International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) CHEMISTRY International
The News Magazine of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) CHEMISTRY International
January-February 2008 Volume 30 No. 1
Protecting Cultural Heritage through Chemistry
The Emerging Chemical Regulatory Environment Terminology in Nuclear Processes From the Editor
CHEMISTRY International n 2008, IUPAC will publish the 80th volume of its scientific journal The News Magazine of the Pure and Applied Chemistry (PAC) and the 30th volume of its news International Union of Pure and Imagazine Chemistry International (CI). Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) By serendipity, the anniversary of PAC coincides with the recent unveil- www.iupac.org/publications/ci ing of a new online interface that makes the journal contents more easily available and searchable. Online PAC provides access to slightly more Managing Editor: Fabienne Meyers than 30 years of IUPAC reports, recommendations, and selected lectures Production Editor: Chris Brouwer from IUPAC-sponsored conferences. Design: CB Communications Thirty years is also the approximate age of CI. Year after year, CI has fulfilled its mission of providing news and views about IUPAC activities All correspondence to be addressed to: and other areas of interest to its Fabienne Meyers diverse international readership. CI IUPAC, c/o Department of Chemistry has proved to be a valuable resource Boston University for members most involved in IUPAC Metcalf Center for Science and Engineering activities who want to present their 590 Commonwealth Ave. work in different ways and to various Boston, MA 02215, USA audiences. Nowadays, the newsmag- azine also benefits from the availabil- E-mail: [email protected] ity of the internet as a reference and Phone: +1 617 358 0410 supplement. While it is still a blend of news and reports emanating from Fax: +1 617 353 6466 within the Union, CI makes frequent links to online reports or supplemen- tary information. Printed by: The content of CI has evolved and will continue to do so; that is only Cadmus Professional Communications, natural considering that IUPAC itself evolves, as does the media. Today’s Easton, MD, USA challenge is still to retain a diversity of articles that reflects the full spec- trum of IUPAC activities. Subscriptions In celebration of the PAC and CI anniversaries, I would like to express Six issues of Chemistry International (ISSN 0193- my thanks and gratitude to everyone who has contributed one way or 6484) will be published bimonthly in 2008 (one another to these publications, including former editors and officers of the volume per annum) in January, March, May, July, Union, and all who recognize the need to publish. September, and November. The 2008 subscrip- See YOU in CI, and have a 2008 pure and happy chemistryear! tion rate is USD 99.00 for organizations and USD 45.00 for individuals. Subscription orders may be placed directly with the IUPAC Secretariat. Affiliate Fabienne Meyers Members receive CI as part of their Membership [email protected] subscription, and Members of IUPAC bodies receive www.iupac.org/publications/ci CI free of charge.
Reproduction of Articles Unless there is a footnote to the contrary, repro- Cover: Jan Wouters (Head of Laboratory at the Royal Institute for Cultural duction or translation of articles in this issue is Heritage, Brussels), a visiting scientist at the Getty Conservation Institute (Los encouraged, provided that it is accompanied Angeles), and Cecily Grzywacz, a Getty Conservation Institute scientist, discuss by a reference to the original in Chemistry the construction, sampling, and analysis of a mock-up of ancient Chinese wall International. painting materials containing both inorganic pigment paints and an organic pigment glaze. Research on historical reconstructions can lead to better Periodicals postage paid at Durham, NC 27709- diagnosis of sources of materials and lower levels of destructiveness when 9990 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: studying historical objects. Read more regarding the Asian Organic Colorants Send address changes to Chemistry International, project of the Getty Conservation Institute at
ISSN 0193-6484 Contents CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 Volume 30 No. 1
President’s Column Toward Global Leadership in Knowledge Sharing by Jung-Il Jin 2
Features Protecting Cultural Heritage: Reflections on the Position of Science in Multidisciplinary Approaches by Jan Wouters 4 Radionuclides and Radiochemistry, Part II: Terminology in Nuclear Processes—Misconceptions and Inaccuracies by Mauro L. Bonardi and David S. Moore 8 The Emerging Regulatory Environment: Proceedings of the World Chemistry Leadership Meeting by Colin Humphris and Mark Cesa 10 IUPAC in Torino, Italy—Part II 14
IUPAC Wire Polymer International–IUPAC Award 2008: Call for Nominations 19 IUPAC InChIKey Project Joins Microsoft BioIT Alliance 19 Chemical Heritage Foundation Names Thomas R. Tritton President 20 Zafra Lerman Receives George Brown Award for International Scientific Collaboration 21 In Memoriam: The Oldest Active Chemist Dies at the Age of Nearly One Hundred 21
The Project Place Electrochemical DNA-Based Biosensors: Terms and Methodology 23 Recent Advances in Nomenclature, Properties and Units: Strategy for Promoting SC-NPU Achievements 23 A Multilingual Encyclopedia of Polymer Terminology 24 “Global Climate Change”—Monograph for Secondary Schools 24 Recommendations for Codes of Conduct 24 Provisional Recommendations IUPAC Seeks Your Comments 26
Making an imPACt Representation of Configuration in Coordination Polyhedra 27 Definitions of Terms Relating to the Structure and Processing 7 of Sols, Gels, Networks, and Inorganic Hybrid Materials 27 Alcohols with Water 27
Bookworm Nomenclatura de Química Inorgánica 28 “Photochemistry for a Better Life” 28
Internet Connection ChemSpider and Its Expanding Web by Antony Williams 30
Conference Call The Evolving Identity of Chemistry by D. Thorburns and Brigitte Van Tiggelen 32 Heterocyclic Chemistry by Roger Reed 33 Greenhouse Gases: Mitigation and Utilization by John M. Malin 35
Where 2B & Y 38
Mark Your Calendar 40 A complimentary map/2008 calendar is enclosed with this issue. President’s Column
Toward Global sought, and many different methods for achieving this goal will be explored.” Leadership in In about 10 years, IUPAC is going to celebrate its cen- tennial. Wouldn’t it be great if 100 National Adhering Knowledge Sharing Organizations (NAOs) and Associate National Adhering —A Goal of Celebrating IUPAC’s Organizations (ANAOs) could join together in the cel- ebration of IUPAC’s centennial? I propose that NAOs Centennial with 100 Member of “advanced” countries, together with IUPAC leaders, Countries launch a new drive to dramatically increase the num- ber of member countries. We now have only about 50 by Jung-Il Jin NAOs and 20 ANAOs, which amounts to slightly more fter attending the IUPAC General Assembly than 35 percent of world nations. In order for IUPAC to and Congress in Torino, Italy, I felt, once truly be called an international union, there should be Aagain, that the number of attendees from at least 100 NAOs and ANAOs. This drive to increase so-called economically disadvantaged countries or membership will also result in better and broader emerging regions was far less than I had hoped to knowledge-sharing and partnership-building in the see. Every time I experience this disappointment at world chemistry community. our GAs, I wonder what IUPAC should do to improve There have been many discussions about how to the situation. help more nations, scientists, and students participate in various IUPAC activities. Various IUPAC bodies have At this point, I would like to remind readers what seriously discussed supporting the annual subscrip- I mentioned in my candidate statement* for the tions of economically disadvantaged countries. In recent presidential election held in Torino. In par- spite of IUPAC’s strong desire to attract more par- ticular, I noted that “more opportunity and support ticipation among scientists from these countries, no for increased participation of the representatives of practical action has been taken in this direction. the economically disadvantaged countries should be Knowledge sharing and partnership building are becoming ever more important in the knowledge- based society of the 21st century. IUPAC, without any *To read Jung-Il Jin’s full candidate statement, see
2 CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 especially younger chemists, to participate in vari- 2008–2009 Bureau ous IUPAC activities provides a long-lasting influence Membership in their scientific careers and helps the Union build partnerships. One may wonder why IUPAC has not Officers been doing more along this line. In fact, IUPAC has Prof. Jung-Il Jin, Korea been trying hard to do more to help NAOs and ANAOs President from economically emerging countries, but only to a Prof. Nicole Moreau, France limited extent due to budget limitations. The same has Vice President been the case in attracting new NAOs and ANAOs. Prof. David Black, Australia Many chemical societies or associations are so finan- Secretary General cially fragile that they are unable to pay their annual Prof. John Corish, Ireland subscriptions. Moreover, providing support for their Treasurer Prof. Bryan Henry, Canada scientists to travel to the IUPAC GA is almost unthink- Past President able. I believe that we have a strong will to drastically improve the situation, but we have to find a way to Elected Members achieve this goal. Not surprisingly, financing has been Prof. Chunli Bai, China/Beijing the most critical obstacle. Prof. S. Chandrasekaran, India IUPAC has decided to formally request that Dr. Anders Kallner, Sweden the United Nations proclaim the year 2011 as the Prof. Werner Klein, Germany International Year of Chemistry. The year 2011 marks Prof. Ram Lamba, Puerto Rico the one-hundredth anniversary of the Nobel Prize Prof. Stanislaw Penczek, Poland in Chemistry that was awarded to Marie S. Curie. Dr. Elsa Reichmanis, United States IUPAC’s role in proclaiming the Year of Chemistry Dr. Alan Smith, United Kingdom Prof. Natalia Tarasova, Russia and its participation in activities throughout the year Prof. Maria C.E. van Dam-Mieras, Netherlands will increase its visibility in the chemistry community and in the world. The event should provide us with a Division Presidents golden opportunity to convey our will to become the Prof. Michel J. Rossi, Switzerland true global leader in knowledge sharing and partner- Physical and Biophysical Chemistry Division ship building. Prof. Kazuyuki Tatsumi, Japan Among the many possible approaches to broad- Inorganic Chemistry Division ening our membership, I propose that we start two Prof. Pietro Tundo, Italy feasible campaigns this year: a drive to raise a Special Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry Division Fund and a partnership-building movement between Prof. Christopher Ober, United States the NAOs of so-called advanced countries and eco- Polymer Division Dr. Ales Fajgelj, Slovenia nomically disadvantaged nations’ chemical societies Analytical Chemistry Division or associations. Let’s try to enter IUPAC’s second cen- Prof. Nicola Senesi, Italy tury by pursuing these worthy projects. Won’t you all Chemistry and the Environment Division join me in this drive? Prof. Douglas M. Templeton, Canada Last but not least, I would like to take this opportu- Chemistry and Human Health Division nity to express my heartfelt thanks to Bryan Henry and Prof. Gerard P. Moss, United Kingdom Leiv Sydnes, and also to earlier presidents, for their Chemical Nomenclature and Structure Representation dedication and contributions to the prosperity of this Union. I wish you all the best. Operational Standing Committee Chairmen Prof. Leiv K. Sydnes, Norway Jung-Il Jin
CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 3 Protecting Cultural Heritage
Reflections on the Position of conservation science. Important players in this field, Science in Multidisciplinary which readily address interactivity and networking, are the recently started Episcon project in the European Approaches Community’s Marie Curie program3 and the five- 4 by Jan Wouters year-old EU-Artech project. The goal of Episcon is to develop the first generation of actively formed ver the past 40 years, scientific research activ- conservation scientists at the Ph.D.-level in Europe. ities in support of the conservation and resto- EU-Artech provides access, research, and technology Oration of objects and monuments belonging for the conservation of European cultural heritage, to the world’s cultural heritage, have grown in number including networking among 13 European infrastruc- and quality. Many institutes specifically dedicated to tures operating in the field of artwork conservation. the study and conservation of cultural heritage have The present absence of a recognized, knowledge- emerged. Small dedicated laboratories have been based identity for conservation science or conserva- installed in museums, libraries, and archives, and, tion scientists may lead to philosophical and even more recently, university laboratories are showing linguistic misunderstandings within multidisciplinary increased interest in this field. consortiums created to execute conservation projects. This paper discusses sources of misunderstandings, However, no definition has been formulated to iden- a suggestion for more transparent language when tify the specific tasks, responsibilities, and skills of a dealing with the scientific term analysis, elements to conservation scientist or of conservation science. This help define conservation science, and the benefits is contradictory to the availability of a clear Definition for conservation scientists of becoming connected to of the Profession of a Conservator-Restorer, published worldwide professional networks. by the Conservation Committee of the International Council of Museums in 1984.1 Conservation-restora- Disputable Terminology around tion is also described as an academic discipline in the “Analysis” Clarification of Conservation-Restoration Education at University Level or Equivalent, published in the Modern analytical protocols involve ever-increasing Clarification Document of the European Network sophistication of sample preparation procedures, for Conservation-Restoration Education (ENCoRE) in instrumentation, and post-run data treatment. This, 2000.2 At present, definitions on conservation and together with the frequent absence of explanatory restoration, but not on conservation science, are under terms around “analysis,” may create an alienating discussion in workgroup 1 of the Technical Committee effect on those professionals who are not familiar with 346 of the European Committee for Standardisation. the inherent terminology and evaluation processes, Hopefully, multidisciplinary research consortiums yet are closely involved in the multi- or interdisciplin- (e.g., executing research projects within European ary approach that must lead to the preservation of framework programs) will promote the synergy cultural heritage. There is no doubt that this may gen- between the cultural heritage field and the natural erate reservations when analysis of art is under discus- sciences, and will generate elements for defining sion, even when such analysis is considered essential to reveal an object’s conservation condition or to Dyes in Precolumbian Peruvian establish a conservation treatment. Among the most textiles: A combination of notable of such explanatory terms are destructive- medium destructiveness and ness, invasiveness, representativeness, and resolution. high resolving power allowed Such terms tend to create a polarization between non- for the identification of biologi- invasive/non-destructive interventions and destructive cal sources used for dyeing, and analytical approaches. revealed changes in use as a Inevitably, the withdrawal of a sample from an function of cultural periods (Jan Wouters and Noemi Rosario- object of art or culture implies some kind of mutila- Chirinos: “Dyestuff Analysis of tion, even when executed in an inconspicuous area Precolumbian Peruvian Textiles or when dealing with minute samples. Such handling by High Performance Liquid is therefore called destructive to the object. On the Chromatography and Diode-Array Detection.” Journal of the other hand, there are analytical techniques available American Institute for Conservation 31,2(1992)237–255). that may be applied directly to the object, without
4 CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 the removal of a sample. These techniques are often referred to as non-destructive and they are mostly applied to inorganic materials in art.5 However, from a scientific point of view, any interaction between a material and an energy-bearing analytical vehicle, is unlikely to leave that material, or an accompanying- one, totally unaltered after the interaction. The key issue in this discussion is the way in which one interprets damage. Obviously, the least critical High-level destructiveness analysis of synthetic membranes evaluation of damage is performed by the naked eye: without touching the 8th century parchment of the Codex There is no damage if it cannot be “seen.” The most Eyckensis revealed a polyvinylchloride polymer with 30 % critical evaluation is from data generated at the molec- (w/w) monomeric plasticizer; after the removal of the mem- ular level by relevant spectroscopic techniques: There branes, the Codex could be conserved by the application of is no damage if the molecular compositional array at an innovative parchment leafcasting technique (Jan Wouters, the spot of measurement has not changed beyond An Peckstadt, and Lieve Watteeuw: “Leafcasting with Dermal experimental deviations or beyond a preset level of Tissue Preparations: A New Method for Repairing Fragile tolerance. Sometimes, techniques applied directly to Parchment, and Its Application to the Codex Eyckensis.” The the object are called non-invasive. Although the term Paper Conservator 19(1995)5–22.) is correct since it is a non-sampling technique, the qualification may be misleading in terms of destruc- Toward New Terminologies7 tiveness for the reasons outlined above. The complexity of the composition of artifacts such So, should we stop using the often confusing terms as paintings is expressed by their multilayer archi- that accompany “analysis” when discussing the ageing, tecture, by the high level of heterogeneity of each damage, and manufacturing technology of artifacts? individual layer, and by the further contribution to that The answer extends beyond the suspected “yes”! heterogeneity by natural ageing processes and human Destructiveness could be replaced by “degree interventions. Having to reveal production technol- of intervention,” which might be described at three ogy or damage patterns of an object by observing levels: molecular (low change), microscopic (medium analytical data produced from a microsample or a change), or visual (high change). This would imply, microspot may come into conflict with the low repre- for instance, that the withdrawal of a microsample or sentativeness of such a sample or spot. Obviously, the the generation of a permanently discolored microspot only ways to increase representativeness are through (as a consequence of prolonged remote radiation) multiple sampling or increased spot size. reflect exactly the same degree of intervention. Using Multiple sampling increases damage to the object, the older terms, microsampling would be called inva- but highly detailed results may be obtained by launch- sive and the radiation non-invasive, but apparently ing high-resolution mapping and imaging techniques destructive. However, the degree of intervention and to a set of microsamples.6 Alternatively, non-invasive its discussion should be time-related. Indeed, discolor- approaches may be applied, often with larger beam ation caused by radiation in a focused beam may be diameters than those used in high-resolution mapping either permanent or limited in time, which means that and imaging. Those larger diameters are advanta- the degree of intervention could be further classified geous in terms of averaging and, hence, increased as medium or low intervention, respectively. representativeness. But, due to the inherent lack of However, the degree of intervention does not analytical resolution—both in the plane and in the explain at all why the analysis is proposed, requested, depth of the artifact—they may miss phenomena vital or executed, and by what party. More information is to explaining technology and/or damage that would needed about the expectations of the requestor in require conservation measures. terms of how analytical results will be used. It is sug- It may be clear from this discussion that invasive- gested here that the terms “usefulness” and “innova- ness/destructiveness alone is not a good criterion to tion” can provide such information. select an approach for analyzing artwork. One or more The assessment of the “usefulness” of the inter- other parameters should be considered for evaluating vention should consider whether the intervention the level and detail of information obtained. can establish what production technology was used, provide a damage assessment, and determine the
CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 5 Protecting Cultural Heritage
