Pittelkow Group

• Villumfonden - experiment (2021): Cyclocarbon.
• Carlsbergfondet - equipment (2022): Recycling GPC.
• Novonordiskfonden - projct (2021-2025): Biomimetic molecular recognition.
• Danish research council - DFF-2 (2020-2024): Grand challenges in aromatic chemistry.
• Danish research council - FTP project-2 (2020-2024): Chiral OLEDs.
• BASF (2020): Biodegradable UV filters for sunscreen.
• Danish research council - Sapere Aude (2015-2019): From dynamc combinatorial chemistry to applications in bioorganic chemistry.
• Højteknologifonden (2013-2017): InDyWeld - Invisible dyes for laser welding of plastic. 
• Cost network CM1304 (2013-2017): Systems chemistry.
• Lundbeckfonden (2010-2015): Dynamic combinatorial chemistry in water.
• Cost network (2011-2014): Supramolecular chemistry in water.
• Det strategiske forskningsråd (2009-2013): NIR absorbers for laser welding.
• FNU: Steno fellowship (2008-2012): Dynamic combinatorial chemistry.
• FNU: Postdoc fellowship (2006-2008): Dynamic combinatorial chemistry.
• University of Copenhagen: PhD fellowship (2003-2006): Supramolecular chemistry with dendrimers.

We explore the reactivity of benzoquinones and hydroquinones for the preperation of large heterocyclic compounds: tetraoxa[8]circulenes. These compounds are interesting for studies of aromaticity (and antiaromaticity) as well as for their properties in materials chemistry (light emmitting devices, liquid crystals and more). We are also exploring synthetic strategies for nitrogen containing (and other heteroatoms) analogs of the heterocyclic [8]circulenes. This is exemplified by our recent synthesis of azatrioxa[8]circulenes.

We are aiming to use the heterocyclic [8]circulenes as scaffolds in supramolecular chemistry, to explore them as ligands for biomacromolecules and to study the aromaticity/antiaromaticity of the planar cyclooctatetrenes by suitable substitution.

We are also working to extend the synthetic methodology to enable us to prepare heterocyclic helicenes.

We are interested in developing and using dynamic combinatorial chemistry to discover new and unorthodox receptors for small molecules and (bio)macromolecules. The concept is illustrated in the scheme below with LEGO building blocks. The building blocks are connected via reversible chemical bonds and the constitution of the dynamic combinatorial library can be manipulated by binding of a template. This can be used to perform a very elegant three step procedure - synthesis, selection and amplification of a receptor for the template - all in one step.

We are looking for new chemical reactions that make dynamic combinatorial chemistry possible in aqueous media with the aim of templating biologically relevant compounds. A typical project in this field involves a large amount of chemical synthesis and analysis of the discovered complexes.

The design and synthesis of new types of receptors for supramolecular chemistry, with a focus on molecular recognition in aqueous media, is being pursued. We are currently looking at receptors that resemble calixarenes and cucurbiturils.

Our most recent example of this is the anion templated synthesis of Biotin[6]uril - a cyclic 6+6 hexamer of Biotin and formaldehyde:

This macrocycle binds anions in water. Here is the X-ray crystal structure of the macrocycle as a co-crystal with NaI, showing that the iodide ion is situated in the center:

Both the development of new types of reactions, optimised protocols for known substrates and new uses of know reagents are of interest. Often the new reactions and methodologies stems from our other research. At present we are particularly interested in rearrangement reactions involving selenium for the preperation of aryl-selenols and in protecion group chemistry of selenocysteine. These types of chemisties are important for dynamic combinatorial chemistry and for advances in bioorganic chemistry.

Our most recent example of this is the development of the seleno Newman-Kwart rearrangement, described in Angewandte Chemie:

The design, synthesis and evaluation of molecular switches is a difficult and rewarding challenge. We are engaged in exploring (photo)switches based on classical azo compounds, hydrazones, imines and thiosemicarbazones. We explore molecular design, synthesis, computational studies, single crystal X-ray crystallography, switching kinetics. In this work we collaborate with Kurt V. Mikkelsen (UCPH), Theis I. Sølling (UCPH) and Liudmil Antonov (https://tautomer.eu/team/).

In a collaboration with the company Nanocore, we work to perform supramolecular functionalization og SWCTs. We are interested in merging the materials chemistry of SWCTs and the concepts of dynamic combinatorial chemistry.