A. Bolje: Krka Prize for Special Achievements in Research. A. Bolje has studied synthesis and coordination properties of novel triazole and triazolylidene ligands towards osmium, ruthenium, iridium, copper and palladium. Special achievement of his work is an introduction of heteroaryl group into the ligand molecule, which in combination with triazole as the second dent, enables a novel architecture in the coordination chemistry. Thus prepared coordination compounds exhibit remarkable catalytic properties in transformations that are highly important in academia and industry. These include oxido-reductive processes, C-H activation, and formation of carbon-carbon bond under green conditions. The results were published in seven scientific papers in high-quality journals in the first quartile (Q1). One article was featured on the inside cover of the printed journal Chemistry, 2015, 21(18). One article (Organic Letters, 2013, 15, 5084–5087) was highlighted in Chemistry & Industry (December 2013, 77(12), p 57). One article (Organometallics 2014, 33, 2588–2598) was listed in June 2014 among the “journal's top 20 most downloaded articles”. For his doctoral thesis entitled “Synthesis and Coordinative Properties of Novel Triazole-based Ligands”, in 2015, A. Bolje received Krka Prize for Special Achievements in Research (https://www.krkinenagrade.si/media/bin?bin.id=5877). A. Bolje: Maks Samec Award for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis. In 2016, A. Bolje received Maks Samec Award for outstanding doctoral thesis entitled “Synthesis and Coordinative Properties of Novel Triazole-based Ligands” in the field of chemistry (http://www.fkkt.uni-lj.si/sl/novice/novica/?tx_ttnews%5Byear%5D=2016&tx_ttnews%5Bmonth%5D=12&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=928&cHash=9fa5e89dd77287c7945168e430d8ab00). G. Strle: Pregl Award for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis. In 2016, G. Strle received Pregl Award for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis: “Novel Methods of Dihydrogen Trioxide Preparation and Its Use in Oxidation of Organic Compounds” (http://www.ki.si/fileadmin/user_upload/datoteke-splosno/novice/2016/utemeljitev_nagrad.pdf and http://www.ki.si/novice/single-prikaz/novice/?tx_ttnews[tt_news]=2457&cHash=4745b3ebfa0a04a5a7c6ea6389af2e94). G. Strle: Krka Prizes for Research Achievements. In 2016, G. Strle received Krka Prizes for Research Achievements for the research work entitled “Novel Methods of Dihydrogen Trioxide Preparation and Its Use in Oxidation of Organic Compounds” (https://www.krkinenagrade.si/media/bin?bin.id=6750). Results of his research work have been published in Angewandte Chemie, 2015, 54, 9917–9920. J. Vajs: Krka Prizes for Research Achievements. J. Vajs developed derivatives of 1,3-diaryltriazene, which could potentially be used to treat lethal bacterial infections, especially infections with MRSA, as well as for the treatment of tuberculosis and cancer. His important publications in the field are: Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 2015, 153, 42-48, European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2014, 77, 193-203, and European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2017, 127, 223-234. For his doctoral thesis entitled “Synthesis and application of new diazenes and triazenes”, in 2015, J. Vajs received Krka Prizes for Research Achievements for his doctoral thesis entitled "Syntheses and Application of Novel Diazenes and Triazenes" (https://www.krkinenagrade.si/media/bin?bin.id=5877). M. Virant: Krka Prizes for Research Achievements. In 2016, M. Virant received Krka Prizes for Research Achievements for the research work entitled “Synthesis of Palladium Complexes with Triazolilidene Ligands and their Application in Catalysis” (https://www.krkinenagrade.si/media/bin?bin.id=6750). Results of his research work have been published in Chemical Communications, 2016, 52, 1571–1574.
E.01 National awards
COBISS.SI-ID: 1536312771M. Kočevar organized a scientific meeting "Pure and applied organic synthesis: a greener and more sustainable approach", with a series of lectures Ljubljana - Venice, UL FKKT, Ljubljana, 9. and 10. 4. 2015, at which the Guest Professors Stefano Paganelli and Oreste Piccolo from the University of Venice presented three plenary lectures, and our Young researchers presented results of their investigation. The meeting was financially supported by the EU.