best conservation practice to use. “Innovation” may manufacture and decay be formulated in terms of progress beyond the state • creation of reference collections and databases of of the art. Eventually, innovation could be assessed analytical results of references and standards according to the degree of intervention8 or usefulness9 • development of analytical approaches to enhance of analysis executed according to the newly developed the ratio of information to destructiveness and approach. Hopefully, a high level of innovation would taking into account levels of usefulness and create data, insights, and experience which, in turn, innovation would improve usefulness and probably even lower • understanding of usefulness the degree of intervention in the long term. • consideration and understanding of historical, The terms intervention, usefulness, and innovation geographical, and archaeological aspects of col- may be rightfully used and combined to estimate lections the balance between the degree or level of interven- • appropriate applications of statistics tion and the analytical outcome. And it is exactly • dedicated fundamental research and high- this balance that must be discussed by all parties level interactivity with professionals from other involved when selecting the most appropriate ana- disciplines lytical approach. Transparency will be increased by specifying the degree of intervention, usefulness, and A Multidiscilinary Research Forum in innovation when discussing scientific analysis in a Cultural Heritage multidisciplinary environment. Use of these terms also may improve the source’s credibility, the receiver’s Obviously, conservation scientists should have a attention, and the quality of the decision.10 strong interest in seeking and promoting interac- tions with others in their field. Such interactions will Towards a Definition of become more established within the framework of rel- Conservation Science evant professional organizations. A prominent player in this field is the Conservation Committee of the The linguistic and philosophical issues discussed in the International Council of Museums (ICOM-CC).11 This two preceding paragraphs illustrate how a natural sci- committee is the largest of 30 international commit- entist (chemist, physicist, biologist) working in the field tees of ICOM and is composed of 23 multidisciplinary of cultural heritage, must critically define pathways for working groups, covering all aspects of the investiga- proposing, executing, interpreting, and explaining tion and conservation of museum collections. In this analyses of art within a multidisciplinary and respon- way, ICOM-CC helps to achieve ICOM’s objectives, sibility-sharing environment. To this must be added which are to exchange scientific information at an more specific research-related issues, including old international level, develop professional standards, manufacturing technologies, ageing phenomena, and and adopt rules and recommendations. ICOM-CC the social, cultural, and political pressures to preserve membership, which is spread over 79 countries and the past for the future. All of these elements constitute has grown by 50 percent over the last seven years, is criteria for improving the understanding of the specific now more than 1500. requirements of conservation science. ICOM-CC organizes triennial conferences, where The major objectives of conservation science should all working groups meet in dedicated sessions and be to study all aspects (chemical, biological, physical) where plenary sessions are organized on topics of of the manufacture, decay, and preservation of objects general interest. At these conferences, working group of art and culture. Such studies require the following: members elect a coordinator and discuss a working • reading and understanding data in historic lit- program for the next three years. erature (revealing the choice of sources, the preparation of products, and the combination of Conclusion those products in the manufacturing technology of the final object), and the extrapolation of this Multi- and interdisciplinary consortiums established data into a present-day scientific framework (to to preserve cultural heritage will benefit from a prepare mock-ups or to develop an analytical better integration of conservation science. This strategy) may be achieved through establishing a definition • recognition of phenomena, at any level of obser- of conservation science and through the formula- vation (visual, microscopic, molecular), related to tion of end-terms—formed at the master level at
6 CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 least—for conservation scientists. The terminology 6. Boon J.J., Ferreira E.S.B., Keune K. (2005). “Imaging used nowadays to describe the potential damage to Analytical Studies of Old Master Paints Using FTIR, SIMS, and SEMEDX of Embedded Paint Cross-Sections.” objects caused by analysis should be refined beyond Microscopy and Micro-Analysis, 11, p. 1370–1371. the destructiveness/non-invasiveness polarization. 7. Wouters J. (2006). “Surrealism in Science: the Difference A terminology should include at least “degree of between Analysis and Analysis.” Proceedings of the De intervention (low, medium, high),” “usefulness,” and Mayerne Symposium, NWO, The Netherlands, p. 13–20. 8. Verhoeven M.A., Carlyle L., Reedijk J. and Haasnoot J.J., “innovation.” The further development and integra- (2006). “Exploring the Application of Solid-State Nuclear tion of conservation scientists will improve with their Magnetic Resonance to the Study of the Deterioration of participation in international networks that encourage Paintings.” Proceedings of the De Mayerne Symposium, multidisciplinary approaches. NWO, The Netherlands, p. 32–42. 9. Della Gatta C., Badea E., Masic A., Usacheva T., Benedetto S. and Braghieri A., (2005). “Environmental Ageing of References Historical Parchments: a DSC, SEM, and Unilateral NMR 1. Definition of the Profession of a Conservator-Restorer, pub- Study of Old Bookbindings from the Historical Archives lished by the Conservation Committee of the International of the City of Turin.” Improved Damage Assessment of Council of Museums (ICOM-CC) in 1984, can be found at Parchment, School of Conservation, The Royal Danish
See also www.iupac.org/publications/ci/indexes/ stamps.html Stamps International
A Hydrocarbon to Be Proud of cage hydrocarbon was first isolated in 1933 from a sample of Moravian crude oil ana- he stamp from Czechoslovakia illustrated in this lyzed by S. Landa and V. Machácek note was issued on 4 July 1966 to celebrate at the Czech Technical University Tthe centennial of the Czech Chemical Society, (CTU) in Prague. Interestingly, which is one of the oldest chemical societies in the there is another Czech connec- world and is still engaged today in all aspects of tion to adamantane: It was first the chemical enterprise in the synthesized in 1941 by the famous Czech Republic and elsewhere. Vladimir Prelog, co-recipient of Prominently featured on the the 1975 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. stamp is a molecular diagram Although Prelog was born in of adamantane, the well-known Sarajevo (part of the Austro- saturated hydrocarbon with a Hungarian Empire at the time), diamond-like structure and a he earned his Ph.D. from CTU in smell reminiscent of camphor. 1929 and worked in Prague until 1935. The 100th anni- It is a remarkably stable organic versary of Prelog’s birth was remembered by Bosnia compound due to its conforma- and Herzegovina with a stamp issued on 25 October tional rigidity and, although it 2006. has relatively few applications, some of its derivatives (e.g., amantadine, rimantadine) Written by Daniel Rabinovich
CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 7 Radionuclides and Radiochemistry Part II: Terminology in Radioanalytical and Nuclear Analytical Techniques vs. Atomic Nuclear Processes— Techniques: How to Avoid Misconceptions and Ambiguity? At the time of their discovery, it was not clear to Inaccuracies* scientists that the atomic origin of Röntgen’s rays (subsequent to atomic electron rearrangement) was by Mauro L. Bonardi and David S. completely different from that of Becquerel and Moore Curie’s rays (subsequent to a nuclear decay). As is here are few subjects that evoke a stronger explained below, today we can formulate an unam- response from most people than those associ- biguous distinction among them. Tated with nuclear processes. The “power” of In order to proceed further, some definitions and nuclear processes is not only E=mc2, but also rheto- statements are required. We can classify the field of ric, saber rattling, threats, fear, anguish, and horror. analytical investigations on the basis of the chemical- We wonder how much of the vehemence of such a physical origin of the process in question, rather than response could be attributed to misunderstandings in terms of associated energy or time scale. This means based on inaccurate and misleading terminology. roughly dividing the phenomena into sub-nuclear, nuclear, atomic, molecular, or supra-molecular. Hence, For example, using the terminology atomic energy it is possible to classify the different branches of ana- to describe the energy produced by nuclear processes lytical chemistry and related analytical techniques as like fission is misleading, even if, unfortunately, it con- radioanalytical and nuclear (sometimes called nuclear tinues to belong to common language (e.g., peaceful analytical techniques or NATs) on one side and atomic/ uses of atomic energy, atomic bomb, atomic explo- molecular on the other. However, no sub-nuclear pro- sion, atomic reactor, Euratom, International “Atomic” cesses are presently used on a routine basis for radio- Energy Agency, and so on). The IUPAC Gold Book, as analytical purposes. Therefore, the nuclear processes well as Chapter 16 of the Orange Book, makes this dis- that are applied in nuclear and radiochemistry (N&R), tinction very clear. Terms that have to do with nuclear and through related radioanalytical techniques, only processes do not include the word “atomic” and vice involve the excitation or de-excitation of nuclear levels versa. Similar misunderstandings accompany the use and not atomic or molecular levels, which are subse- of the terminology “radiopharmaceutical” to desig- quent to spontaneous (radioactive decay) or induced nated labelled species for biomedical purposes (radio- nuclear reactions (either manmade or natural). Often, diagnostic and metabolic radiotheraphy), because no these nuclear processes are followed at different time pharmacological effects are expected due to the neg- scales by significant atomic and molecular modifica- ligible amounts of substance administered. Indeed, to tions, fruitfully adopted as probes for analytical and be used in humans, a labelled compound must undergo structural investigations.1-5 a series of analytical and radioanalytical GLP and GMP In most cases, the processes concerning nuclear investigations that are well described in the relevant transition or transmutation involve much larger literature (National and International Pharmacopeia). amounts of energy (several keV to many MeV or more, This article seeks to describe the current situation [i.e., 1 eV = 1.60218 10-13 J or 96 485 J.mol-1]) than and provide an understanding of preferred terms. atomic and molecular processes (less than a few eV) and the radiation (both electromagnetic and corpus- *Part I focused on the role of radionuclides and radio- cular) associated with these processes is, as a rule, chemistry in society (Nov-Dec 2007 CI). classified as “directly ionizing radiation,” like X-rays
