Life Chemistry

Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Bioanalytical Chemistry are of enormous importance to the Irish economy and Cork is the industrial centre with many multinational pharmaceutical companies established in the area. Serious concern has been expressed by some companies that there might be a national shortage of suitably trained chemistry-based staff in the next five years. The Life Chemistry theme therefore directs its activities towards Synthesis, Pharmaceutical Chemistry and BioAnalysis.

Research groups encompassing the Organic, Inorganic and Analytical Sections (Prof. W Jennings, Dr. H. Moynihan, Dr. F Lalor, Dr. A Maguire, Dr. D McCarthy, Dr. S Lawrence, Dr. O Ni Dhubhghaill, Prof. G Guilbault, Dr. J Glennon and Dr. C Smith) are actively involved in two inter-related research areas.

Synthesis and Characterisation of Pharmaceutical and Bioactive Compounds UCC Chemistry features a powerful breadth of experience and activity in Synthetic Chemistry. This includes the development of novel synthetic methodology (Dr. A.R. Maguire and Dr. D.G. McCarthy), asymmetric synthesis (Dr. A.R. Maguire, Prof. W.B. Jennings, Dr. D.G. McCarthy, Dr. H. Moynihan), biocatalysis (Dr. A.R. Maguire), total synthesis of natural products (Dr. H. Moynihan), and the synthesis of novel organometallic complexes and multidentate nitrogen or phosphorus containing ligands (Dr. F.J. Lalor and Dr. O.M. Ní Dhubhghaill). Expertise in the synthesis of Bioactive compounds including anticancer, antiviral, and anti-arthritic compounds is well represented in the research groups of Dr. H. Moynihan, Dr. A.R. Maguire, Dr. D.G. McCarthy, Dr. O.M. Ní Dhubhghaill,  and Prof. W.B. Jennings. Much of the research into pharmaceutically active compounds is based on heterocyclic ring systems which are essential for bioactivity. Prof. W.B. Jennings, Dr. H. Moynihan, Dr. D.G. McCarthy, Dr. A.R. Maguire,  and Dr. F.J. Lalor have research interests and considerable expertise in the synthesis and reactivity of a wide range of heterocyclic compounds including small-ring systems (Prof. W.B. Jennings and Dr. H. Moynihan), five-membered heterocycles (Dr. D.G. McCarthy, Dr. A.R. Maguire), and heterocyclic systems as building blocks for organometallic ligands (Dr. F.J. Lalor). Collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry and other international laboratories is a key feature of this research.

In the context of Pharmaceutical and Bioactive compounds detailed knowledge of molecular structure is critical for understanding drug-receptor interactions. In recent years the Department has focussed on the acquisition of state-of-art NMR spectrometers, a mass spectrometer and a single crystal X-ray diffractometer for the investigation of molecular structure and conformation. Most of the research groups involved in Pharmaceutical and Bioactive compound Chemistry regularly use these techniques. Considerable expertise exists in the application of NMR to investigate conformation and enantiomeric purity (Prof. W.B. Jennings, Dr. D.G. McCarthy, Dr. A.R. Maguire and Dr. H. Moynihan), 2D-NMR techniques (Dr. H. Moynihan, Dr. D.G. McCarthy and Prof. W.B. Jennings), and multinuclear NMR applications (Dr. O.M. Ní Dhubhghaill). Dr. Lawrence has extensive expertise in X-ray crystallography for the elucidation of molecular structure.

Bioanalytical Chemistry Research in Bioanalytical/Biomedical topics is conducted by Prof. Guilbault in the Sensor Technology laboratory. Areas include: the development of new bioprobes to indicate the state of health of the individual and sensors to predict the time of ovulation of animals or detect specific biologically active species. Associated with this is research by Dr. C.M.M. Smith into the enzymatic analysis for bioavailability of trace metals and other aspects of food analysis. This is a collaboration with the Departments of Nutrition and Plant Science.

A μ-Separation Technologies and Process Analysis Centre will be a future development in bioanalytical chemistry. The College has now incorporated and prioritised Nanoscale Chemical Analysis in its Strategic Plans, largely due to collaborations forged by Analytical Chemistry staff (Prof. J.D. Glennon, Dr. C.M.M. Smith and Prof. G.G. Guilbault) with the NMRC Microsystems group (Drs. O'Mathuna and Alderman and Ms. Patterson). The importance and need for strategic infrastructural support in this area is highlighted by recent successful grant applications from Enterprise Ireland and the EU Fifth Framework programme and recognised by the granting of ATS funding in 1999 for courses on Miniaturisation of Analytical Systems and participation in EU Training courses in Microseparation Techniques in Ghent and WIT.