Faculty Research Areas:
- Biochemistry (Martin)
- Computational chemistry (Boyd, Darvesh, and Matta)
- Inorganic and organometallic chemistry (Xia)
- Physical and synthetic organic chemistry (McDonald and Pottie)
- General relativity (Harriott)
Student Research Projects:
K. Darvesh: Diane Mataija (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2005 – Theoretical study of 2′-nitro aromatic amides (with I. Pottie)
Laura Albrecht (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2004 – Computational studies on asymmetric sulfides (with A. Xia)
Laura Albrecht (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2003 – Quantum chemical studies of organic reactions
Diane Mataija (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2003 – Evaluation of phenothiazines as cholinesterase inhibitors (with E. Martin)
Jennifer Uhlman (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2003 – Studies of phenothiazines (with R. McDonald)
Geraldine Gomez, Summer 2002 – Molecular modelling studies of phenothiazines (with E. Martin)
Bradley Beaver (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2002 – Quantum chemistry of chlorinations
Geraldine Gomez (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2001 – Theoretical and kinetic studies of phenothiazines as potential cholinesterase inhibitors (with E. Martin)
Belquis Mothana (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2001 – Ab initio studies of the chlorination of asymmetrical sulfides
R. McDonald:
Karina Carneiro (Jeanne Sauve Award), Summer 2005 – The design and synthesis of cholinesterase inhibitors derived from phenothiazine based on structure-bioactivity relationships. Synthesis of butyrylcholinesterase-specific substrates useful in the radio-imaging of the enzyme
Diane Mataija (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2004 – Synthesis, characterization and kinetic studies on several classes of phenothiazine derivatives as cholinesterase inhibitors (with A. Xia)
Sam Mothana (Honours 2003-2004) – Synthesis and Characterization of phenothiazine carbamates as potential inhibitors of the human cholinesterases
Jennifer Uhlman (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2003 – Theoretical and synthetic studies of cholinesterase inhibitors (with K. Darvesh), also Sept. 2003 – April 2004.
Heather Smith, January – April 2003 – Synthesis and characterization of potential inhibitors of cholinesterase
Sarah Conrad (2000-2002) – Synthesis and characterization of potential inhibitors of cholinesterase
Andrew McDonald, Summer 2001 – Synthesis and characterization of potential inhibitors of cholinesterase
E. Martin (with S. Darvesh):
Amy Atkinson, Summer 2006 – Enzyme kinetic studies of novel butyrylcholinesterase substrates as potential neuroradiopharmaceuticals
Stacy MacDonald, Summer 2006 – Enzyme studies on the interaction between phenothiazine derivatives and butyrylcholinesterase-trypsin complex
Nadia Raymond (Jeanne Sauve Award), Summer 2006 – Isolation and enzyme kinetic studies of cholinesterases from mammalian brains
Ravi Mishra, Summer 2006 – Reactivation kinetics of cholinesterases following inhibition by carbamates
Stacy MacDonald (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2005 – Effect of phenothiazine derivatives on BuChe-mediated Trypsin hydrolysis (with A. Xia)
Aimee Houde, Summer 2005 – In vitro examination of the combined effects of Alzheimer’s drugs with the drugs commonly used by patients with Alzheimer’s disease
Nicole Richard (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2004 – Alzheimer’s disease/cholinesterase inhibitor project (with A. Xia)
Karina Carneiro (Jeanne Sauve Award), Summer 2004 – Alzheimer’s disease/cholinesterase inhibitor project
Tammy Megrath and Melanie Zinck, Fall/Winter 2003/2004 (Student Works Program) – Cholinesterase inhibitor studies
Jenni Peach, Summer 2002 – 2003 (Internal Grant, Jeanne Sauve Award), N-10 phenothiazine carbonyl derivatives as cholinesterase inhibitors
Diane Mataija, Summer 2003 (NSERC USRA) – Structure/activity studies of phenothiazine derivatives as cholinesterase inhibitors (with K. Darvesh)
Morgan MacNeill and Nicole Zwicker (Student Work Program) – Cholinesterase inhibitor studies
Holly Cook, summer 2002 – 2004 (various), Butyrylcholinesterase modulation of protease activity; aryl acylamides activity of cholinesterases
Angela Caines, 1999 – 2002 – Cholinesterase inhibition by phenothiazine derivatives
Geraldine Gomez (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2000 – 2002 – Theoretical and kinetic studies of phenothiazines as potential cholinesterase inhibitors (with K. Darvesh)
C. Matta:
Alya Arabi (PhD Candidate), Theoretical study of the physical bases of bioisosterism
Hugo Bohorquez (PhD Candidate) – (1) Quantum mechanical classification of atoms types in biological molecules; (2) Correlation between properties of the amino acids and their biological functions; (3) Quantitative molecular similarity studies
Daniel MacKeigan (Research Assistant), Summer 2009 – (1) Mathematical relationships between sets of properties of the naturally-occurring amino acids; (2) Visualization of molecular scalar and vector fields
Leigh Herman (Research Assistant), Summer 2009 – (1) Mathematical relationships between sets of properties of the naturally-occurring amino acids; (2) Visualization of molecular scalar and vector fields
Matthew Loranger (Undergraduate Research Assistant), 2008 – Computational study of metal-serotonin interaction
Alya Arabi (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2008 – Atomic Partitioning of the Bond Dissociation of First to Third Row Molecules
Alya Arabi (Jeanne Sauve Award), Summer 2007 – Effect of Monovalent and Divalent Cations on the Hydrolysis of ATP
I. Pottie:
Amanda Pilgrim (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2009 – Using methyl methylenenitronate within the Henry reaction
Stewart Whalen, Summer 2009 – Preliminary investigation into the aza-Nazarov reaction
Ian Macdonald, Summer 2009 – Developing a diagnosis system for Alzheimer’s Disease using a pyridone ligand