8 CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 or fast electron/charged-particle/heavy ion beams is affected by the chemical environment as well, giv- accelerated in high-energy acceleration devices (beta- ing rise to positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) trons, Van de Graff, cyclotrons, synchrotrons, LINAC). and related radioanalytical techniques. On the other These types of radiation must be distinguished from hand, other exotic quasi-atomic species like muonium radiation that does not have sufficient energy for the and antiatoms have resulted to date in negligible ana- direct ionization or excitation of the irradiated mate- lytical potentialities. These electronic effects following rial or entity. As a useful figure, 30 eV is the average nuclear decay or nuclear reactions are, of course, not energy that is necessary to induce formation of an of direct nuclear origin and are normally called extra- ionization/excitation entity in a material, compared to nuclear or atomic effects of nuclear transformations. the first ionization energy of He (25 eV), the energy of Among such effects are the emission of X-rays and Group 1 and 2 elements (4–9 eV), and the energy gap Auger (and Coster-Kronig) monoenergetic electronic of TiO2 photocatalyst (3.2 eV for anatase). This means cascades after the rearrangement of electronic shells that radiations from processes less energetic than that occurs before most nuclear decay processes that UV light (less than a few eV) are not able to induce are able to create electronic vacancies in the inner- directly these phenomena and consequently are usu- most atomic shells. Even Bremsstrahlung radiation ally classified as “non-ionizing” radiation or simply by (external and internal) generated by the deceleration/ a term or abbreviation implying their energy range centripetal acceleration of fast particles through mat- (NIR, UV, visible, IR, microwaves, radiowaves, cosmic ter and Chrenkov shockwave visible radiation are not background, etc.). precisely of nuclear origin, but must be classified as We believe the more correct approach to classifying atomic effects subsequent to a nuclear process. the processes involved is not to describe the associ- In this framework, X rays and the X-ray based ana- ated energy or the time scale, but the physical origin lytical techniques for chemical analysis in the energy of the process itself. In fact, gamma rays originate from range from some keV to some hundreds of keV have the decay (de-excitation) of nuclear levels in spite of proved incapable of inducing nuclear processes. Let’s the energy involved, while X rays originate from elec- remember that the binding energy of an alpha particle tronic rearrangements at the atomic levels. From the at rest is 28.3 MeV (or 7 MeV.nucleon-1), and the bind- time-scale viewpoint, plenty of metastable nuclear lev- ing energy per nucleon of the 2 850 nuclides pres- els are known and profitably used (radioisomers), with ently known varies from 2.2 MeV for the less stable, half-lives from fractions of seconds to many years.6,7 like 2H, to 8.8 MeV for the more stable: Fe, Co, and On the basis of this simple classification it is possible Ni. Hence, analytical techniques based on the use of to distinguish without any ambiguity between nuclear fast ion or electron beams with energy insufficient to and atomic/molecular processes, even in the cases induce nuclear reactions are normally called Ion Beam in which nuclear and atomic phenomena affect each Analytical (IBA) techniques and are not nuclear tech- other and cause significant chemical-physical effects niques at all. Among them are PIXE, RBS, and a range on the chemical environment. of techniques based on the use of synchrotron radia- Surprisingly, the half-life of a radionuclide can tion, even in the X-ray energy range (SRXRF, EXAFS, be influenced by the atomic-electronic environment, XANES).1 Thus, elemental analysis techniques based especially if decay modes like electron capture or on X-ray fluorescence, like XRF, TXRF, or ED-XRF, are internal conversion on the innermost atomic shells are not of nuclear origin, even if they are based on the involved, because the decay probability of a radio- use of radiogenic equipment or radioactive sources as nuclide depends on the overlap between the nuclear excitation devices, which are incidentally installed at and atomic wave functions. Unexpectedly, the half- nuclear centers. Conversely, nuclear activation meth- life of metastable levels of nuclides is also affected ods, like delayed and prompt neutron and charged by the chemical surroundings of the nuclides. The particle activation analysis—in both instrumental or hyperfine interaction between nuclear levels and the radiochemical versions, are properly classified as chemical microenvironment (chemical isomer shift) nuclear analytical techniques, because, in spite of the is the basis of Mössbauer spectroscopy (MÖSSPEC, occasional low-energy projectile involved, they lead MOSPEC), a powerful radioanalytical tool for struc- to a nuclear reaction on target nuclei, with delayed tural and analytical purposes. The interaction of decay or prompt emission of de-excitation gamma rays or emitted positrons, and the positronium quasi-atomic species Ps formed by binding with atomic electrons, Continued on page 25
CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 9 TThehe EmergingEmerging ChemicalChemical RRegulatoryegulatory EEnvironmentnvironment
contributions IUPAC could make through projects Proceedings of the or through working with others. Participants recog- nized environmental health as an important aspect of World Chemistry applied chemistry for IUPAC and agreed that there is a need for an ongoing dialogue with key stakeholders, Leadership Meeting the industry, and UN on these matters. A consensus was also reached on the following important issues: by Colin Humphris and Mark Cesa • The bulk of the environmental health concerns eventy-five delegates attended the World arising from the industrial application of chemis- Chemistry Leadership Meeting (WCLM) on try lie in the developing world. IUPAC has a key S10 August 2007 in Torino, Italy. The WCLM role to play in education and capacity building to focused on the promising, yet challenging, global bring product stewardship toward the levels prac- effort to meet the commitment that by 2020 chemi- ticed in the developed world. IUPAC should seek cals are used and produced in ways that minimize to collaborate with industry and the initiatives it is significant adverse effects on human health and the undertaking, and with the SAICM process and its environment. The 2020 commitment was made at the Quick Start Programme. 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development* in • Underlying many public concerns about the use Johannesburg and has led to new policy frameworks of chemicals is a lack of understanding and appre- such as SAICM (UNEP/WHO) and regulations such as ciation of chemistry. This is a concern to both REACH (EU Commission). IUPAC and industry. The proposed UN/UNESCO International Year of Chemistry 2011 provides a The WCLM, held during the 44th General Assembly strategic opportunity to celebrate both the con- of IUPAC, attracted high-level representatives from tribution of chemistry to human development and industry, academia, and the UN. Speakers and panel- the safe, responsible use of chemical products. ists at the event included the following experts: IUPAC should invite industry to engage fully in the • Rainer Koch (International Council of Chemical International Year of Chemistry. Associations, ICCA) • There is a need to strengthen the contribution of • Carol Henry (American Chemistry Council, ACC) science to chemicals policy to ensure that future • Richard Phillips (ExxonMobil) policy is soundly based. IUPAC is invited to pro- • John Duffus (The Edinburgh Centre for Toxicology, vide chemical science input to the forthcoming Chair of the IUPAC Subcommittee on Toxicology SAICM implementation conferences and should and Risk Assessment) consider the most appropriate processes to do • Elsa Reichmanis (Alcatel-Lucent) this. Value is seen in working more closely with • Alan Boobis (Imperial College School of both UNEP and WHO and seeking formal recogni- Medicine) tion with both as an NGO. • Matthew Gubb (UNEP) • New health concerns are emerging from innova- tion (e.g., nanotechnologies) and our broader WCLM attendees and speakers discussed the health understanding of biochemistry and genetics, and environmental safety of chemical products, emerg- which cross the boundaries of chemistry, biol- ing issues of societal concern, and the resulting regula- ogy, toxicology, and medicine. It is important for tory trends, with the objective of identifying specific IUPAC to remain alert to these concerns to ensure that it can contribute to questions of nomen- clature, classification, and characterization and *The World Summit on Sustainable Development, WSSD or Earth Summit 2002, took place in Johannesburg, South the development of appropriate methodologies Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002. It was con- (e.g., biomonitoring) to assess their toxicological, vened by the United Nations to discuss sustainable develop- health, and environmental impacts. ment. WSSD gathered a number of leaders from business and non-governmental organizations, 10 years after the first Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro
10 CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 )COCI Corner
Summaries of WCLM Lectures 4. establish a scientifically sound interpretation or Rainer Koch (International Council of Chemical definition of the meaning of “minimization of Associations, ICCA) significant adverse effects on human health and Koch began his lecture by describing the history of the environment,” the goal of the Johannesburg SAICM, which originated with the Johannesburg dec- declaration larations in 2002: 5. perform outreach to developing countries of science-based approaches to chemicals manage- “. . . aiming to achieve by 2020 that chemicals ment: capacity building, education, and training are used and produced in ways that lead to the 6. act as an active stakeholder in the SAICM imple- minimization of significant adverse effects on mentation process, particularly in the upcoming human health and the environment using trans- international conferences parent science-based risk assessment proce- 7. organize scientific sessions on key topics of dures as well as science-based risk management SAICM in conjunction with IUPAC conferences procedures.” 