Summer 2008

Enthusing children about chemistry Predicting properties using informatics Climate change and biogenic emissions The oil industry’s chemical challenges As I see it...

So are you finding it increasingly diffi - Oil exploration doesn’t just offer a career for engineers – cult to attract good chemists? chemists are vital, too. Sarah Houlton spoke to Schlumberger’s It can be a challenge, yes. Many of the com - pany’s chemists are recruited here, and they Tim Jones about the crucial role of chemistry in the industry often move on to other sites such as Houston or Paris, but finding them in the first place can be a challenge. Maybe one reason is that the oil People don’t think of Schlumberger as We can’t rely on being able to find suitable industry doesn’t have the greatest profile in a chemistry-using company, but an chemistries in other industries, either, mainly chemistry, and people think it employs engi - engineering one. How important is because of the high temperatures and pressures neers, not chemists. But it’s something the chemistry in oil exploration? that we have to be able to work at. Typically, the upstream oil industry cannot manage without, It’s essential! There are many challenges for upper temperature norm is now 175°C, but even if they don’t realise it! For me, maintaining chemistry in helping to maintain or increase oil we’re increasingly looking to go over 200°C. – if not enhancing – our recruitment is perhaps production. It’s going to become increasingly For heavy oil, where we heat the oil up with one of the biggest issues we face. And to do that, important, particularly for recovery, as oil steam to reduce its viscosity to make it easier to we show young chemists how exciting the reserves become more difficult to get at. We extract, the high temperatures also provide chemistry challenges facing the industry are. don’t as an industry do a good job of recovering challenges for making measurements. known reserves in reservoirs. As well as geologi - Another example of a problem this causes is cal problems, there is an enormous surface with the cement that is pumped into boreholes. s

chemistry aspect to the displacement of oil to get Preventing it from setting too quickly is a chal - e it out of the porous rocks. Usually, this is done lenge if it’s being pumped several kilometres! n o

with an immiscible fluid like water, but the pores As the temperature goes up, reaction rates also J are generally only a few microns across, and cap - increase, and it sets more rapidly, so we have m illary forces dominate, so the rock naturally developed additives to retard the setting i retains the oil. We are fighting the natural wetting process. Other additives are also needed to stop T properties of the reservoir, as well as the nature it separating into its solid and liquid compo -

of the crude oil itself which often contains sur - nents, and we need dispersants to ensure it V factant-like molecules which want to keep the remains pumpable. Conversely, if we’re dealing C reservoir oil wetting and prevent the water we with a shallow well, we actually need to accel - introduce from displacing the oil. erate the set process as we don’t want to be waiting for days for the cement to set! There must be challenges with issues like materials, too. Making measurements in those envi - Definitely, and this is becoming increasingly ronments must also be difficult. important. When I first joined the company 25 Oh yes. We have excelled at doing physical meas - years ago, materials chemistry was little known urements and have developed instruments to in the oil industry, but now we are finding that measure pretty much everything you can think of the materials and molecules we need aren’t read - – from density to natural gamma rays, and we Born: Overton, Hampshire, the small village ily available and we have to develop and make even do low field NMR at 2MHz to look at the where banknotes are made them ourselves. We now need polymers that will relaxation rates and diffusivity of protons. But Status: He met his wife Deborah Patterson survive high temperature and contact with water chemical sensors are an entirely different proposi - when he started at Schlumberger, and she over long periods of time, and the conditions of tion. Even seemingly simple things like pH are dif - was setting up the library. She now works in the reserves we’re now trying to find and extract ficult to measure. While physicists have the advan - the Cambridge university development office. are becoming more hostile. Typically, in the tage of being able to use electromagnetic or They have two children – Michael has just North Sea, sea depths are up to 500m, but now acoustic waves to measure things, to make a finished his first year at Sheffield studying oilfields in the Gulf of Mexico and off the coast chemical measurement you first have to capture a history, and Emily is in Year 10 at school. of Brazil are creeping towards the edge of the sample of the molecule. You then have move it into Education : He went to grammar school and continental shelf, and the sea floor might be 3km a sensor that’s ideally very clean because the crude sixth form college in Basingstoke, then below the surface. As well as the engineering oil, sand and salty water will affect the outcome, studied chemistry at Imperial. He moved to challenges, the chemistry gets more difficult, and then move it out again afterwards to leave the Sussex for a DPhil on the surface chemistry too. If the oil comes out of a warm reservoir and sensor free for the next measurement. Measuring of liquid–liquid interfaces with Ernie Boucher goes into a cold pipe, it will cool down and hydrogen sulfide levels is also a problem, as it is deposit wax on the surface of the pipeline. scavenged by the metalwork of the tools. So we are Career: After three years at BP in Sunbury, developing an in situ sensor using a variety of new he moved to Schlumberger in Cambridge in Yet the chemistry effort in the oil com - materials, including boron-doped diamond elec - 1983, a year or so before the tent was panies themselves has dwindled in trodes which minimise fouling. finished. ‘We worked in a Portakabin – recent years, hasn’t it? calibrating the balance was impossible!’ he It’s definitely fair to say that the chemistry effort What about environmental issues? says. He is now a Scientific Advisor, starting in the upstream oil industry is less than it was a One area we’re looking at is trying to reduce and working on new research projects. generation ago, particularly because we’ve seen the amount of gas that’s flared on oil fields Interests: Reading – mostly non-fiction and a decline in the research activities of the major around the world. It’s a major issue, as all it history – and classical music, particularly oil companies. We have to fight very hard to does is put carbon dioxide into the air for no piano, although he doesn’t play himself. He bring chemistry expertise into the upstream oil benefit. A couple of years ago, the World Bank also has a curious love of church industry, and not just be seen as having isolated estimated that 150 billion cubic metres of nat - architecture, particularly Romanesque. And chemists who are put on problem issues. It’s ural gas are flared every year – if that could be he admits to taking mountains of scientific clear that if we’re not going to be finding large liquefied it would satisfy about 1.5% of global papers home to read. numbers of giant oil and gas fields, we have to demand for liquid hydrocarbons. We’re hoping Did you know? Tim used to play blindfold manage the resources we have, and get better at that it will soon be economic to recover it. We chess – all done by memory – and used to extracting the oil from them, and chemistry is also have several active engineering projects beat his (unblindfolded) friends as a student. going to be incredibly important in that. working on CO 2 sequestration.

2 Chem@Cam Summer 2008 Reluctant reactions Letters

supervisor. In his later years as an aca - David would do his rounds daiuly demic administrator he had the hardi - and tell us about the latest book he was dood to tell Margaret Thatcher to reading – China was his subject at the belt up (in a politely coded way) so time. He would then leave with a joke that he could make his contribution to or a terribly bad attempt at a Welsh a discussion. accent (loosely based on Fluellen’ in She did not hold it against him and Henry V). his memoirs are prefaced by a notably He was a remarkably kind and con - civil letter from her. His book, strongly siderate man. recommended, is ‘Doubts and Cer - Yours sincerely, tainties’, published by Sheffield Rhobert Lewis (Christ’s 1976) Academic Press in 2001. Faculty of Health, Sport and Science, Regards, University of Glamorgan Bob Throssell (Caius, 1941–3 and 1946–51) 2 Lodge Court, Hollins Hall, Harrogate Putting things straight HG3 2WX Dear Editor, There are some inaccuracies in the obit - Of opera and clarity uary of David Husain. ‘He became Norrish’s assistant, his last…’, is false: J.F. Dear Editor, Ogilvie was appointed assistant in I write as one who appreciated Martin research on 1 January 1964, but had Mays’ recollections of Alan Sharpe. been acting in that capacity a little earlier. There are two additions that I would ‘Writing his papers and research offer: one concerns his passion for lectures’ is also false: each research music, which passed through a period student of Norrish was ‘expected’ in which Wagner’s operatic composi - to write a paper on the research pro- A very brave man tions were in favour; the other was his ject before writing his thesis; the talent for concise and clear communica - student would then make an appoint - Dear Editor, tion, a copy of Fowler’s ‘Modern English ment with Norrish to discuss the pat - Your Spring newsletter was excellent, Usage’ ready at hand. per, and a mutually satisfactory version and the alumni pages particularly Yours sincerely, would then be submitted for publica - interesting. Although I am of a some - Michael Dove (Jesus 1955–61) tion. Norrish always prepared his what earlier vintage than the photo - 48 Parkside Gardens North, own lectures, and others were not graph which accompanies Mary Nottingham NG8 2PQ directly involved. Ashworth’s letter, I can add a little infor - Neither David Husain nor J.F. Ogilvie mation to it. was involved in ‘running his [Norrish’s] C. (Costi) Edeleanu gained a PhD for A very kind man group as it wound down’. Norrish was corrosion research, and was latterly a quite capable of executing that task Cambridge ICI liaison representative in Dear Editor himself. Perhaps the remoteness of the days when ICI was a power in the The lovely article by Ian Fleming about Professor Fleming from the department land. H.M. Kimberley was a centre the late David Husain brought back of physical chemistry is the basis of three-quarter and captain of the memories of the department of physical these inaccuracies. University XV. chemistry and, in particular, the small Yours sincerely, I remember Fred Dainton as a lab I shared with one of his PhD stu - J.F. Ogilvie very busy but conscientious Part II dents, Peter Cross. [email protected]

