Department of Chemistry, FCT-UNL

LAQV-REQUIMTE-Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry

office 402-B, tel. +351212948300, ext. 10923

email: ajp@fct.unl.pt

short CV / research interests:

After a degree in Applied Chemistry (specialization in Organic Chemistry), my research background, dating back from my PhD thesis in Physical Chemistry (“Supramolecular Photochemistry: Supracomplexes and Hemicarceplexes”, FCT-UNL, Fernando Pina), lays on two main areas: (i) chemical synthesis, including both organic and inorganic synthesis, and (ii) photochemistry. A post-doc in inorganic synthesis of fluorescent metal complexes of polypiridine receptors reinforced this background (Switzerland, Peter Belser). Supramolecular photochemistry, from the design and synthesis of supramolecular species to the study of their photophysical properties, adequately coins this research area that menained until today. My current research further includes (i) development of multiresponsive molecular networks based on flavylium dyes both in solution and upon encapsulation in several hosts and matrices; (ii) the development of chromogenic materials for technological apllications (mainly photochromic). Main methodologies used: standard synthetic methods, strong NMR characterization, continuous photochemical irradiation, steady-state and time-resolved UV-Vis-NIR absorption and emission spectroscopies, flash-photolysis, stopped-flow, electrochemistry.

My main scientific achievements relate with the synthesis and photochemical characterisation of host-guest systems. A collaboration with the YDreams company, started some years ago, led to the creation in 2010 of Ynvisible, a spin-off on chromogenic materials.

Major funding for research raised from FCT-MCE (3 projects as PI), QREN technological projects and EU COST and FP7 projects (as participant).

5 selected publications:

(full publication list: RID, RG)

• N. Jordão, R. Gavara, A. J. Parola, “Flavylium-Supported Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide): A Class of Multistimuli Responsive Polymer”, Macromolecules, 2013, 46(22), 9055-9063, DOI: 10.1021/ma401497q
• F. Pina, M. J. Melo, C. A. T. Laia, A. J. Parola, J. C. Lima, “Chemistry and Applications of Flavylium Compounds: a Handful of Colours”, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2012, 41(2), 869-908, DOI: 10.1039/c1cs15126f
• R. Gomes, A. J. Parola, F. Bastkowski, J. Polkowska, F.-G. Klärner, “Host-guest interactions between molecular clips and multistate systems based on flavylium salts”, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2009, 131, 8922–8938, DOI: 10.1021/ja9019098
• F. Pina, J. C. Lima, A. J. Parola, C. A. M. Afonso, “Thermal and Photochemical Properties of 4’,7-dihydroxyflavylium in Water-Ionic Liquids Biphasic Systems. A Novel Approach to a Write-Read-Erase Molecular Switching System.”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2004, 43, 1525-1527, DOI: 10.1002/anie.200353131
• A. J. Parola, F. Pina, E. Ferreira, M. Maestri, V. Balzani, “Photoinduced Electron and Energy Transfer Processes of Biacetyl Imprisoned in a Hemicarcerand”, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1996, 118, 11610-11616, DOI: 10.1021/ja962450q