8. promote/support industry voluntary initiatives related to emerging science issues (e.g., ICCA As Koch explained, this declaration has led to a Long-range Research Initiative [LRI] program) high-level political commitment from governments and stakeholders (including industry) and a policy Carol Henry (American Chemistry Council) strategy that lays out the key elements and principles Henry began her talk by describing the realities for the to be adopted. From this, a Global Plan of Action was chemical industry today. She noted that “Discourse adopted as part of the Dubai Declaration and debate about chemical products and (International Conference on Chemicals their usage is too often fuelled by misin- Management, ICCM 2006) to provide formation and lack of relevant facts and guidance and tools to enable govern- scientific research—fact versus fear.” ments to set priorities for chemicals man- Henry described how the new global agement and regulation. REACH is a charter for Responsible Care, an industry European example of this; a new regula- initiative announced at the ICCM in Dubai tion for chemicals management encom- (where SAICM was launched) will counter passing all stages of the value chain the tendency toward fear with more bal- from primary manufacture to eventual anced information. The goal of Responsible consumer use. It will require the eventual preparation Care, she said, is to set a new vision for improved per- of some 80 000 registration dossiers. formance and strengthened engagement. It is designed Koch discussed the question “What does minimi- to ensure consistency of approach across the world, zation of significant adverse effects actually mean?” with an increased focus on product stewardship (the Then he talked about how the Johannesburg declara- Global Product Strategy [GPS]), and the management tion has made the following necessary: systems needed for its implementation. GPS sets out to • science-based risk assessment and management improve the stewardship of chemicals from source to • extensive data on chemical hazards and consumer through partnership, training, and dialogue exposures and includes a commitment to participate in the neces- • education and capacity building in chemicals use sary scientific enquiry to address health and environ- mental risk concerns through the industry’s LRI. Koch recommended a number of ways in which Henry appealed to IUPAC to engage with ICCA to IUPAC could help with this process: develop a new paradigm of constructive engagement 1. improve knowledge/information on chemicals across the world of chemistry to replace “fact versus and chemical processes fear.” This would enhance discourse and partner- 2. develop sound risk assessment methodologies ship, promote engagement in the implementation of (targeted and comparative assessments) Responsible Care and GPS, encourage science and 3. contribute to the SAICM Quick Start Programme innovation (better products for a more sustainable by proposing capacity building in developing future), and further chemistry education and capacity countries building.
CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 11 The Emerging Chemical Regulatory Environment
Richard Phillips (ExxonMobil) John Duffus (The Edinburgh Centre for Toxicology, Phillips outlined why emerging science is so important chair of the IUPAC Subcommittee on Toxicology and to industry and policy makers when it is combined with Risk Assessment) societal change, encapsulated in the “right to know.” Duffus emphasized the importance of an authoritative As he explained, when new questions emerge about and informed chemistry basis for policy and regula- the influence of people’s environments on their health, tion. He cited a number of examples where the science the debate rapidly moves to the need for action, which basis for policy is questionable or ambiguous: is often based on over-precaution and fear rather than • the concept of no threshold for mutagenic activity thorough knowledge-based assessments. He noted • the extrapolation of high-dose effects in mice and that the European Union has set up an expert scientific rats to humans committee to advise it on emerging risks. • the absence of real exposure data in epide- Phillips provided examples of emerging science that miological studies on which policy decisions have will be helpful in assessing risks: been based • nanotechnology to provide arrays for assessing • the absence of consideration of chemical specia- the effects of chemical stimuli on cells (lab on a tion for all elements except carbon chip) • the need for new toxicological thinking when • biomonitoring as part of the assessment of an applied to nano-particles together with consider- individual’s susceptibility to environmental chemi- ations of bio-availability for insoluble particles cals and the need for new monitoring science for the environment, for the body intake, and for the Duffus concluded that “the assumptions inherent in assessment of pre-clinical responses (e.g., Gene- regulatory toxicology should be reviewed regularly to Environment Initiative, U.S. National Institutes of bring them in line with current scientific thinking; this Health) implies continuing revision of rodent (and other) test • epi-genetics, which is the science of the fac- guidelines to ensure that the tests provide relevant tors that effect gene expression and provides data and that the data are correctly interpreted.” evidence of inheritable changes in response to IUPAC should play its part in this work, he said. environmental factors (exposures that may affect future generations) Panel and Discussion
He outlined a number of ways to maintain focus Moderated by Elsa Reichmanis (Alcatel-Lucent) and support for incorporating new, improved technol- Alan Boobis reflected that there needs to be a chemi- ogy in our risk assessments. Following are some of his cal basis for concerns relating to chemicals and health. suggestions: In some of the NGO activity that we see, this is miss- • tools to link chemistry and biology in the new ing; the focus is more on concerns of the unknown. toxicology paradigms to be able to address the Aside from well-known environmental toxicants and often subtle and more complex effects of real examples of environmental mismanagement, there is environments on health little evidence of human susceptibility to chemicals at • systems to manage, interpret, and apply the the background environmental levels encountered in explosion of data that will follow from the applica- the developed world. Here, he said, current regulations tion of new technologies are already precautionary and have served us well, • education of the public to avoid policies that providing adequate protection. address “apparent problems,” but which could Boobis pointed out that policy makers do have a create greater adverse consequences tough job however and many science gaps remain. • improved science support to policy through Following are some of his ideas for how the scientific — a renewed commitment to follow the scien- community and governments can fill these gaps: tific method • develop mechanistic insights to show that thresh- — testing hypotheses and validating methods olds of activity exist — confirming data and results clearly • ensure biomarker data is acceptable to regulators — communicating data and results clearly • confirm that current multigenerational studies can — considering alternative, biologically plau- identify multigenerational effects sible and reasonable explanations for • develop tiered approaches to risk assessment to observations enable a focus on priorities
12 CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 Proceedings of the World Chemistry Leadership Meeting
• understand the modes of action for different cat- authoritative “white books” have been prepared in the egories of chemicals past and in response to the issues related to chlorine and endocrine disruption. Mapping emerging scientific He agreed these were areas where chemistry needs issues of importance to industrial members would also to work with biology and medical science. be valuable, balancing the perspectives of the science, Speaking for UNEP, Matthew Gubb picked up on those of society, and those where IUPAC can have the theme that there is a need to strengthen the sci- influence. entific base. This is a key component of SAICM, which The relationship between regulation and public per- he emphasised is a multistakeholder activity. As he ceptions of chemistry was also raised. IUPAC is already explained, it is important to recognize that govern- seeking to address these public perceptions and felt ments need to respond to societal concern and that this relationship could be addressed in the proposed authoritative science is needed to bridge that gap, UN/UNESCO International Year of Chemistry in 2011 improve understanding, and influence perceptions. He which could serve to highlight both the benefits of encouraged IUPAC to play an active role in the future chemistry and the effective management of hazards. SAICM conferences outlined by Koch, which will review IUPAC President Bryan Henry concluded by sum- progress and identify emerging issues. The conference marizing points he had noted from the four presenta- in 2009 will include reports from science bodies which tions and the plenary discussion: will recommend areas for action to provide a pathway 1. Rainer Koch’s description of the industry response to future regulation. It will be important that this is to the new regulatory environment and his recom- well grounded and that issues not yet addressed are mendations for IUPAC to engage in SAICM highlighted. He foresaw IUPAC acting as a focal point 2. Carol Henry’s description of the experience of is this regard. Responsible Care, which highlighted the impor- The discussion continued with a fundamental ques- tance of public perceptions of both the industry tion: What is a chemical? As Duffus noted, for the pub- and the application of chemistry lic the term “chemicals” has tended to mean products 3. Richard Phillips’ focus on key emerging issues produced by the chemicals industry. Boobis stated that such as nanotechnology, biomonitoring, and a chemical is a substance, natural or synthetic, that transgenerational effects in which chemistry may interact with a biological system. Care is needed, needs to consider its contribution he said, with the definitions and classifications in com- 4. John Duffus’ identification of the ambiguity in mon use as toxicology is indifferent to the source of a the chemistry applied in many areas of regulation chemical, which may be natural or synthetic. The feel- today ing was that this is understood by regulators, but there is an educational question for the public. As a question Henry noted that underlying many of the science of nomenclature, this may be something for IUPAC to and policy questions that were raised in the discussion consider, said Carol Henry. was a lack of public understanding and appreciation of The panellists and audience exchanged questions on chemistry. The balance of science funding for cutting- a variety of topics. Are scientists part of the problem? edge and for applied research was important given Do they make it difficult to appreciate and objectively the needs to develop practical public health meth- debate “chemicals” and “chemical issues” in public? odologies such as biomonitoring. He said it was clear What will be regarded as safe in 15 years and how can that many issues were raised where IUPAC can help we continue to improve public health? Is the focus on and the dialogue (with industry and the UN agencies) chemicals fully justified, considering that many of the should continue. environmental problems come from human and mam- malian waste? Don’t most of the problems exist in the Colin Humphris
CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 13 IUPAC in Torino, Italy—Part II
he 41st IUPAC World Chemistry Congress, which had the theme of “Chemistry Protecting Health, TNatural Environment, and Cultural Heritage,” was held at the Lingotto Conference Center in Torino, Italy, 5–11 August 2007. The Congress, which was co-organized by the Italian Chemical Society, the National Research Council of Italy, the University of Turin, and the Polytechnic of Turin, is an international scientific conference that meets concurrently with Plenary lecturer Kurt Wüthrich (left) and Francesco De the General Assembly, the meetings of the governing Angelis, co-chair of the Congress International Advisory bodies and committees of IUPAC. Board and president of the Italian Chemical Society.