Cover This newsletter is published three times a year by the University of Cambridge Chemistry Department. Opinions are not necessarily those of the editor, the department, or the university. Editor-in-Chief: Steve Ley Editor: Sarah Houlton Photographers: John Holman, Nathan Pitt, Caroline Hancox Contents Editorial Board: News 4 Brian Crysell, Bill Jones, Jonathan Goodman, Research 7 Rosemary Ley, Jeremy Sanders Adrian NAME, who works for Jane Address: Alumni 12 Clarke, helping Annalie and Hugh Chem@Cam, Department of Chemistry, Barker with the science day experiment University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road Chat lines 16 extracting DNA from strawberries Cambridge CB2 1EW Phone: 01223 763865 Puzzle corner 18 Photograph: email: [email protected] Caroline Hancox website: www.ch.cam.ac.uk

Chem@Cam Summer 2008 3 News

Jean-Pierre Hansen has been awarded New head of the an honorary degree by his alma CCDC announced mater, the University of Liège. He was presented The Cambridge Crystallographic Data with the Docteur Centre will have a new executive direc - Honoris Causa tor at the beginning of October when degree by Jean- Frank Allen retires. Colin Groom is Pierre Gaspard at a moving from UCB, where he’s currently ceremony at the head of computer-assisted drug discov - Belgian university ery and investigative chemistry. in April ‘We are delighted with eh appoint - ment,’ says William Town, chairman of the CCDC governors.’ He brings a unique combination of relevant experience in crystallography and in the application of structural knowledge in the life sciences industry. With his appointment, the chal - lenge of continuing to develop the CCDC as an important resource in crystallogra - phy, structural chemistry and molecular informatics passes to a new generation. Award joy for Rachel Richard becomes inorganic The new head of the inorganic sector is to be Richard Lambert, 32 and recognise their ‘meritorious and who’s crossing the divide from the physical sector. He replaces Jeremy Sanders, who’s to become head of the school of promising original research’. physical sciences in January. As well as the medal, she will be giv - ing a talk at the one-day RSC awards day in Birmingham in November. It also comes with a cheque for £500, which A new look for the she plans to spend on a slap-up dinner for her group in college. ‘I’m very surface chemistry labs pleased to have won the award,’ she says. ‘And I am very lucky that my group is so good – I would never have won without their talents.’ However, Rachel will be leaving us in January to take up a position at Warwick University. She has been awarded a career acceleration fellowship by EPSRC Rachel O’Reilly has been awarded the to support her work there – £750,000 Meldola Medal by the Royal Society of over five years. ‘I’m sad to be leaving Chemistry. These awards are made annu - Cambridge, but I’m very excited by the ally to British chemists under the age of new challenge I will be facing,’ she says. t t i P

n a h

Oren Scherman’s chemistry t a N

recently featured on the : o t

front cover of the journal o h

Angewandte Chemie. The P paper it illustrates, co- The refurbishment of the surface chem - Part of the newly authored with Urs Rauwald, istry labs on the ground floor is almost refurbished labs – describes supramolecular complete – with some rather fine new complete with diblock copolymers, which fuchsia coloured doors. violently pink door! can be easily formed using ‘Thanks to the asbestos legacy, it took the container molecule cur - rather longer than we’d hoped,’ says curbit[8]uril. This functions Steve Jenkins. ‘But it’s great to be back in as a supramolecular ‘hand - the labs, and we’re really pleased with cuff’ by shackling up the the results.’ chain ends of the two Steve has been principal investigator homopolymers on the group’s major grant since last year, and has thus taken on the formal leadership role within the group, which also includes Dave King’s students. ‘Dave is still supporting his students, and aims to be in once a week,’ Steve says. ‘And I’ve suddenly realised how much there is to do on top of the science!’

4 Chem@Cam Summer 2008 www.ch.cam.ac.uk A Nobel opening for the new Melville extension

A very special visitor performed the official opening of the new extension to the Melville lab – Nobel laureate Bob Grubbs form Caltech. Bob was in the department as this year’s Merck lecturer. He gave three lec - tures, two in the department and one at Merck Sharp & Dohme’s labs in Hoddesdon. All three featured aspects of his pioneering work on the olefin metathesis reaction, for which he shared the Nobel Prize with Richard Schrock and Yves Chauvin. The chemists who work in the Melville are delighted with their swish Clockwise from above: Bob Grubbs gives new lab space. And it’s also been wel - one of his Merck lectures; admiring the comed by head of department Bill new lab; celebrating the opening; lecturer Jones. ‘These are great new facilities, Oren Scherman and Melville lab director and will provide the Melville with great Wilhelm Huck; Bob unveils a plaque opportunities for research over the coming years,’ he says. t t i P

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was awarded it in 1826, Michael Alan awarded a Royal Medal Faraday in 1835 and 1846, James Joule in 1852, Charles Darwin in 1853 and Alan Fersht has been awarded one of A.W. Hofmann in 1854. Very few this year’s Royal Society Royal Medals. Cambridge chemists have received a These medals are given to Royal medal: Alex Todd in 1955, Alan Commonwealth scientists, two for the Battersby in 1984, Ray Freeman in most important contributions to the 2002, and Jack Lewis in 2004. Sydney advancement of ‘natural knowledge’, Brenner, Francis Crick, John Kendrew, and the other for distinguished contri - Cesar Milstein, Max Perutz and Fred butions in the applied scientists. Sanger at the Laboratory of Molecular Alan has been honoured for his ‘sem - Biology have also been recipients. inal work in protein engineering, which ‘It is a great honour for me to appear he has developed into a fundamental on a list with them, and it is a link with tool in enzyme analysis and the problem British scientists beginning with those of protein folding’. historical figures I learned about as a stu - ‘This medal means a lot to me dent, and those senior colleagues I have because of its long history and the illus - had the pleasure of knowing personally, trious scientists to whom it has been and who inspired me by their work and awarded over the past two centuries,’ deeds. I would not be the scientist I am Alan says. ‘john Dalton of atomic theory but for the examples they set.’

Chem@Cam Summer 2008 5 News

Nick Bampos (left) A double celebration and Dan Pantos (below) in action at Jeremy’s 60th bash at the conference Jeremy poses with Carol Robinson, Dudley Williams and Chris Hunter

Jeremy Sanders recently celebrated his short notice, so Jeremy was particularly 60th birthday, and to mark the occasion pleased at the number of people who his group organised a conference, held were able to attend. ‘I’ve told Dan he’s in the department in May. got to start planning my 65th birthday Organised by Dan Pantos and Nick event much earlier,’ he claims. Bampos, the conference’s speaker line- The event turned into a double cele - up featured numerous of Jeremy’s pres - bration, as the day before it was ent and past co-workers. ‘Many of my announced that Chris Hunter, who did n a

ex-group members made the effort to his PhD with Jeremy, had been made an m l o

come from all over the place,’ Jeremy FRS. ‘He’s my first academic child – and H

n

says. ‘Some who couldn’t attend even Dudley’s first academic grandchild – to h o J

emailed video messages. The power of be honoured in this way,’ Jeremy says. : o t

modern technology!’ ‘I’m incredibly proud, even if it does o h The event was organised at extremely make me feel dreadfully old! P Ready, set, chemistry! Cambridge chemist to run Oxford University Former Cambridge chemist Andy Hamilton is to be the new vice-chancel - lor of Oxford University. Andy, currently the provost at Yale, is to take up the position in October next year. He was in Cambridge in the late Academic 1970s, when he did a PhD with Alan promotions Battersby, and his chemistry remains at Four chemists the interface of organic and biological. are to be promoted in October. t t i David Wales is P n

a to be given a h t a personal N

:

o professorship; t o h Sophie Jackson P and Michele This year’s chemistry Olympiad was Aisher, John Morgan and Sasha Kasas, all Vendruscolo held in Budapest, and as Chem@Cam four of whom are coming to study in are being went to press, the UK team was spend - Cambridge in the autumn – with the promoted to ing an intense week here in Cambridge mentors and technicians who helped personal practising. them hone their skills. readerships; We also played host to the Australian Next year’s Olympiad will be held and David team as they recovered from their jetlag here in Cambridge to coincide with the Spring is to before the big event. Pictured above are university’s 800th anniversary celebra - become a the Aussie team (in blue labcoats) and tions. This will be the first time the event senior lecturer. the British team – Nilpesh Patel, Pete has been to the UK