B.01 Organiser of a scientific meeting
COBISS.SI-ID: 1536266691M. Gazvoda was the principal investigator of an 18-month postdoctoral project – Researchers at the beginning of career, entitled “Development of highly efficient catalytic systems for the formation of carbon-carbon bond “. The project was funded by EU. A novel type of water soluble and thermally stable Pd-NHC complex that is based on a bidentate pyridyl-1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene ligand has been developed. The complex requires only low synthetic investment and has been identified as a highly efficient precatalyst for Sonogashira cross-coupling that proceeds in air and in pure water, and in a complete absence of amine, copper, phosphine and other additives. This was the first report on the Sonogashira catalysis with a cationic Pd-complex. Preliminary mechanistic investigation indicates that bis-carbene palladium reactive species are involved in two connected palladium catalytic cycles. Such a mechanism is unprecedented for the Sonogashira cross-coupling. The project was supported by pharmaceutical company Lek-Sandoz.
D.01 Chairing over/coordinating (international and national) projects
COBISS.SI-ID: 1536716483In the frame of the plenary lecture at the international conference dedicated to Professor Gustavs VANAGSʼ 125 years anniversary (Riga, Latvia) M. Kočevar presented recent research work of his group in Ljubljana in the field of heterocyclic compounds as starting material for a wide array of reactions yielding different products. The transformations presented were investigated under thermal conditions (conventional and microwave heating) and high pressures (up to 15 kbar). Other plenary lectures: J. Košmrlj, “Chemical and biological utility of pyridine-appended click triazole derivatives”, 8th Central European Conference "Chemistry towards Biology", 2016, Brno, Czech Republic [COBISS.SI-ID 1537075651]. J. Košmrlj, “Chemistry and biological application of selected diazene derivatives”, 44th Conference on Drug Synthesis and Analysis 2015, Brno [COBISS.SI-ID 1536455107]. K. Kranjc, “Diels-Alder reaction as an efficient and versatile approach in drug discovery”, International Conferences on Current Challenges in Drug Discovery Research, 2015, Jaipur, Rajasthan (India) [COBISS.SI-ID 1536659651]. Invited Lectures: J. Košmrlj, “Recent advances in selected palladium catalyzed reactions”, International week at Tomas Bata University in Zlín, 2016 [COBISS.SI-ID 1536863171]. K. Kranjc, “Cycloadditions as efficient pathways towards molecular diversity”, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Department of Chemistry, 2016 [COBISS.SI-ID 1536982979]. M. Kočevar, “The potential of 2H-pyran-2-one derivatives in organic synthesis”, FloHet-2015 [COBISS.SI-ID 1536234947]. J. Košmrlj, “Synthesis and application of some nitrogen rich organic compounds”, International week at Tomas Bata University in Zlin, 2015 [COBISS.SI-ID 1536265923]. M. Gazvoda, “A completely stereocontrolled synthesis of ß'-hydroxy-ß-amino acids”, 2. srečanje slovenskih farmacevtskih kemikov, 2015, Fakulteta za farmacijo, Ljubljana [COBISS.SI-ID 1536532675].
B.04 Guest lecture
COBISS.SI-ID: 1536945603Scientific Board of the Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS) for the field of Natural Sciences selected the publication of J. Cerkovnik in the prestigious journal Angewandte Chemie among the selection of Excellent in Science for 2016 (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2015, 54(34), 9917-9920; http://www.arrs.gov.si/sl/dogodki/16/inc/odlicni/nama/JanezCerkovnik.pdf). This is the second such recognition for his scientific work within the last three years. J. Cerkovnik with colleague G. Strle have developed a simple and an efficient method for the preparation of pure solutions of hydrogen trioxide (HOOOH), the higher homologue of water (HOH) and hydrogen peroxide (HOOH), which are the only known stable natural compounds, composed of the elements hydrogen and oxygen. Unstable nature of the HOOOH molecule and the presence of impurities, originating from different preparation processes, represent a major obstacle for the compound to be more accessible to a wider audience of researchers. Namely, scientists assumed that HOOOH molecule is one of the key intermediates at the oxidation in the biological processes (atherosclerosis, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases), as well as in the chain processes in the environment and the atmosphere. The developed method significantly extends the research perspective of hydrogen trioxide, and has received excellent reviews in the journal. The article has been ranked in the highest category (Hot Paper) and featured on the outside cover of the printed journal.
E.01 National awards
COBISS.SI-ID: 1536385475