulene units. In-depth analysis by e.g. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction, UV/Vis-spectroscopy as well as quantum chemical calculations gave insights in the molecular and electronic structure of the Benzotrisazulene.

If you are interested in the story, click here or directly on the picture on the left.

Great job Tobi!

12.05.2023 - New (Old) Group Members and Scientific Guest

We would like to welcome two new group members and a Scientific Guest.

After his Master Thesis in our group Cornelius Daiber started his PhD Thesis in our group. He will work on our ERC-funded TACY-project and will explore ways toward cyclacene and other belt shaped macromolecules.

Rahul Yadav studied chemistry at the University of Delhi in Dehli, India and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras in Madras, India. After a Master Thesis in the group of Prof. Dr. Mahiuddin Baidya working on Organo-Catalysis he is joining our group also working within the TACY-project.

Ankur Bhaumik is studying chemistry at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore and is visiting us for an internship.

We want to welcome all three of you to our group and are looking forward to work with you!

23.04.2023 - Group retreat

Our group had an amazing three-day group retreat in Annweiler am Trifels in the palatinate forest!

The scientific program included great talks of our group members about methods, evaluation techniques and the fundamental aspects of science in general and led to a tremendous knowledge transfer within the group.

Furthermore, we had fun during endless pool billiard sessions, a Tischkicker tournement (congrats to team Yannik/Sven) as well as a hike to the beautiful Burg Trifels (as you can see on the picture).

Thanks to everybody in the group to make this happen and we  are already looking forward to the next retreat!