6 Chem@Cam Summer 2008 Research Joe Spencer: a massive loss

The tragic death of Dr Joe Spencer Nicolaou has put in a great deal of syn - robbed the department of an enormous Joe Spencer was killed in a car accident thetic effort to see if one of Joe’s predic - talent. The suddenness was a shock that tions is correct. many of us are still finding it hard to near Cambridge on 6 April, at the age Joe’s passion for science was some - come to terms with. The chemistry of just 47. Chris Abell and Finian Leeper what at odds with the laid-back and department is so much a part of our remember their friend and colleague relaxed attitude he presented. By his lives that the loss of a colleague one own admission, organisation and punc - assumed would be around for many tuality were not his strong suits, but years to come has been traumatic. We somehow with Joe it did not matter. He knew Joe as a friend and are pleased to did get this grants in on time (with one write this in his memory. minute to spare on one occasion) and Joe came to Cambridge in 1994 as a he did eventually get to the meeting Royal Society Research Fellow, having (and when he arrived he always had just completed a postdoctoral period something interesting to say). with Professor Ian Scott at Texas A & M. Joe contributed to the academic com - By this time he had already made very munity in many ways. In the Department significant contributions in two areas, he was a member of the teaching com - understanding the stereochemistry of mittee, and the Centre for Biological the assembly of 6-methylsalicylic acid Chemistry’s management committee. He (an iconic aromatic polyketide), and taught several courses, including the Part delineating aspects of the pathway to III biosynthesis course with Finian. In St vitamin B12. John’s College he was a tutor. He was an These were both topics of intense active member of the Royal Society of interest at Cambridge, where Jim Chemistry’s Chemical Biology Forum, Staunton and Peter Leadlay were revolu - and had been involved in organising sev - tionising our understanding of type I eral meetings on aspects of natural prod - polyketide assembly, and Alan Battersby uct biosynthesis. and Finian Leeper were locked in com - We also knew Joe socially: our petition with Ian Scott in racing to sort monthly bridge evenings (Alison Smith out the complexities of B12 biosynthe - from Plant Sciences making up the sis. Cambridge was very aware of Joe’s table) were always a highlight. The stan - talents even before he arrived. Given dard of card playing was never very this background of competition it was high, but that was secondary compared maybe surprising Joe chose to come to the pleasure of getting together to here. But then, knowing Joe, it was no catch up on news over a few glasses of surprise at all. good wine. Joe was one of a cohort of Royal Joe’s home life was very important to Society Research Fellows (along with him. He had been married since his stu - Shankar Balasubramanian, Sophie dent days to Deborah, a remarkable Jackson and Jonathan Goodman) who woman who understood what it means joined the department in the early Staunton’s retirement he increasingly to be married to an academic who often 1990s. It was a demanding environ - collaborated with Peter Leadlay on worked late, and disappeared for weeks ment in which to start a research group polyketide biosynthesis, with an espe - to go to conferences. She supported as space and resources were limited. cial interest in polyethers. him him and at the same time devel - This did not hold Joe back, as he put He also was involved in important oped her own career and brought up together a spectacularly ambitious collaborations outside Cambridge. He their three children, Chris, Emma and research portfolio. He was fearless mov - made a major contribution to the Dominic, in Little Eversden. It is a meas - ing into areas where there was strong biosynthesis of fluorinated metabolites ure of the warmth for the family that so competition and he always found new with David O’Hagan at St Andrew’s, and many from the village, as well as from and important questions to ask. had recently started a collaboration the Department and College, attended Joe started his research at Cambridge with Prof Tomi Baasov from the the funeral in the village church. by looking at key steps in aminoglyco - Technion in Israel on assembling novel It is now several months since Joe side biosynthesis. He recruited a preco - aminoglycosides. died. It has been a difficult time for ciously talented student, Yu Jinquan, Trips to the Panton Arms with Joe many people, particularly his family. now a professor at Scripps, for this proj - would inevitably involve deep discus - However in that time we have learnt ect. Not only did Yu make progress on sion of some new set of experiments he something about ourselves, what it aminoglycosides, he also initiated stud - was involved in. His creativity and means to lose a colleague, how compli - ies on the mechanism of organometal - insight were remarkable. Two examples cated and interdependent our lives are, lic reactions that became another that illustrate this are his discovery of and how many different communities extremely fruitful research area for Joe. the use of a protecting group strategy in we touch. Joe will not be forgotten. The breadth of scientific topics he an aminoglycoside biosynthetic path - There are plans to commemorate his worked on is remarkable. way and his speculations on the stereo - life in various ways, and a fund has Joe collaborated with Dudley chemistry of very complex polyketide been set up in his memory. If you Williams on the biosynthesis of the marine natural products (e.g. maito - would like to contribute, please send us vancomycin family of glycopeptides, toxin). It is a tribute to the respect with an email. and subsequently with Tom Blundell on which Joe’s work is held that the emi - Chris Abell ([email protected]) and related structural studies. Following Jim nent Scripps Institute chemist K.C. Finian Leeper ([email protected])

Chem@Cam Summer 2008 7 Science day Science day wows the kids

Once again this March, we threw open our doors to local children to show them how much fun chemistry is. John Holman and Nathan Pitt too the pictures

Every year, we think our contribution to answer to the question of what you can the Cambridge Science Festival cannot do with a tea strainer and a strawberry. get any better. But once again, thanks to I am grateful to all who contributed, a superlative effort from more than 200 staff and students alike, but I would like memebers of the department, we deliv - to give special thanks to Amy Stevens, ered a brilliant all-round show. Ron Oren and Adam Moughton for their Conservative estimates put the num - bouindless enthusiasm and vision in the ber of visitors at more than 2500. There face of hard work, and to the stalwarts was something stimulating on offer to of Open Day, Emma Powney, Pat all of those who flocked in to the depart - Chapman and Julie Lee, without whom ment. Peter Wothers’ lecture was entitled the event would simply not happen. ‘Free Range Chemistry’, the Cambridge Prizes also went to several students for Antarctic Survey and British Antarctic their hard work on the activities. Adrian Survey ran a climate change activity, and Nickson, our cover star, won the bene - the Royal Society of Chemistry ran factor’s prize for strawberry DNA. Chris another called ‘Fuelling the future’. Jones won the head of department prize And, of course, there was the usual for the coke fountain; Richard Clarke got wonderful array of hands-on experiments the academics’ prize for cornflour slime, run by the students. From the slime pond, and Samantha Wynne and MRC the par - the plated coins and the crystal growing, ents’ prize for crystal clear. Jameel Zayed there was much fun to be had, all with a got the children’s prize for the disap - chemistry background. Other highlights pearing coffee cup, and the organisers’ included a live weblink to BAS scientists prize went to Tom Wilks and ChemSoc. in Halley Bay, Antarctica, Mentos/Coke Book next year’s event in your diary explosions at warp factor two, nanoparti - now – the provisional date is Saturday cle hedgehogs, and a rather surprising 14 March. Paul Barker

8 Chem@Cam Summer 2008 www.ch.cam.ac.uk

Chem@Cam Summer 2008 9 Research Studying chemistry in the rain

ing rainforest with palm oil plantations What effects do the gases plants produce have on the environment would be on the environment, both and the chemistry of the atmosphere? John Pyle is trying to find locally and, potentially, globally. ‘One of my students is trying to out as part of a large research project in the Borneo rainforest understand the environmental impact of this type of biofuel production, which is a big deal in some of these It’s not just humans that emit climate- tropical countries where rainforest is unfriendly gases into the atmosphere – being placed by palm oil plantations to plants do, too. John Pyle is part of a meet western desires. It’s clearly com - project that is looking at the impacts on plicated– it’s an economic problem as climate and atmospheric chemistry of well as a chemistry one – but whatever the gases plants produce and, con - these countries decide to do in the versely, what effect climate change has future, it is important to be able to pro - on the composition and quantity of vide advice so the forest is managed in gases emitted. the best way possible. ‘I’ve been thinking about looking at Palm oil trees are very big emitters of this for years,’ John says. ‘We’re actually the hydrocarbon gas isoprene and, doing something about it now, with the depending on the background condi - project I’m involved with based in tions, isoprene can have a significant Borneo. I’ve been out there several times effect on air quality. ‘If you go from a already in the past 18 months, and there forest that is a moderate emitter of iso - are several more visits to come. prene to onethat emits more of it, in The big NERC funded campaign there other words from raindorest to palm oil involves several UK universities – it’s forest, that could change air quality,’; he being led by a group from Lancaster and, explains. ‘But we’ve got to be very care - as well as Cambridge, the universities of ful. I gave a talk in Malaysia a few moths Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester and York ago, and was accused by someone from are also participating. John’s group has the palm oil industry of attacking his n a two different objectives – making meas - business. That’s not the intention. What m l o urements of various biogenic emissions, we are trying to do is provide the best H n

h and running computer models to try to possible scientific advice and input into O J

understand the impact of the emissions managing the effects on the climate.’ : o t

o both locally and globally. A wide range of measurements is h

P ‘We are running numerical models of being made by the different groups the atmosphere, including its chemistry, made. This tells you how well – or how involved in the project. As well as at various scales to look at the regional poorly! – you are describing the chem - isoprene, these include some of the impact these emissions have,’ he says. ‘We istry that’s going on.’ more traditional atmospheric species, want to run box models to try and Of course this is a very simplistic such as ozone, nitrogen oxides, and a understand the measurements we have view – the atmosphere isn’t an isolated group from Leds is looking at hydroxyl created.’ A box model, he explains, is sim - reaction vessel. ‘What’s interesting radicals, which are key intermediates in ply a computer model in which you try about atmospheric chemistry is that the the chemistry. to describe the chemistry at that location. gases that are emitted into the atmos - ‘My group is also measuring halocar - ‘The model can be constrained by phere are moved around by the win sys - bons,’ he says. ‘We have built a little gas observations, and typically we will be tems, and mix in extremely complex chromatograph to measure them in the solving time-dependent differential ways,’ John says. ‘We have developed rainforest, and the next step is to put an equations for how the species evolve. models where we have tried to describe instrument on the coast as well. Many For any range of measurements, you these transport and mixing processes, as of the halocarbons in the atmosphere, can specify some of them in the model, well as the chemistry itself.’ particularly bromoform, are actually and see how well you can predict the The ultimate aim is to answer ques - emitted from the ocean. The aim is to other related measurements you’ve tions such as what the impact of replac - make long-term measurements at a