The Congress
“Chemistry is istry to its effect on society. “People Science cannot understand people.” Beautiful”—A Report are not happier,” Hoffmann said, Speaking of how little the gen- on the Opening Plenary referring to people in cultures that eral public understands chemistry, have the benefits of modern sci- he said, “Half of the nitrogen atoms Lecture by Roald ence, “and many do not praise tech- in me are from a chemical reactor Hoffmann nology” because “people are not through the Haber-Bosch process.” happy by nature.” That comment It was clear from the buzz and nods by Neil Gussman started a small buzz in the audience. that this fact was news to many— “Chemistry has so much to be proud Hoffmann went on to say that the even in an audience more familiar of,” said chemist, poet, playwright, divide between those in the sciences with chemistry than just about any and polymath Roald Hoffmann in his and the wider population exists similar-sized group on the planet. opening plenary lecture at the IUPAC because “people are not machines. Since it went into use in Germany Congress in Torino. Hoffmann’s talk, They are wonderful, vexing beings. at the beginning of World War I, the which began with chemistry then Haber-Bosch process has been the gave a glimpse of his views on phi- source of an ever-larger fraction of losophy and human nature, pre- the nitrogen available for biological ceded a staging of his latest play, processes. Should’ve. Hoffmann then addressed the Hoffmann, the 1981 Nobel laureate perception of chemistry among the in chemistry, credits the chemical wider public. “In the past 50 years, sciences with providing spiritual as pollution has changed from nor- well as material progress to human- mal entropy to a sin,” he asserted. ity. “Knowledge of genetics, of the The public perception of chemistry cosmos, of the color of cornflowers” descended from a mid-20th-century is just part of an “incredible gain source of innovation and products in knowledge” through chemistry, to make life better to a source of Hoffmann said. He noted that the pollution and a threat to health. He knowledge that chemistry gave the then proposed a three-point plan to world supplied “improvements for reconnect chemistry with the world some, but not for all.” at large. Chemistry leaders should: Hoffmann then turned from chem- 1. accept human nature
14 CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 of Chemistry in Multidisciplinary Approaches, the intersecting worlds of science and art, was pre- Aiming at Protecting Cultural Heritage” (See sented by the Should Have Theatre, an independent related feature on page 4.) professional theater company hosted by The King’s y Robert Huber (Nobel laureate, Max-Planck-Institut University College of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. für Biochemie, Germany), “Proteins and their The play featured Michele Brown as Katie Wertheim, Structures for Basic Science and Application in Maralyn Ryan as Julia Hollander, and Robert Clinton as Medicine” Stefan Cardenas. Peter Mahaffy (The King’s University y Akira Fujishima (Kanagawa Academy of Science College), chair of the Committee on Chemistry and Technology, Japan), “The Increasing Education, served as the liaison between IUPAC and Contribution of Photocatalysis to Comfort and the production team, which included his son Reuben, Safety in the Urban Environment” who was videographer and projection designer. y Vincenzo Balzani (University of Bologna, Italy), In another significant event, the City of Torino “Molecular Devices and Machines” and IUPAC held an evening meeting at the Gallery of Modern Art in memory of Primo Levi, Turinese writer, A follow-up to Hoffmann’s lecture was the premiere chemist, and Jew, on the occasion of the twentieth performance of his new play Should’ve during the anniversary of his death. Recollections of Levi were opening session of the Congress. The fully staged expressed by people who knew him and had worked production of the play, which explores ethics through with him, and through a film. Roald Hoffmann, himself
2. introduce ethical and ecological concerns in all chemical training 3. reawaken the primary motive of science, to meliorate the human condition
Hoffmann turned 70 in 2007. Born in 1937, his early life was marked by one of the worst crimes in human history. “The feeling of being dealt with unfairly causes real pain,” he said, yet he added, “I remain an opti- mist despite or because of surviving the Holocaust.” Next he turned to the effect the free market can have on ethics, say- On stage in Torino, Michele Brown as Katie Wertheim and Robert Clinton as ing, “Market conditions alone do Stefan Cardenas in the first production of Should’ve. For more about Roald Hoffmann’s Should’ve, see May-June 2007 CI, pp. 4–7. not provide motivation for ethical production decisions.” He cited the choice between producing malaria audience and watched the premiere “Chemistry is beautiful.” Through drugs and Viagra as an instance of of his third play, which follows the plays and poetry, he brings his own where the free market can lead. family of a scientist who commit- perception of beauty to audiences As he brought his talk to an end ted suicide as they deal with the who might otherwise never be able Hoffmann connected creativity and consequences and the meaning of to see what he sees in chemistry. responsibility to describe the ten- his death and the choices they made sion central to his latest play. He because of him. Neil Gussman
CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 15 IUPAC in Torino, Italy—Part II
a Holocaust survivor, offered a very moving tribute the procedures that would have to be followed to the works of Levi, who survived internment at in order for 2011 to be designated by the United Auschwitz, and the impact they had on his own teach- Nations as the International Year of Chemistry (note ing and writing. was made that 2007 was the Year of Chemistry in Invited and contributed oral and poster presenta- Spain), and from the subcommittee on Chemistry tions at the Congress were made within 10 topical Education for Development about the current Flying groups: environment, health, cultural heritage, mate- Chemists Program to revitalize tertiary education in rials and nanotechnology, theoretical and computer the Philippines. This latter subcommittee also reported chemistry, inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, on the establishment of the Network for Inter-Asian organic and polymer chemistry, biological and bio- Chemistry Educators, among Korea, Japan, Hong physical chemistry, and chemical education. Kong, China, and Taiwan, which held a symposium in The next IUPAC Congress and General Assembly Taipei in July 2007. will be held 1–9 August 2009, in Glasgow, Scotland. If Next on the agenda was a presentation by the you wish to look further ahead, Puerto Rico will be the Chemical Heritage Foundation (CHF). Edwin “Ted” venue of the Congress and General Assembly from 30 Becker, long-time officer of both IUPAC and CHF, July–7 August 2011. opened the session by describing the Philadelphia- based organization using its mission statement of www.iupac2009.org treasuring the past, educating the present, and inspir- www.iupac2011.org ing the future. Becker briefly described the collections, including thousands of rare books in the history of chemistry and early science, the world’s largest collec- Division Roundups— tion of art about alchemy, and many artifacts as varied as 18th century lab glassware and mid-20th century Part II chemistry sets. Addressing CHF’s education outreach, he talked about the ways in which IUPAC and CHF Part 1 of the Division Roundups from the 2007 General could cooperate to extend the reach of both organiza- Assembly in Torino, Italy, appeared in the Nov-Dec 2007 tions, particularly through the web. CI (page 7). That article covered Division IV: Polymer, Becker was followed by Neil Gussman, who spoke Division V: Analytical Chemistry, Division VI: Chemistry about current programs at CHF and how he saw them and the Environment, and CHEMRAWN. Prior to the fitting together with IUPAC efforts. Gussman is the GA, all divisions and standing committees provided communications manager for CHF and has more than a written report that is part of the Council Agenda 20 years experience in public relations for chemical book available online
16 CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 Division Roundups—Part II
Bradley (University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa). The meeting will be preceded by an on-line confer- ence on “Computational and Theoretical Chemistry Applications in Chemical Education,” which will be part of the CONFCHEM Conferences on Chemistry of CHED
CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 17 Division Roundups—Part II
