Resolution of the Passing of Emeritus Professor Mario Onyszchuk (1930–2021)

With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Professor Mario Onyszchuk on January 1, 2021. Mario was born in 1930 near Lviv in Poland, now a part of Ukraine. He grew up in Montreal, earned a BSc in Chemistry from McGill University in 1951, an MSc from U Western Ontario (1952; C. Sivertz) and a PhD from McGill under Carl Winkler (1954). He then moved to England where he received a second PhD from the University of Cambridge in 1956 (H.J. Emeléus).

Resolution on the Passing of Emeritus Professor William C. Purdy (1930-2019)

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Dr. William Crossley Purdy, Emeritus Professor in the Department of Chemistry, McGill University, on October 30, 2019, after a prolonged illness.

New Synthetic Strategies to Mimic Biosynthetic Oxidative Bond-Formation

Cytochrome P450, and related iron-containing oxygenases, catalyze a broad range of oxidative bond-forming processes that create complex natural products. Well-known examples include ‘canonical oxidations’, which convert C-H bonds into their corresponding alcohol derivatives (C-OH) via a classical mechanism of rebound. In these well-known cases, C-H abstraction affords a substrate radical that recombines with the enzyme’s Fe-(III)-OH center to form the new C-OH bond.

The Future of Hydrogen as an Energy Source?

One of most active research areas nowadays is the use of solar energy to produce hydrogen by so-called “water-splitting” reactions. Dr. Butler has co-authored with colleagues from the U.K. and Pakistan a comprehensive review on this topic entitled “Recent Developments and Perspectives in CdS-based Photocatalysts for Water Splitting”.

A fluorescent probe for all seasons; bright and sensitive

Researchers at McGill designed and synthesized the brightest fluorescent nucleobase analog (FBA) reported to date.

Prof. Tomislav Friščić joins 30 other academics world wide to send a strong message about diversity, equity and inclusion

A team of ca. 30 diverse scientists from all around the world, and from all walks of life, have come together to compose the article A diverse view of science to catalyst change, highlighting and promoting the importance and benefits of equity, diversity and inclusion in science.

Congratulation to Prof. Hanadi Sleiman on securing prestigious COTTRELL SEED award

Dr. Hanadi F. Sleiman has been selected as a recipient of the COTTRELL SEED (Singular Exceptional Endeavors of Discovery). This honor carries with it an award of $50,000 to support the very first instances of highly creative projects. The Cottrell SEED Award, part of the competitive Cottrell Plus Awards of the Research Corporation (USA), recognizes outstanding teacher-scholars who engage in innovative activities to enhance their teaching or research programs.

CHEM 267 Trailer

Interested in what’s happening in the Chemistry Department for Fall 2020? Check out this trailer for CHEM 267, which gives a hint of things to come!

Arthur Saul Perlin (1924-2020)

It is with great sadness that the Department of Chemistry announces the passing of Professor Emeritus Arthur Saul Perlin on Wednesday, May 6, 2020, just a few days short of his 97th birthday. Professor Perlin was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia and spent all of his early years in the Maritimes, many of them working on the family farm, The Sanitary Dairy. He eventually came to McGill to study Chemistry and Music, where he obtained his M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees.

Congratulations Jeremy Dawkins who won 1st Prize at the 3 Minutes to Change the World

On February 5, at Hôtel Château Laurier Québec, the Association Québécoise de la Production d’Énergie renouvelable (AQPER) held the 3 Minutes to Change the World student competition during its 2020 symposium. Jeremy Dawkins from the Mauzeroll group won the 1st prize money with his presentation on Li-Ion Batteries. Congratulations Jeremy!

The Passing of Professor Joan Power

Associate Professor of Chemistry, McGill University. Joan was the first woman faculty member to serve in the Department of Chemistry.

Beloved daughter of Bernard Power and the late Pauline M. Power (Coty), sister of Michael Power (Ruth) of White Horse, Yukon, Christine of Ottawa, and Mark (Mariette) of Blainville, Quebec.

Post-doctoral fellow Mingxin Liu wins prestigious 2019 IUPAC-Zhejiang NHU International Award for Advancements in Green Chemistry

The IUPAC-Zhejiang NHU International Award for Advancements in Green Chemistry is a collaborative award established to encourage young and experienced chemists, and to emphasize the importance of advancements in Green Chemistry and the value of sciences to human progress. Mingxin is one of the 3 awardees in the junior category

The Canadian Society for Chemistry and Chemical Institute of Canada are highlighting our department for excellence

This year, the department was recognized by 4 prizes and awards from the Canadian Society for Chemistry and Chemical Institute of Canada to highlight the excellent of our researchers. Congratulation to profs. Lumb, Ariya, Barrett and Friscic for your remarkable successes:

1) JP Lumb – Keith Fagnou Award in organic chemistry (link: https://www.cheminst.ca/awards/csc-awards/keith-fagnou-award)