Born: Worsley, between Manchester and grammar school in Salford to Durham for a these days is limited to walking and a bit of Bolton degree in physics, which led to a DPhil at running – he played county rugby, and he Status: His wife Liz teaches geography at Oxford in atmopheric physics, and his first continued playing until a hip replacement

e brush with ozone. This was followed by a operation put paid to his exploits as a full l Perse Girls’ school just across the road from

y the department. Their three children have postdoc in the same department. back on the pitch. ‘Impact sports aren’t so P failed to follow in their father’s scientific Career: John worked for a short time at the wise any more!’ he reckons. n

h footsteps, however – Mark has a degree in Rutherford Appleton lab near Oxford, before Did you know? He remains a Bolton o economics, Joanna has just graduated in moving to Cambridge as a New Blood lecturer Wanderers fan, despite their current form J psychology, and Emma is reading politics and in 1985. He was promoted to professor in 2000. providing sever provocation to change his history. ‘I think I scared them all off science!’ Interests: He reads a lot and enjoys drinking allegiance. ‘I hate to say it, but they really V Education: He went from a Catholic a glass of wine or two. His sporting prowess deserved to be relegated last season!’ C

10 Chem@Cam Summer 2008 www.ch.cam.ac.uk

Last November, John was appointed as 1920 Professor of forest of Borneo Physical Chemistry and head of physical chemistry in succession to Dave King. As well as his atmospheric work, this means he is now having to concentrate on the future coastal site. The instrument we have ing a role in regulating ozone levels in of the wider physical chemistry sector. ‘The issues that made is highly autonomous, and can be the troposphere. This is why we want to face the department and physical chemistry are strategic left to make its measurements without measure their levels above tropical ones – we need to be thinking very carefully about the checking it every day. We just have to waters, where they are emitted.’ future direction of the subject, and how it contributes in download data occasionally. In princi - It’s clear, John says, that not all of the a changing department in a changing university,’ he says. ple, this could be done remotely using bromine in the stratosphere comes from ‘A lot of what now goes on is interdisciplinary – my mobile phone technology so we could manmade sources such as the halons group works closely with people in applied maths, and watch it in real-time here in used as fire retardants – it now looks like increasingly we are trying to work with other Cambridge, but given that mobiles a fair amount of it may actually come departments. Many of my physical chemistry colleagues don’t work in the forest, that’s a bit of a from biogenic emissions from the sea. are working with other departments, too – the boundaries challenge at the moment!’ ‘The big clouds that form in a matter are blurring into materials science, physics, biology and From the first phase of their Borneo of hours in the tropics connect the tro - many other fields. But it’s important to ensure that the work in April, the group now has sev - posphere and the stratosphere, lifting the core physical chemical skills are still available. eral weeks of data on bromoform, bromine compounds up and depositing ‘We need to consider the long-term strategy. It’s clear the dibromomethane and various chlori - them in the stratosphere,’ he says. ‘One of nature of science is changing, and we have to move with nated species that could be emitted by the first reasons we started making these the times. The role we ought to be playing here in the forest. ‘There is a lot of speculation measurements was to understand what Cambridge is as a leader to ensure chemistry remains that the forest itself could be emitting the potential source of these compounds central. It’s how we align ourselves to make sure we are them,’ he says. in the stratosphere was. We’re now tying most effective that’s important.’ two different problems together, which HALOGEN CHEMISTRY is great.’ says. ‘Most of the measurements that ‘It’s rather an exciting problem as it A preliminary measurement cam - have been made for these compounds makes the chemistry of the halogens in paign in Cape Verde of west Africa last in the past have been over short periods. the troposphere even more complicated year showed that air parcels containing Bromoform has a lifetime of a couple of than we thought. But what’s more is high levels of bromoform had passed weeks in the tropics, and the quantities that Borneo is in the region of the globe low over the ocean in regions with high are very variable. We also think there is with the strongest convection, so mate - biological productivity. ‘A whole range a correlation between bromoform and rial can be lifted up from the surface to of factors could be implicated in some dibromomethane levels, suggesting that the lower stratosphere in the timescale of the species we measure,’ he says. ‘For their sources are similar. of hours. example, we saw some high concentra - ‘By looking at the way levels of dif - ‘We’ve known for a long time that tions of chloroform in Cape Verde, and ferent compounds vary with time, we chlorine and bromine compounds are it’s possible that some of these are can build up a picture of what’s going very important in the stratosphere, and related to emissions from burning bio - on in terms of atmospheric chemistry are responsible for ozone depletion in mass. A huge amount of detective work and emissions. If we could get a couple polar regions. People didn’t think they is needed to track down events that of years of measurements, with read - were very important in the troposphere might be affecting air quality.’ ings taken every 15 minutes, we should – the bottom part of the atmosphere The second phase of the Borneo work be able to tie them in with a range of where the weather is – as there is about was in July, and the group will now be other factors, such as where the air is 1000 times less ozone there. But ozone spending months interpreting the data. coming from and the weather, to high - is actually very important in terms of air ‘We have left one of our instruments light where we think the primary quality, and we’ve recently realised that out there to make long-term measure - sources of these compounds are, and bromine compounds are probably play - ments so we can see an annual cycle,’ he the factors that alter them.’

John on location in the rainforest (left) and the ‘very portable’ GC being carried by Andrew Robinson and one of the local technicians

Chem@Cam Summer 2008 11 Research The power of data harvesting

drug molecules in a virtual library John Mitchell’s work focuses on using computers to order chemical might be active, and which probably and biological data, and also to predict the properties of molecules won’t be. ‘It’s like an email spam filter – it picks out features that are likely to make a molecule inactive or cause prob - John Mitchell works at the interface lems,’ he says. They start by giving their between chemistry and biology – but algorithm a set of training data so it can purely using computers. One of the learn what it is looking for, and it is projects he’s been building up over the refined as it learns which predictions past few years is the MACiE were correct. Thus far, they have looked (Mechanism, Annotation and at 230 different protein drug targets Classification in Enzymes) database of with nearly 100,000 molecules, some enzyme catalysed reactions. ‘We’ve been with more success than others. ‘Just looking at the mechanisms nature uses over two-thirds of the time our first in catalysis, and the database now con - choice prediction is correct, and overall tains more than 200 enzyme reactions, one of our first three choices is right with a total of about 800 reaction steps,’ 82% of the time,’ John claims. he says. ‘The aim is to look at which A third area of interest is predicting amino acid residues in the enzymes are the properties of molecules that are use - involved in catalysis, as this gives an ful in food, pharmaceuticals and per - t t i obvious starting point towards design - sonal care products. A good example is P n

a ing new and better enzymes.’ solubility, which is crucial for a drug h t a His group has been working closely molecule. ‘If you can predict that some - N

:

o with Janet Thornton at the European thing will be insoluble at the virtual t o h Bioinformatics Institute. ‘We find well- screening stage, it would save a lot of P known enzymes whose structures have money,’ he says. ‘Again, we’re using a been characterised, and then hunt “black box” to make predictions. The through the literature for mechanisms crystal lattice has to be broken up to get of their reactions,’ John explains. it into solution, so we have to think ‘Unfortunately, these papers are usually about the enthalpy and entropy of the written by biochemists, and we don’t convergent evolution; they have also solvation process.’ always believe the mechanisms! But shown divergent evolution, as each Solubility is notoriously difficult to when we find good ones, they are put family of related enzymes, on average, predict using quantum mechanics meth - into the database.’ The data are tagged carries out 1.5 different reactions, and ods, and it is not easy to measure accu - with chemical mark-up language, or each reaction is carried out on an aver - rately, either. ‘So far, we have managed to CML, so MACiE is chemically intelligent age of 1.5 different substrates. predict solubility with an error of about for search purposes. John also works in the more tradi - 0.7 of a log unit,’ John says. ‘That might tional chemoinformatics field. sound a lot, but given the experimental MAPPING MECHANISMS ‘Computational chemistry is divided error, it’s a challenge to get a better model Enzymes have, historically, been classi - into two kinds,’ he says. ‘In traditional on data harvested from the literature!’ fied in a hierarchical ‘pyramid’ system, theoretical chemistry, the problem can l

where the sub-subclasses at the next-to- be addressed by applying knowledge of l Born: Hammersmith, London bottom level essentially equate to specific physics, chemistry and maths, and the e Status: His wife Helen did a PhD with Stuart Warren, h

chemical reactions. John’s group has relevant equations are solved using c and now teaches chemistry at Long Road sixth form t deliberately tried to create a database computers. In chemical informatics, we i college in Cambridge. They have two children: Zoe ,

with a wide, representative spread of dif - look at problems that are too big and M

who’s seven, and four-year-old Marcus.

