Chemistry in Confined Spaces
Group leader
dr hab. Sashuk Volodymyr
Research topics
Our research concerns confined matter. We wonder how molecules and larger particles behave in the restricted space they create. We are particularly interested in the use of these changes, which occur autonomously or under the influence of external stimuli, for self-assembly, catalysis and creation of functional systems.
Members
- mgr inż. Sandra Kosiorek
- mgr Mykola Kravets
- dr Dawid Lichosyt
- dr Nazar Rad
- mgr Grzegorz Sobczak
- dr Agata Tyszka-Gumkowska
- mgr Pavlo Hyziuk
- mgr inż. Aleksandra Zasada
Research
Switchable catalysis
We are interested in catalysis toggled (switched on and off) in response to external stimuli, especially when it happens due to geometric constraints. We introduced a new concept of controlling chemical reactions by light through the reversible hiding of catalytic centers within a crowded chemical environment.
Supramolecular chemistry
We study the reactivity of chemical species arrested in supramolecular cavities or interligand and interparticle spaces. We also develop new colloidal and supramolecular systems and use them in molecular recognition.
Dynamic and responsive systems
We employ confinement effects induced by external triggers for assembling colloids and supramolecular structures in a reversible fashion.
Facilities
We have a wide range of instrumental tools and lab equipment facilitating our research.
Publications
2021
Butkiewicz, H., Sashuk, V., & Danylyuk, O.
Incorporation of carboxylated pillar[5]arene and strontium (II) into supramolecular coordination complexes of different nuclearity.
CrystEngComm, https://doi.org/10.1039/D1CE00334H
Wiloch, M. Z., Kuna, E., Kosiorek, S., Sashuk, V., & Jonsson-Niedziolka, M.
The spectroelectrochemical behaviour of 1,4‐dimethoxypillar[5]arene (P5A) and its monomer in different organic solvents.
ChemElectroChem, https://doi.org/10.1002/celc.202100257
Kravets, M., Misztalewska-Turkowicz, I., & Sashuk, V.
Plasmonic Nanoprobes Gauging the Length and Flexibility of α,ω-Alkanedicarboxylic Acids With an Optical Readout.
Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2021.130083
2022
Kravets, K., Kravets, M., Butkiewicz, H., Kosiorek, S., Sashuk, V., & Danylyuk, O.
Electrostatic co-assembly of pillar[n]pyridiniums and calix[4]arene in aqueous media.
CrystEngComm, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2CE00232A
Butkiewicz, H., Kosiorek, S., Sashuk, V., Zimnicka, M., & Danylyuk, O.
Inclusion of Pentamidine in Carboxylated Pillar[5]arene: Late Sequential Crystallization and Diversity of Host–Guest Interactions.
Crystal Growth & Design, https://doi.org/10.1021/ACS.CGD.1C01201
Kośnik, W., Lichosyt, D., Śnieżek, M., Janaszkiewicz, A., Woźniak, K., Malińska, M., Trzaskowski, B., Kajetanowicz, A., Grela, K., & Grubbs, R. H.
Ruthenium Olefin Metathesis Catalysts Bearing Macrocyclic N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligand: Improved Stability and Activity.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition, https://doi.org/10.1002/ANIE.202201472
Rad, N., & Sashuk, V.
Effect of Na+ and K+ on the cucurbituril-mediated hydrolysis of a phenyl acetate.
Chemical Communications, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2CC00772J
Kravets, M., Misztalewska-Turkowicz, I., & Sashuk, V.
Probing E/Z Isomerism Using Pillar[4]pyridinium/Gold Nanoparticle Ensembles and Their Photoresponsive Behavior.
Langmuir, https://doi.org/10.1021/ACS.LANGMUIR.2C00342
Ostapiuk, Y. V., Ostapiuk, M. Y., Barabash, O. V., Kravets, M., Herzberger, C., Namyslo, J. C., Obushak, M. D., & Schmidt, A.
One-Pot Syntheses of Substituted 2-Aminothiazoles and 2-Aminoselenazoles via Meerwein Arylation of Alkyl Vinyl Ketones.
Synthesis, https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0041-1738070
Rad, N., & Sashuk, V.
A light-gated regulation of the reaction site by a cucurbit[7]uril macrocycle.
Chemical Science, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2SC02077G
Kowalski, A., Bielec, K., Bubak, G., Żuk, P. J., Czajkowski, M., Sashuk, V., Huck, W. T. S., Antosiewicz, J. M., & Holyst, R.
Effective screening of Coulomb repulsions in water accelerates reactions of like-charged compounds by orders of magnitude.
Nature Communications, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-34182-z
The reaction speed of like-charged compounds in water is extremely slow due to Coulomb repulsions. Here, the authors boost kinetics up to 5 million times by screening these interactions and increasing the local concentration of reactants using positively charged micelles. They show the effect of two independent systems and present a theoretical explanation.
2023
Kravets, K., Kravets, M., Kędra, K., & Danylyuk, O.
P-Sulfonatocalix[8]arene coordinates sodium cations and forms host-guest complex with berberine: insight from crystal structure.
Supramolecular Chemistry, https://doi.org/10.1080/10610278.2022.2161901
Cooperation
- dr Oksana Danylyuk - Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS
- Prof. Marcin Fiałkowski - Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS
- Prof. Daniel Gryko - Institute of Organic Chemistry PAS
- Prof. Marcin Opałło - Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS
- Prof. Agnieszka Szumna - Institute of Organic Chemistry PAS
Financing
2017-2020 OPUS (NCN)
"Allosteric photoregulation in macrocyclic hosts" ( 1 296 160 PLN).
2015-2020 SONATA BIS (NCN)
"Photoswitchable catalysis on the surface of colloidal particles" (1 671 190 PLN).
2013-2015 Iuventus Plus III (MNiSW)
"Synthesis of pillar[n]arene derivatives for molecular recognition in water" (245 000 PLN).
2012-2013 Iuventus Plus II (MNiSW)
"Charged nanoparticles at interfaces: controlled integration in two dimensions" (116 200 PLN).
2011-2014 SONATA (NCN)
"Self-assembly of nanoparticles at fluid interfaces: towards new nanostructured materials" (509 600 PLN).
2010-2011 Iuventus Plus I (MNiSW)
"The use of metathesis for the preparation of nanocomposite materials" (200 000 PLN).