Courtney Jollymore (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2009 – The synthesis of dipeptide analogues from proteolipid protein
Emma Higgins, Summer 2009 – The synthesis and evaluation of proteolipid protein analogues as substrates for butyrylcholinesterase: A model for demyelination in Multiple Sclerosis
Rachelle Blackman (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2008 – The synthesis and evaluation of proteolipid protein analogues as substrates for butyrylcholinesterase: A model for demyelination in Multiple Sclerosis (with Earl Martin and Sultan Darvesh)
Elliot Wright (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2008 – Clues to differences between butyrylcholinesterase in normal cell structures in the brain and butyrylcholinesterase associated with plaques and tangles in Alzheimer’s Disease (with Earl Martin and Sultan Darvesh)
Ian MacDonald (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2008 – Development of Novel Butyrylcholinesterase Ligands for Neuroimaging and Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease (with Earl Martin and Sultan Darvesh)
Amy Morris (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2008 – Development of compounds with potential for detecting Alzheimer’s disease in the living brain (with Earl Martin and Sultan Darvesh)
Emma Higgins (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2008 – The Synthesis and Isolation of Nitro-Alcohols via the Henry Reaction
Mahsa Khanbabaei (Jeanne Sauve Award), Summer 2008 – Using Henry Reaction Products to Generate Novel Butyrylcholinesterase Ligands for Brain Imaging
Frank MacDonald, Summer 2007 – An Investigation of the Henry Reaction using Silyl Nitronates Derived from Nitromethane
Heather Cosh (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2007 – An Investigation of the Henry Reaction using Silyl Nitronates Derived from Nitropropane
Eric Joy (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2007 – An Investigation of Butyrylcholinesterase Ligands Derived from 1-methylpiperidin-4-ol and 1-methylpyrrolidin-3-ol for Use in Imaging of the AD Brain
Amy Morris, Summer 2007 – The Activity of Various Phenol Derived Carbamates as Potential Cholinesterase Substrates/Inhibitors in Alzheimer’s Disease
Ian MacDonald, Summer 2007 – The role of nicotinic and picolinic acid derived carbamates as potential Butyrlcholinesterase inhibitors
Frank MacDonald (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2006 – The reactivity of silylnitronates with aldehydes catalysed by different Lewis acids
Heather Cosh (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2006 – A preliminary investigation of a new 4p + 3p cycloaddition
Eric Joy, Summer 2006 – Synthesis of butyrylcholinesterase ligands from 1-methylpiperidin-4-ol
Karina Carneiro, Summer 2006 – An investigation into the reactivity of boron nitronates with aldehydes
Frank MacDonald (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2005 – Silylnitronates on organic synthesis
Diane Mataija (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2005 – Theoretical study of 2′-nitro aromatic amides (with K. Darvesh)
Stephanie Dolliver, October 2004 – May 2005, The synthesis of silylnitronates
A. Xia:
Jessica Sanford (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2009 – Preparation and application of iminophosphinite pincer nickel complexes
Earl Cook (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2009 – Preparation and application of quinolinylphosphinite palladium complexes
Jenifer Jackson, Summer 2009 – Preparation and application of novel pyridyl aminophosphine ligands
Jake Yorke (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2008 – Preparation and application of iminophosphinite pincer palladium complexes
Jenifer Jackson, Summer 2008 – Preparation and application of N-heterocyclic carbene palladium complexes
Jake Yorke (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2007 – Investigation of Cp*Ru diazaphospholide as ancillary ligands in Heck reaction
Catlin Dent (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2007 – Preparation and application of unsymmetrical PCN type pincer ligands
Jenifer Jackson, Summer 2007 – Preparation and application of bidentate N-heterocyclic carbenes
Mahsa Khanbabaei, Summer 2007 – Application of bispyrazolylmethanes in palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions
Jake Yorke, September 2006 – April 2007, Preparation, characterization, and application of dipyridylimines
Jake Yorke (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2006 – Preparation and characterization of palladium complexes bearing novel iminophosphinite and chalcogenide ligands
Sarah Beaton, Summer 2006 – Preparation and application of palladium complexes in coupling reactions
Mariza Voges, Summer 2006 – Preparation and application of bidentate N-heterocyclic carbenes
Sarah Beaton (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2005 – Synthesis, characterization, and reactivity study of palladium complexes
Stacy MacDonald (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2005 – Effect of phenothiazine derivatives on BuChe-mediated Trypsin hydrolysis (with E. Martin)
Lacey Woodworth, Summer 2005 – Transition metal-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of alcohols
Lacey Woodworth (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2004 – Platinum complexes with bis(diphenylphosphino)methane sulfide ligands
Stacy MacDonald (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2004 – Platinum complexes with bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane sulfide ligands
Sarah Beaton, Summer 2004 – Palladium complexes containing bidentate nitrogen ligands
Nicole Richard (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2004 – Alzheimer’s disease/cholinesterase inhibitor project (with E. Martin)
Diane Mataija (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2004 – Synthesis, characterization and kinetic studies on several classes of phenothiazine derivatives as cholinesterase inhibitors (with R. McDonald)
Laura Albrecht (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2004 – Computational studies on asymmetric sulfides (with K. Darvesh)