ferent reactions, and they have now filled complex for this, so rather than trying n

156 of these 183 sub-subclasses. The to use knowledge of how the real world h Education: John went to school at Bedales, and next task is to begin studying enzyme works, we set up a “black box” that o then a degree in Natural Sciences at Cambridge. He J evolution by mapping these catalytic links the data we put in together to gen - stayed here for a PhD in theoretical chemistry with mechanisms onto specific parts, or erate the answers .’ Sally Price.

domains, of the enzyme proteins. The aim is to determine various prop - V Career: He went to postdoc with Janet Thornton at They have started with a different erties of molecules, just by looking at the C UCL, followed by another spell with Sally Price. He database of enzymes (Structure- structure. ‘It involves teaching the com - returned to Cambridge in 2000 as a lecturer. Function Linkage Database, from UCSF puter what molecules are like. We start Interests: He claims that outside work, church and where his ex-student Daniel Almonacid with chemical structures, and link those children, there’s not much time for anything else! now works), which includes several structures to different properties. These Did you know? Earlier this year, John and his homologous superfamilies of enzymes could be simple things like molecular daughter came last in the Zone 1 challenge. ‘You that are much more closely related than weight or hydrophobicity, but they have to visit all 64 stations in zone 1 of the London those in MACiE. could also be the presence of specific Underground as fast as possible,’ he says. ‘The ‘Looking at the reactions they carry functional groups, or the presence of starting station is drawn randomly, and I’d gone out, it seems that each different chemi - pairs of functional groups certain dis - seriously underprepared with a circular route that was cal reaction has evolved, on average, 2.5 tances apart, or atoms in a particular great from some starting points, and not so good for times,’ he says. ‘There is no detectable environment. It could even be topologi - others – like King’s Cross, where we actually started. evolutionary similarity between the dif - cal information like number of rings.’ It was all Zoe’s idea – and she’s dead keen to do it ferent enzymes, but they are catalysing An important application of this again, hopefully inside the four-hour cut-off time!’ the same reaction.’ This is a measure of technique is to predict which potential

12 Chem@Cam Summer 2008 Alumni

6oz butter, 8oz sugar and 13oz meat. I began to realise why my mother and An Aussie in Cambridge aunt had quietly been sending food parcels to England for many years. Norman Greenwood came to Cambridge 60 years ago. He recalls However, next door to Sidney was the Dorothy Café, renowned for its morning his time here – rationing, royal visits and the old laboratories and afternoon tea dances which could accommodate 1500 at any one time: table d’hôte luncheon was 2/6d (13p). Shortly after my arrival in Cambridge a momentous event occurred (on Thursday 21 October, 1948). Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth (mother of the present Queen) was awarded an Hon LLD Degree, and so became the first woman ever to receive full membership of the University. It seems astonishing nowadays that women had to wait until 1948 to be allowed to graduate from Cambridge. They took the same courses and sat the same examinations (often doing better than their male counter - parts) but they were denied the status conferred by graduation. Instead, they were awarded a ‘titular degree’ which was degradingly abbreviated to ‘BA(tit)’. Mixed (co-residential) colleges were well into the future, but at least from 1948 onwards women could graduate This year marks the 60th anniversary of were in statu pupilari and college offi - with substantive degrees, and those my arrival in England when, like many cials were in loco parentis – presumably who qualified before 1948 were given other Australians in the immediate post- because the age of majority was then 21 the possibility (which many took) of war era, I came to Cambridge as a and most undergraduates were, there - converting their titular degree into a research student. I had been awarded an fore, minors. full degree. On the great day of the royal Exhibition of 1851 Overseas The Compendium of University visit I had an excellent view from my Scholarship to work under Professor Regulations at the time makes fascinat - position at the corner of Petty Cury as Harry Emeléus, the foremost inorganic ing reading. Students had to wear a the walking procession moved from chemist in the UK at that time. gown after dusk, get proctorial permis - Christ’s College (where the master, Emmy (as he was always affection - sion for any dinner or party in a hotel Canon C.E. Raven, was vice chancellor) ately known) put me in a side lab with or public room if more than 15 people along Sidney Street to the Senate House. another beginning graduate student were to attend, etc. It was forbidden to Shortly after this memorable occasion Gordon Stone, but after Gordon had gamble, to have dealings with money- I learnt of another royal event. I was had a series of explosions in his vacuum lenders, light bonfires or climb returning from the laboratory late on line I prudently moved out into the University buildings. It was likewise the evening of 14 November when I main lab. Others in the lab during my prohibited to enter into a hire-purchase was greeted at the College gate by the first year included Joan Banus, Gustav agreement or even keep a motor vehicle Senior Porter who said, ‘It’s a boy, Sir’. Brandt (Finland), Viktor Gutmann in Cambridge. ‘What is a boy?’ I enquired. He looked (Vienna), Mimi Newing (Melbourne) I recall the first time I was ‘progged’, at me with some surprise but volun - and Alf Woolf. The research staff were in February 1950 for being briefly out teered the further information: ‘The Alfie Maddock, Alan Sharpe and Bob of college one evening without a gown. young Princess, Sir. She’s had a baby Hazeldine, who had himself just been The fine for this offence was 6/8d son’. ‘Oh!’ I replied, weakly, ‘I didn’t awarded a PhD for research with Emmy. (33p) for an undergraduate but, as I realise she was pregnant.’ A look of The three years I spent in Cambridge had BA status, it would be 13/4d respectful regret momentarily crossed were a revelation to me and resulted in (67p). Fortunately the Proctor accepted his face at my reaction to the news of a dramatic expansion of my scientific my explanation that I had just slipped Prince Charles’s birth. and intellectual horizons. Fortunately I out to see a friend to the bus station and On a related theme, I recall that the was keeping a daily diary and so have a was hurrying to return before 10pm to only woman member of staff in the vivid contemporary record of my early avoid being ‘gated’. He let me off with department of chemistry when I arrived impressions. I was struck by the appar - a caution. was the demonstrator in inorganic ent paradox that rapid cultural changes I had a modern set of rooms in chemistry, Dr (later Dame) Rosemary and dramatic scientific advances were Sidney Sussex, a delightful College Murray who was much involved with occurring within a community that was which, in addition to the luxuries of the group working to found a new col - still operating under rigid, indeed central heating and plumbing (at least lege for women in Cambridge and quaint and often anachronistic rules. in my building), had the further advan - who, indeed, became the first President When I look back now over the sixty tage of having a squash court within its of New Hall when it eventually came years since my arrival, I am astonished lovely gardens. into existence in 1954. Subsequently, at the extent of the institutional and cul - Food rationing, though, was an she was the first woman to hold the tural changes that have occurred – unwelcome discomfort, as it was for office of vice chancellor of the almost all of them beneficial. everyone in the country, and was even University, from 1975 to 1977. In 1948, there were 19 colleges for more stringent than during the war: one The ‘Old’ University Chemical men and two for women. No college week’s entitlement comprised 1 egg, Laboratory in Pembroke Street where I was ‘mixed’ or co-educational. Students 1oz cooking fat, 1oz cheese, 2 pt milk, started my research had been built ¢

Chem@Cam Summer 2008 13 Alumni

air. As I was soon to find out in my tures on ‘Quantum Mechanics’ that I research and in the lectures and other attended in my second year with my fel - activities I attended, the quality of the low Melbournian, Ray Martin. The lec - place was palpable. I was continually tures were given by the Lucasian profes - meeting and discussing things with sor of mathematics, Paul Dirac, who in internationally famous people from all his mid twenties had produced his rela - around the world who were themselves tivistic theory of quantum mechanics pursuing their own often epoch-making which accounted naturally for electron researches. The feeling that everything spin and predicted the positron, anti - was happening around me and that I matter, and the mutual annihilation of was actually part of it was a tremendous colliding electrons and positrons. He stimulus to achieve something myself. shared the 1933 Nobel Prize for Physics In addition to my research work in with Erwin Schrödinger. Dirac was an the laboratory I took the opportunity to inspiring person and a superb lecturer. attend various courses of lectures. Some I was also much impressed by the of these, such as those by Emeléus and personality and lecturing style of Sir Lennard-Jones, were chemical, but there Lawrence Bragg who with his father, Sir

was also a tempting variety of other lec - Willam Bragg, had invented the tech - ¢ tures on offer. In my first year I went to nique of X-ray crystal structure analysis Bertrand Russell’s series on which was subsequently to play such a ‘Introduction to Philosophy’, a riveting dominant part in the development of performance by the perennially chal - biophysics throughout the world but lenging doyen of English philosophers. spectacularly so in Cambridge. They in 1887, and considerably extended in The lectures were on Thursday after - shared the 1915 Nobel Prize for Physics. the early part of the 20th century. But noons during the Michaelmas and Lent Sir Lawrence was a delightful speaker – when Alex (later Lord) Todd arrived as Terms and were held in the Large informal but authoritative. He impressed head of department in 1944, the labs Examination Hall which was packed to me with his liberal ideas on ‘Culture for were still lit by gas and were very capacity. At 5 o’clock precisely Russell Scientists’, the subject of his Cavendish poorly serviced. entered the Hall, a slightly built man with Lecture which I attended in October With Ralph Gilson as his incompara - a shock of silver hair. There was instant 194). Indeed, he arranged for one hour ble superintendent of laboratories, he silence and he began: ‘I have called this of practical work time each week for Part set about a drastic reorganisation and series of lectures “Introduction to I Tripos students to attend lectures spe - improvement in facilities. He also Philosophy”. I hope this will not mislead cially given by arts faculty members, for recruited Harry Emeléus to build up the anyone. Perhaps I should have called it those who wished to attend. The idea was inorganic section. The theoretical chem - “Introduction to My Philosophy”. I shall an enormous success and huge numbers istry section was already well developed make no attempt to give an impartial sur - of science students attended. under Professor Sir John Lennard-Jones vey of what used to be called Philosophy In addition to lectures by prominent who, in 1932 had been appointed as up to now. I am concerned mainly to dis - scientists, conferences on diverse sub - Plummer Professor of Theoretical cuss…’ and so on. jects, and my own research work into Chemistry, probably the first such chair In his characteristically thin, high- the novel electrochemical properties of anywhere in the world. pitched, almost rasping voice he spoke low-melting coordination compounds, In all, the University Chemical simply and forcefully, and with com - I was able to find time for many other Laboratory housed some 25 members plete conviction that he was on a plane activities during my three years in of staff and about 65 postdoctoral fel - with previous great philosophers. It was Cambridge. The intellectual stimulus I lows and research students. This did not a bravura performance and a masterly received, the firm friendships I formed, include members of the department of exposition which was all the more and the enriching experience of living physical chemistry under Professor remarkable for being given by a person and working in such beautiful and ele - Norrish which was a rigidly separate who was already in his 77th year. Not gant surroundings have been an abiding department housed in Free School Lane everyone stayed the whole course, but joy and benefit throughout my life. next to the Cavendish Laboratory. for those of us who did the experience Norman N. Greenwood There was no doubt there was a real was enormously rewarding. School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, buzz of intellectual excitement in the Quite different was the course of lec - [email protected] Alan Sharpe – a student remembers Dear Editor who, at that time, consisted of a rela - time that I wrote my own papers, as I Both my wife and I were very sorry to tively small group: myself. Ramchand needed to get experience with the learn of Alan Sharpe’s death, and its Paul, D.W.A. (David0 Sharpe, and a cou - reviewers’ comments! apparent suddenness, as there was no ple of others whose names have van - At that time, we were preparing com - indication of major problems in his last ished in the mists of time. plex fluorides from many of the transi - card that we received for New Year One of his first questions as I started tion metals, determining their crystal 2008. my research was,’ Do you speak structures by X-ray diffraction, and All of the comments about him in German?!’ When I said that I didn’t, he looking at the bonding in the resultant Chem@Cam, however, I can endorse as responded that I should learn it so that I compounds. I think it was thought then one of his early PhD students could read the German chemical jour - that there might be some errors in the (1952–55). So perhaps some personal nals ‘where all the best chemical work is bonding suggested by Linus Pauling. reminiscences of him would be appreci - being published’ – so I did. The first two However, in the end I think it turned out ated. papers in J. Chem. Soc. on my research that Pauling was right. He was certainly determined to were co-authored. But for subsequent Fluorinating metals with bromine tri - develop independence in his students papers he declared that it was about fluoride was not as dangerous as many

14 Chem@Cam Summer 2008 Chat lines Health & safety – it’s not what it used to be!

Dear Editor the solvent and the mixture stirred with Your article on portraits of the 1950s a wooden stirrer until a semi-fluid slush prompted recollections of chemical was obtained. Goggles were always research in those days and how far tech - worn during this operation in case the niques have changed during the last 60 vacuum flask imploded. years. This photo (right) is of the main I well remember one Saturday after - Inorganic Research Laboratory in noon when my girlfriend (a mathe - Pembroke Street, taken in 1951/2. matician from Newnham) came to see Most of the research topics were con - what I was doing (and to help?) She cerned with the chemistry of fluorine wanted to try her hand at making up or boron or both, and usually involved the freezing mixture; in this case chlo - manipulating gaseous reactants or roform. Unfortunately she must have products, hence the large number of stirred too vigorously as she managed glass flasks in which these were stored. to break the flask with the result that the One of the first tasks a new research stu - semi-solid chloroform imploded all lead sealing washer. This requires con - dent had to learn was how to blow over her face and within 30 seconds she siderable force to be applied and Tiger, glass! Professor Emeléus was quite an was out for the count. our lab assistant, often gave a hand to expert at making internal joints – he Fortunately, there was another stu - apply the necessary force to the metre- always took his pipe out before starting dent working in the lab at the same long spanner we used. The autoclaves and rested it on the glassblowing time and we decided immediately that were heated in oil baths on the roof – in bench. We had to use soda glass as Pyrex we would have to get her out of the lab case they blow up. was too expensive. Conical cones and in case the prof should appear. The only I suppose the most corrosive chemi - sockets were at a premium (because of secure place was the gents’ toilet so we cal we used was bromine trifluoride. their cost,) and one had to ask Mr rapidly carried the body there and I was There was a cylinder of this in the end Gilson before being able to draw these left to ensure that she recovered con - fume cupboard and one always wore an from the stores. sciousness. Fortunately she came round asbestos apron and large asbestos gloves How would we have coped with the quite quickly, the prof never knew, the as well as a full face mask when open - new health and safety requirements? only evidence was some burn marks on ing this cylinder. Any drips of liquid on One used asbestos wool to close the her face which left no permanent scars. to the concrete base of the fume cup - open ends of glass tubing when blow - And she has been my wife for the last board caused the latter to ‘ignite’. ing, and always had a conical flask full 54 years. Those were the days! At anyone time of carbon tetrachloride on the bench to Many of the gaseous reactions were there were about 10 research students clean the glass taps. Mercury manome - carried out under pressure in thick in the inorganic laboratory, two-thirds ters measured the pressure in the equip - walled glass tubes – which we closed from the United Kingdom (usually ment and spillages of mercury were ourselves. These were heated in circular Cambridge graduates) and the remain - quite common, in fact cracks in the ovens on the side shelves or in the fume der from overseas – Australia, New benches usually contained small glob - cupboards. The glass tubes were put in Zealand, Canada, Sweden, Germany, the ules of mercury. steel cylinders with a screw cap. US and Egypt during my three years. Fractional condensation was a com - Occasionally the contents exploded – But of the 20 or so students during that mon method for separating gaseous usually because the thermostat on the period, we produced one Nobel laure - products and this involved using freez - oven failed and the temperature went ate, two Fellows of the Royal Society, ing mixtures of common organic sol - far higher than planned, and the end and at least eight professors. There was vents. Winchesters of benzene, toluene, cap was blown off. Once, this travelled only one female student, Barbara carbon tetrachloride, carbon disul - the length of the laboratory but, fortu - Tildersley, and I never knew what hap - phide, chloroform, ether and pentane nately, no-one was in its path. Larger pened to her! were kept on the side shelves in the lab. scale reactions were carried out in steel Bernard Steele Liquid oxygen or nitrogen was tipped autoclaves which were sealed by screw - 1 Broom Grove Watford WD17 4RY into an open vacuum flask containing ing down the top flange to compress a [email protected] people thought. We wore asbestos In the 1950s, a number of other labs favourite then. When my wife (then gloves and face masks (most of the were working on fluorine chemistry, fiancée) visited one May week, we were time!) and used to demonstrate the and Alan kept us in touch with their both invited for dinner and formed firm ‘dangers’ to lab visitors by putting a work. I remember a visit to the IC friendships which have continued glove down on an asbestos sheet and research lab in Widnes where my main through Christmas cards and my infre - ‘accidentally’ pouring a little bromine recollection is of learning to shoot blue - quent visits to Cambridge. trifluoride onto it – when the glove bottle flies down in flames with a cou - Alan was a guest at our wedding in promptly burst into flames! ple of squirts of chlorine trifluoride 1955, and soon after that my career took Much of the work was done in silica from a pressurised bottle and a flexible us to Canada. In his last card, he bragged vacuum systems, with the reaction rate nickel (?) tube. Life with Alan had its that he had finally retired, complained controlled by a dewar of liquid air amusing moments in addition to seri - about difficulties getting about, and his around the reaction vessels. If the reac - ous research! declining eyesight – but gave no indica - tants warmed up too rapidly, the result - Alan was a very personable supervisor tions of anything more serious. He will ing reaction could be spectacular. Seeing who often invited students to his home be missed. flaming molybdenum hexafluoride for dinner. However, you only received a Yours sincerely, flowing through the tubes of the vac second invitation if you helped with the Brian Cox system was something you did not do washing up, and enjoyed listening to his Professer emeritus of nuclear engineering, twice! opera recordings – Purcell was the Univeristy of Toronto, Canada

Chem@Cam Summer 2008 15 Science

The class of 1946 reminisces A few more names Dear Editor, I am the left-most person in the front Mary Ashworth’s letter in the last issue prompted a number of row of the picture, and have just a few responses from former classmates. Are there any more out there? bits of information for you. Heather Platt in the back row became Heather Broom and lives in the San Francisco Bay area, I believe in Woodside. Alec Sutton (middle row) was from South Africa. He emigrated to the US in 1952, and I believe settled in the Seattle area. Joan Banus (front row, next to me) became Joan Mason. Much later, she taught at the Open University. She was also the driving force behind WISE, Women in Science and Engineering. The first names of the three women on the right of the front row were Audrey, Jennifer and Shirley. Funny what one remembers. Like Mary Ashworth, I remember Delia Agar, Fred Dainton and our lab technicians very well. I didn’t stay with chemistry, though. Yours sincerely, Susan N. Koenigsberg (née Neuberger) [email protected]

Here’s an updated list of names. Can anyone fill in any more of the blanks? We’d love to hear from you! Chemistry to library Back row: Olga Rutherford, ? Webb, J. Sawyer, V.M. Clark, Heather Platt, W. Rosenfelder, Helen Frenkel, W. Burne, Mary Ashworth; Middle row: Akbar Imam, Costi Edeleanu, Alec Sutton, ? Poyntin, Reg Lewis, J. Cave-Brown-Cave, Dear Editor, H.M. Kimberley, ? Webber, Alan Sharpe, Peter Gray, A. Wild, D. Goodison; Front row: Susan Neuberger, Joan Banus, What a nice surprise – leafing through B. Whittaker, Leslie Hunt, A. Hutchinson, Ernie Elborn, Audrey Free, Jennifer Turner, Shirley Wickham-Jones. the latest Chem@Cam, our Part II class photograph. I too have a copy of this, Dear Editor, came to live in Exeter. My husband died and can supply a few missing initials. It was interesting to see the photograph young and I had three children but, Conversely, the labelling shown fills in a of the Part II chemistry group in the with help from the families and much few gaps in my list of names. Spring issue of Chem@Cam. I have that encouragement from the professor of I enjoyed reading the comments on same photograph, and can give you a philosophy Daniel O’Connor, I took a our various lecturers. I well remember little more information. PhD in 1973 writing on the epistemo - the Dainton ‘lunch’ episode. I also I was very friendly with Joan Banus logical function of scientific theories. remember Delia Agar (then Simpson) (later Joan Mason) who died a couple of I have taught elementary chemistry who supervised some of us who were years ago. She had received an MBE for and some physiology at Exeter College, weak in physical chemistry, and who services to women’s rights. She married andhave also worked in the history of realised that we were having difficulty. Stephen Mason FRS who was an Oxford science department of the Open She concentrated on teaching us how chemist, but they were both working at University. I have published several text - best to cope with exam questions, see - Exeter before he took a chair at UEA. books, some of which have been on the ing that we were not going to get much Later, he became a professor at (I think) Cambridge reading lists. I have recently further in the subject. ‘Teaching to the King’s College London. published a memoir, and a rather light- exam’ – how frowned upon/ Joan worked for the Open University, hearted and short reminiscence was I was an organic chemist, and after but was also concerned with the history recently published in Varsity. graduation stayed on for a further three of science department in Cambridge I noted that you also have pictures of years as a research student under Dr when she and Stephen retired there. He Professor Norrish ( very fierce, as I Kipping. We worked in XL lab on the died earlier this year. recall)and Jack Schulman. Eric Rideal ground floor of the old Pembroke Street Peter Gray is also a dear friend, and I also lectured to Part II students. Both he building. We could reach the more have stayed with him at Caius and in his and Schulman were very difficult to fol - advanced research lab on the floor present Cambridge home. I saw Olga low. There was also Moelwyn Hughes, above by way of an iron spiral staircase. Rutherford at a Girton gathering in who lectured on rates of reaction. Health and safety officials now would 1998 when we went down to the Senate Muriel Tomlinson was my director of have fits to have seen us carrying win - House to receive belated apologies from studies for all my time at Girton, and I chesters of concentrated acids up and the university for not getting a full remember her with great affection. In down this construction. degree in 1946. fact, like so many I remember my time Malcolm Clark also worked in this After leaving Cambridge, I worked for at Cambridge with joy, and feel grateful lab, and so did John Davoll, who was a year or so on the Journal if the and privileged to have had such a won - working on the synthesis of nucleosides Institute of Metals, and then returned to derful undergraduate life. under Dr Lythgoe in Professor Todd’s the Goldsmith’s Laboratory to work on Your sincerely team. John and I were married in 1947. non-tarnishing silver (at that stage a Jennifer Trusted (née Turner) I submitted my thesis on analogues chemical problem) until I married and 15 Victoria Park Road, Exeter EX2 4NT of pyridoxin (vitamin B6) in 1949, but

16 Chem@Cam Summer 2008 Alumni

was told it was not quite up to standard. varied and interesting work. row. Standing on the left in the middle I was offered an MSc degree (then I retired in 1991, and we moved to row is Akbar Imam. He and I were the Cambridge-speak for a failed PhD) or Bookham. I found new interests and only two of the class to study in the col - the option to do more work on the topic friends through the local branch of the loid and surface chemistry department, and resubmit. I wanted to do the latter. University of the Third Age. I also still which was a separate section under At this point, in 1949, Professor Todd continue with my hobby of Scottish Professor Rideal. I think Akbar was recommended John for a two-year post country dancing. either at Trinity or Trinity Hall. Akbar in New York, at the Sloan-Kettering We have paid short visits to Imam could have been a title, but that Institute for Cancer Research. Cambridge over the years. A series of was how we knew him. I would be He also arranged for me to have facil - annual reunion dinners of research delighted if I could have further contact ities to do some further work for my chemists who had worked with with him. thesis in the biochemistry department Professor Todd at Manchester before he Muriel Tomlinson was my director of of Cornell University Medical and they moved to Cambridge, was held undergraduate studies at Girton. Department, which was just across the between 1972 and 1996. John was Unfortunately, she returned to Oxford, road from the Sloan-Kettering. included in these gatherings. because she found no acceptance as a This department was headed by Fr V. du In the later years, wives also joined woman in the Cambridge chemistry Vigneaud, known for research on insulin the Toddlers. On one of these visits, John department. I remember Dr Dainton as and other hormones. After I completed and I walked straight across the grass in being a brilliant tutor. my own further work, which eventually the centre of Trinity Great Court. This We met one or two friends from gained me my PhD, I worked for a while sacrilege was permissible because we those days when we celebrated the 50th as part of du Vigneaud’s research team on were accompanied by Denis Marrian, a anniversary of women becoming part of the structure of oxytocins. fellow of the college. the university. I stopped work a couple of months Our two daughters went in turn to After leaving Cambridge, I trained as a before the birth of our elder daughter in Girton and took degrees in natural sci - teacher, taught at Bedlington Grammar 1950. We returned to England in 1951, ences – but not in chemistry. School in Northumberland, then stud - and John then worked in the research Yours sincerely, ied at the China Inland Mission training lab at Parke Davis in Hounslow. We lived Helen Davoll, née Frenkel home before leaving for Japan as a mis - in Shepperton, and I stayed at home 7 Proctor Gardens, Great Bookham, sionary in 1952. I spent 34 years there. happily looking after our house, garden Leatherhead KT23 4BY Returning to England, I felt very and eventual three children. much out of touch with Cambridge and In 1965, I took a part-time job at the chemistry. I have appreciated Milk Marketing Board in Thames Ditton. A missionary life Chem@Cam bringing me in touch In pre-computer days, this involved again, and especially with Reg Lewis and finding and supplying technical infor - Dear Chem@Cam friends, Vincent Gray. I am busy writing my mation as required to regional man - I was delighted to see the picture of my autobiography. agers, dairy chemists and vets at artificial Part II chemistry class of 1946, and Yours sincerely, insemination centres country-wide. This grateful to Mary Ashworth for sending it Olga Abrahams (née Rutherford) meant searching the technical literature with comments. 77 Elizabeth Gardens, Stanmore to find answers to their queries and was I am the first on the left in the back HA7 4UD The Corporate Associates Scheme Accelrys Thanks to the generosity of the depart - networking events at the department; Illumina ment’s Corporate Associates, we have I Access to emerging Cambridge Arecor been able to benefit the education and research via conferences, special brief - Johnson Matthey Catalysts Astex Therapeutics environment for students and staff. For ings and various publications; Kodak European Research example, the Associates pay for univer - I Access to the department library Astra Zeneca sity-wide access to SciFinder Scholar and photocopying/printing facilities; Lectus Therapeutics and ChemOffice. They also make signifi - I Regular communications about Asynt cant contributions to the library for upcoming events and colloquia; Merck Sharp & Dohme Biotica Technology journal subscriptions. Moreover, they I Subscriptions to Department publi - Novartis provide exam prizes, faculty teaching cations, including Chem@Cam; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma awards and summer studentships, and I Priority notification of and free Pfizer BP have recently funded the refurbishment access to departmental research lectures; Proctor & Gamble of a state-of-the-art meeting room with I Ability to hold ‘Welcome Stalls’ in BP Institute teleconferencing and display facilities. the department entrance hall; Roche Corporate Associate membership not I Preferential conference rates; Bristol-Myers Squibb only provides essential support for the I Free access to the teaching lectures Shell Global Solutions Cambridge BioTechnology department, but also provides numer - held within the department; Sigma-Aldrich ous benefits to help members work with I The full services of the Corporate Cambridge Medical Innovations us and achieve their business objectives. Relations team to facilitate interaction Society of Members enjoy many benefits through with students, staff, and other parts of Chemical Industry CambridgeSoft their enhanced partnership with the the University of Cambridge to help Chemical Computing Group department, such as: achieve your corporate objectives. Sumitomo Chemicals I Visibility within the department; If your organisation would be inter - Takeda Cambridge Dr Reddy’s I A dedicated meeting room and ested in joining the Corporate Associates GlaxoSmithKline office for members to use while visiting Scheme, then please email Jane Snaith at Unilever the department; [email protected], or call Heptares I Invitations to recognition days and 01223 336537. Uniqsis

Chem@Cam Summer 2008 17 Chat lines It’s beginner’s luck for Star student Caroline Caroline Hancox, who’s worked in the novice fisherman Jacek photography section for the past couple of years, was named ‘student with the most potential’ on her college course. She’s studying on day-release at Hertfordshire Regional College, and has just finished the second year of a foun - dation degree in pro - fessional photography. Her course involves one day a week at col - lege, with the course starting at 2pm, and she studies through until 9pm at night. Fortunately, this Above: Caroline steps out still leaves her with from behind the lens; plenty of time to take below: an example from her Jacek Klinowski indulged in a spot of But Jacek was victorious, and it great pictures for portfolio; a far cry from her fishing on a recent Caribbean trip – and turned out that he really had caught a Chem@Cam ! Chem@Cam cover shots! it’s fair to say he caught a big one in the big one – the blue marlin weighed in at sea between St Lucia and Martinique. a hefty 140lbs. ‘ I let him go after about ‘On impulse, I took a trip ona deep sea 45 seconds,’ he says. ‘He did me no fishin gboat, and the two fellows you can harm, and I do not supply rare fish to see ion the photo challenged me to try restaurants – which upset the two fel - the fishing rod,’ he says. ‘Two minutes lows I was fishing with because they later, I had a blue marlin on the hook, were hoping for a cut of the profit! but it took me 45 minutes – and some ‘An ex-pat Brit commented that my considerable effort – to get him in.’ luck was comparable with finding a The fish tried all the tricks in the pis - gold sovereign in the streets of catory book to evade capture, Jacek Aberdeen. There were five other rods on reports. ‘First, he went 80 metres down the boat, but nobody except me caught – I know how deep because the colour anything all day.’ of the line changes every 10 metres – It’s not a bad result for someone and then jumped above the surface. whose only prior fishing experience When I saw how big he was, it nearly was angling for trout in a pond in gave me a heart attack.’ Poland many years ago!

Deborah’s latest synthesis Alan turns 65 in the pub

Baby William looking cute at just 30 minutes old. Aaaaah! Congratulations to teaching fellow Deborah Longbottom, who gave birth to her first baby on 27 June. William James Moss (he’s taking her husband Steven’s surname) weighed in at a fairly solid 9lb 3oz, which rather took Debs by surprise as she’d been led to believe she was expecting a small-to- average sized baby. ‘He’s a good little soul and sleeps well at night between eating!’ she says. ‘And being a mum is great. It’s early days, of course, but I’m just really happy with Alan Parsons from the workshop recently turned 65. His colleagues the whole experience, and my husband thought he should celebrate it in style, which turned out to be by loves being a dad. throwing a party in the Regent pub. Plenty of beer and a good ‘And he is just a lovely looking baby, time was had by all – and we can also report that while Alan may although perhaps that is mummy’s have hit retirement age, he has no intention of retiring just yet. So biased view…’ we’ve got to wait a while for the photos from his retirement party!

18 Chem@Cam Summer 2008 Puzzle corner

Graeme’s happy day Graeme Day, a Royal Society URF in the This issue’s puzzles department, married his long-term girlfriend Aileen Gray in May. The happy Elementary – but clueless occasion took place at Bedworth Baptist Graham Quartly’s back, with more ele - Church in Warwickshire, and there was mentary crossword entertainment. This a good turn-out of people form the time he’s supplied two puzzles – and no department to wish them well. clues. Chemical elements are again Graeme met Aileen during his PhD placed in the boxes to form words read - days at UCK in London, where he ing across and down, but rather than worked for Sally Price. He hails origi - making it easy by giving you clues, the nally from Halifax in Canada, but has idea is to arrange the sets of elements been in the UK for more than a decade that are printed to the right of the grids now. He’s been working here in so that each one appears once in each Camrbdige since 2002. grid to make a full set of words. For the honeymoon, the pair travelled All words will be found in a good to Angelsey, but rather than a normal English dictionary, and no proper hotel, they stayed in an old windmill. nouns, such as FRaNCe are allowed. C ‘Married life is great!’ Graeme says. Good luck!

Al Ar B C C C It was Italian Ca Er He K Li N wedding joy for Andrea Pinto, who Ni Ra S S V until recently worked in Steve Ley’s lab as a postdoc, and Lucia Tamborini, who also worked in the Whiffen for a year as a visiting PhD student. Steve and Rose Ley and Ian Baxendale were among the guests

Al Au C C Ce Dy I Lu Mo Na And finally… Sarah gets wed too! Ne P P Ru S S S who’s the head of discovery chemistry S Si Ti Ti at Pfizer in Sandwich, at the church she attended as a kid in Sheffield. ‘I figured that now I’m 40, I ought to do some - thing properly grown-up!’ she claims. The reception was held at a beautiful little hotel in Grindleford in the Peak District, and Sarah reports she might pos - sibly have been on bride’s rations of champagne all day. The weather wasn’t particularly kind, but a brilliant time was had by all. And you can’t tell in the photo, but her necklace is a string of sil - Secondary schooling ver amino acid structures, which make Here’s another puzzle from Keith up the ‘happy hormone’ beta-endorphin. Parsons. And here’s hoping it doesn’t The newlyweds headed off to Spain prove quite as difficult as his last cou - for their honeymoon, where they stayed ple! As ever, first correct answer plucked in several different Paradors, including at random from all those that arrive in £20 prizes are two castles and a fortress. They even had the Chem@Cam pigeon hole or inbox, on offer for a night in the Alhambra in Granada. wins £20. both puzzles. Sarah and Tony first met when he was a And the puzzle... In a complete rever - Send entries postdoc in Steve Ley’s group at Imperal way sal of the usual sequence, Stuart, 63, by email to back in 1990, and she was doing a PhD who graduated in his early twenties, felt [email protected] with Willie Motherwell in the lab next door. the need to improve his skills in basic or by snail mail Chem@Cam is always nagging people Little did they know then that 16 maths. He enrolled in a cramming to in the department to send her their years later they’d bump into each other school which provided one-to-one Chem@Cam , wedding photos for the magazine. She at an extremely tedious work meeting in tuition and where all the exams were Department got married herself a couple of months London, he agreed to help her with an marked out of a possible 200, in order of Chemistry, ago, and it was pointed out to her that article for Chemistry and Industry maga - to grade the pupils more precisely. He University of she could hardly avoid putting one of zine, and that led to them realising what obtained 71.5% in Algebra, 62.0% in Cambridge, her own wedding in. they were missing out on. ‘It’s strange Calculus, 725% in Trigonometry and Lensfield Road, So… On 4 May, Chem@Cam editor how things work out,’ says Tony. ‘But 65.5% in Statistics. What percentage did Cambridge Sarah Houlton married Tony Wood, we’re really happy that they did!’ he obtain in Geometry?

Chem@Cam Summer 2008 19 Even the thermodynamics lectures left the students open-mouthed with excitement

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by S ARAH H OULTON

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