in Spanish or Portuguese and English, is available for on a fundraising committee to bolster the funds avail- free online. able to the committee over and above the operations Excellent progress has been realized on the follow- and project budget. ing projects: The Safety Training Program, in which professional y concepts and structure for requests in clinical chemists and chemical engineers in developing coun- laboratories tries are exposed to safety practices of the chemical y internationally agreed terminology for observa- industry in the developed world, continues. At the tions in scientific communication meeting, it was reported that two more trainees had y mapping of IFCC-IUPAC laboratory coding system undergone training at the Mitsui Corporation in Japan. to SNOMED CT There is no shortage of trainees wishing to participate y securing and structural updating of information in in this program, which enjoys wide acknowledgement the NPU coding system and its environment in IUPAC. A recurring problem, however, is the avail- y recent advances in Nomenclature, Properties, ability of host companies. An idea for a spin off of and Units: strategy for promoting SC-NPU the program, initiated by one of the Uruguayan train- achievements ees, is to develop a safety training program in South America. The second edition of the glossary of terms used One of the new initiatives of the committee is in toxicology was published in the September 2007 to foster closer collaboration with trade associa- issue of Pure and Applied Chemistry. Philip Wexler, tions, particularly with CEFIC (the European Trade National Library of Medicine, Division of Specialized Association) and the International Council of Chemical Information Services, will incorporate this into his Associations. COCI organized the World Chemistry book Information Resources in Toxicology. Leadership Meeting (WCLM) at the General Assembly Work has commenced on the “Explanatory as part of its process of collaboration. The proceed- Dictionary of Concepts in Toxicokinetics (part II)” and ings of the WCLM will be reported on the IUPAC web- is expected to be completed within the stipulated site (see feature on page 10). time. Once complete and accepted for publication COCI continued to promote the recruitment of new in PAC, parts II and I will be combined, revised, and company associates and a new brochure expounding reformatted into book form to be published by the the merits of joining IUPAC is in the final stages of Royal Society of Chemistry under the title Concepts publication. The committee continues to work with the in Toxicology. Committee on Chemistry Education on promoting the The Division had four posters exhibited at the public appreciation of chemistry. A decision was also Congress in Torino. There was one general poster made at the meeting to forge closer interactions with presenting the activities of the Chemistry and National Adhering Organizations. As a pilot project, it Human Health Division and one poster for each was decided to run a workshop with NAOs in Europe of the three subcommittees: SC on Nomenclature, as part of the annual meeting in Marl, Germany, in April Properties, and Units in Laboratory Medicine; SC on 2008 (see IUPAC project 2006-030-1-022,
18 CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 News and information on IUPAC, its fellows, and member organizations. IUPAC Wire See also www.iupac.org/news Polymer International–IUPAC Award IUPAC InChI/InChIKey Project Joins 2008: Call for Nominations Microsoft BioIT Alliance
he executive editors of Polymer International he continued development of new and power- and the IUPAC Polymer Division have estab- ful medications for treatment of disease relies Tlished an award for creativity in applied poly- Tmore and more heavily on collaborative proj- mer science or polymer technology. This new award, ects, involving organizations possessing a wide range which celebrates the achievements of young research- of complementary skills. The discovery techniques ers in the polymer community, will be presented at the developed over many IUPAC World Polymer Congress—MACRO 2008, to be years by the pharma- held 29 June–4 July 2008 in Taipei, Taiwan. ceutical industry can now be married with The winner will be awarded USD 5 000 plus travel a new generation of and hotel accommodation expenses to attend MACRO genome-based tech- 2008, where he/she will present a plenary-type lec- nologies, enabling ture. All nominations are due by 15 March 2008 to many quite different Samantha Swann
CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 19 IUPAC Wire
The BioTeam, Inc.; Digipede Technologies LLC; Discovery structure, it will do the following: Biosciences Corporation; Geospiza, Inc.; Hewlett-Packard • facilitate web searching Development Company, L.P.; Illumina, Inc.; InterKnowlogy; • allow development of a web-based InChI lookup Microsoft Corporation; Sun Microsystems, Inc.; The Scripps service Research Institute; VizX Labs, LLC; and other companies • permit an InChI representation to be stored in in the pharmaceutical, biotech, hardware, and software industries. Additional information can be found on the BioIT fixed length fields Alliance website at
Stephen Heller (IUPAC Division of Chemical Chemical Heritage Foundation Nomenclature and Structure Representation) says: Names Thomas R. Tritton President “The InChI/InChIKey is the first publicly available unique chemical identifier. Until IUPAC developed homas R. Tritton, formerly president of Haverford the InChI/InChIKey, it had not been possible to link College, will become president of the Chemical and exchange information and data between the vast THeritage Foundation (CHF) effective 1 January chemical world and the life sciences world that the 2008. He will be only the second president of CHF, Microsoft BioIT Alliance supports. The InChI/InChIKey succeeding Arnold Thackray, who founded the orga- is like a Digital Object Identifier for chemicals. The nization in Philadelphia 25 years ago and will continue InChI/InChIKey is an agent of change and an agent with CHF in the new role of chancellor. of the future for linking the chemical, biochemical, and biomedical information and data on the web. The “I am enormously excited to be InChI/InChIKey provides the Microsoft BioIT Alliance returning to my roots as a scien- with a unique, easy, accurate, universal, and free way tist,” says Dr. Tritton. “My life has to link the information they collect and use internally been devoted to education and and provide externally to their customers. . . . I am very the CHF position offers a new pleased that I am part of the team that has been able way to continue that calling in to put this one small, but vital link in place to support directions that are both original and enhance drug discovery and improve the health of and challenging.” all persons around the world.” Tritton was selected following According to Rudy Potenzone, Microsoft’s direc- a worldwide search for someone tor of the BioIT Alliance and industry strategist for with both scholarly and entrepre- life sciences, “Microsoft is pleased to have IUPAC, neurial talents, who combines a passion for the long the international chemistry standards organization, sweep of chemistry and molecular sciences with the join the Microsoft BioIT Alliance. The IUPAC InChI/ drive to build and sustain a successful enterprise. InChIKey is a critical link in making the goal of improv- “Scientist, scholar, inspiring leader, Tom Tritton is ing biomedical data interchange come to fruition in the right person at the right time for CHF,” said Vincent the near future. As more companies and organizations Calarco, chairman of the CHF Board of Directors. “His use the IUPAC InChI/InChIKey to connect information, passion for chemistry, his energy, his leadership will the international scientific community will benefit. help CHF achieve its ambitious goals . . .” We hope their participation in the Alliance can help “CHF’s world-class scientific collections and hold- expand its usage.” ings provide an outstanding resource for scholars and a natural linkage to both the humanities and to the About the BioIT Alliance social sciences,” said Tritton. “Additionally, the work Formed in 2006, the BioIT Alliance is a cross-industry group on science education, outreach, and public policy working to integrate science and technology in order to offers distinctive contributions to contemporary ques- accelerate the pace of drug discovery and realize the poten- tions and societal needs.” tial of personalized medicine. Founding members include Accelrys Software, Inc.; Affymetrix, Inc.; Agilent Technologies, www.chemheritage.org Inc.; Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Applied Biosystems;
20 CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 IUPAC Wire
Zafra Lerman Receives George the Ninth District of Illinois. Brown Award for International Ambassador Reno Harnish, III, the principal deputy assistant Scientific Collaboration secretary of state in the Bureau of Oceans and International he U.S. Civilian Research and Development Environmental and Scientific Foundation (CRDF), based in Arlington, Virginia, Affairs, served as the keynote TUSA, presented its George Brown Award for speaker. International Scientific Cooperation to an outstanding scientist 11 October 2007 at the U.S. Department of About CRDF State. Zafra Lerman, head of the Institute for Science CRDF is a nonprofit organiza- Education and Science Communication at Columbia tion authorized by the U.S. Congress and established College Chicago, was recognized for her use of inter- in 1995 by the National Science Foundation. This national science collaboration to promote peace and unique public-private partnership promotes interna- prosperity. tional scientific and technical collaboration through grants, technical resources, and training. Presented annually by CRDF, the George Brown Award honors the vision and legacy of the late www.crdf.org/georgebrown Congressman George E. Brown Jr., a recognized advo- cate of science in the interest of peace. His vision and efforts helped to create the institutional framework for In Memoriam: The Oldest Active science and technology in the federal government, as Chemist Dies at the Age of Nearly One well as several nongovernmental organizations, includ- Hundred ing CRDF. CRDF created the award three years ago to recognize individuals who continue Brown’s scientific li Rıza Berkem, born in 1908 in Izmir, Turkey, vision. died on 22 May 2007. He was the head of the In her acceptance speech, Lerman described sci- ATurkish Chemistry Association (Türkiye Kimya ence as an international language and an invaluable Dernegi), one of the National Adhering Organizations way to build peace in such regions as the Middle East. of IUPAC. Lerman has recently focused on connecting scientists from different countries within the Middle East to begin Following high school, Berkem was one of the building the basis for serious cooperation and commu- young Turks selected after an examination to continue nication in the future—including an annual conference their educations in a European university, mostly in held in Malta that brings together scientists from Israel Germany, France, or England. Berkem studied chemis- and other Middle Eastern nations. (See more about this try at Montpellier University (1928–1932), graduated as IUPAC activity in the Mar-Apr 2006 CI,
CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 21 IUPAC Wire time became head of the department. He formed the and Technology Institute of Turkey gave him an honor- nucleus of the Physical Chemistry department in the ary membership. He also received honorary member- Faculty of Sciences, publishing 30 scientific books and ships from the Société de Chimie Industrielle of France a large number of research papers. He could often be and the Turkish Society of Chemical Industry. found in the lab with his graduate students. Berkem married a biochemist who was his student After the war, new universities were founded in vari- once, and together they had three daughters. ous cities. Berkem was always ready to work, advise, In addition to his scientific books and articles take part, and give lectures until these institutions had Berkem had many semi-scientific articles in popular enough faculty members. Berkem was also a visiting science journals and social articles in daily newspa- scholar at European and American universities, includ- pers. He never retired, working enthusiastically until ing Oregon University and Oak Ridge Nuclear Center the very last few weeks when he died from kidney in 1956. In 1950, after becoming a full professor, he failure. He always had goals to be achieved, dreams was elected as the Dean of the Faculty for two terms. to be realized, and expectations to make life more After that he was elected to the University Senate as meaningful and memorable. He was kind, understand- the representative of the Faculty of Sciences. He was ing, tolerent, optimistic, and a determined person. His honored many times by his colleagues and by vari- heart was full of love not only for his family and his ous institutions. He was given the title “ombudsman” students, but also for mankind. by the Turkish Chemical Society with the approval of every single member. Submitted by Prof. Ayhan Ulubelen, faculty member at the University of Istanbul, Anatolian University, now the biggest in Turkey gave Turkey, and titular member of Chemrawn. him an honorary doctorate and in 2002 the Science Information about new, current, and complete IUPAC projects and related initiatives. The Project Place See also www.iupac.org/projects
Electrochemical DNA-Based Recent Advances in Nomenclature, Biosensors: Terms and Methodology Properties and Units: Strategy for Biosensors based on deoxyribonucleic nucleic acid Promoting SC-NPU Achievements (DNA) are well recognized among the family of chemi- In clinical laboratory sciences a nomenclature is cal sensors. With respect to the specific role of DNA required to facilitate electronic exchanges. SC-NPU in organisms, there are some remarkable specific fea- provides a database that is set according to ISO and tures of DNA-based biosensors that are applied mainly CEN standards, and IUPAC and IFCC recommenda- to the investigation of DNA itself. These biosensors tions. The objective of this project is to promote the are used to determine the concentration, structure, database. and chemical reactivity of DNA in relation to drugs The SC-NPU database has been freely available in and chemicals, including pro- and antioxidants, and English, Danish, and Swedish for several years and is for the detection of specific genes or mutant genes currently used in Denmark and Sweden. It is now being associated with human genetic diseases and infec- developed in Catalan, French, German, Portuguese, tious agents. With electrochemical signal transduc- and Spanish versions. Notes, explanations, and links ers, the main advantages of biosensors are their low to other relevant websites will also be added to the cost, fast response, simple design, small dimensions, database. Once these new versions of the SC-NPU and low power requirements at their high-detection database are available, it is important that they are potentialities. promoted widely. Clinical laboratory professionals in In 1999, the IUPAC technical report “Electrochemical the countries where these languages are spoken need Biosensors: Recommended Definitions and to be informed about this database. Classification” was published. This report did not deal In order to so, the SC-NPU project team intends to extensively with DNA as the biological recognition ele- organize a worldwide information campaign aimed at ment, but considered its use in the future. Since that the clinical laboratory sciences community. To start, time, significant progress has been achieved in the this project will involve the publication of articles in development and application of electrochemical sen- various clinical laboratory sciences journals, present- sors based on DNA and other nucleic acids (including ing the database and demonstrating its advantages. To aptamers and peptide nucleic acids). Yet, so far there complete this communication campaign, the project have been no efforts at essential classification in this team will present posters and organize workshops and dynamically developing field. This project is intended roundtables at international and regional congresses, to produce a critical evaluation of the terms and meth- such as those organized by IUPAC and IFCC. odology related to DNA-based biosensors. These communications will publicize the useful The project deals with the following: aspects of the SC-NPU database, including the fact • DNA-based biocomponents (natural, biomimetic), that it has a multilanguage terminology set, which is including their electrochemical responses constantly revised according to scientific advances, • type of interaction to be addressed (DNA hybrid- and that it is free online for any clinical laboratory pro- ization, DNA-drug, interactions, aptamer-antigen fessional. The syntax of the terms is simple and unique interactions, etc.) and based upon ISO and CEN standards and IFCC • detection principles (label-free, label-based, and IUPAC recommendations. The SC-NPU database reagentless, indicator-based, etc.) includes descriptions of 15 000 properties covering • construction of DNA biosensors and DNA chips all fields of clinical laboratory sciences, each with a • their specific performance criteria specific and ready-to-use code. The project team plans to disseminate its work This project should be valuable to academic, bio- through IUPAC and IFCC contacts. The help of National medical, environmental, and food-testing research- Adhering Organizations and Company Associates will ers, as well as to drug-developing labs and sensor be enlisted to promote the SC-NPU database. producers. For more information, contact the Task Group Chair Françoise Pontet
CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 23 The Project Place
A Multilingual Encyclopedia of Polymer Terminology This project is aimed at preparing a web-based and user-friendly multilingual encyclopedia of polymer terms and definitions that initially will be based on the “Glossary of Basic Terms in Polymer Science” (IUPAC In the original version of the booklet, the Recommendations 1996). Once available on the IUPAC “Perspectives” section was dedicated to the Kyoto website, the user will be able to look up any term and protocol and issues closely tied to Europe and Italy. In its definition, as well as its translation into languages the translations, this section was updated and custom- other than English. In the first instance, translations ized to address issues facing each user country. into Czech, French, Polish, and Portuguese will be The English, Spanish, and Portuguese translations incorporated. At a later stage, the more complex were published by INCA in July 2007 and are now task of including languages based on character sets available online at
24 CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 The Project Place
Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent development and uses of chemistry occur and guid- Procedure, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent ing principles for a code of conduct would provide a Organic Pollutants, the Montreal Protocol, and the framework within which to consider such issues. Basel Convention on Hazardous Wastes. In developing the guiding principles, a process Increased attention is being given to ethical prin- of widespread consultation involving different cul- ciples and codes around the world, including initiatives tural perspectives from around the world will ensure such as those of the UNESCO Division of Ethics of that the recommended codes are informed by the Science and Technology. Furthermore, the new gen- experience of other professional bodies that have eration of chemists is keen to see ethical and other codes, such as the International Council of Chemical considerations, such as the environment, taken into Associations, which developed the Responsible Care account. Guiding principles for a code of conduct Global Charter. In addition, UNESCO and ICSU have would strengthen international chemistry, and help to worked extensively on education and codes. achieve high standards of excellence and relevance In order to have an impact on practice, codes need in academic, governmental, and industrial activities. to be dynamic rather than static, and need to be incor- Such a code would also promote the service of chem- porated into a continuing process that is considered istry to society and to global issues. prior to each new piece of work. The project team will Guiding principles for a code would recognize the consider how to ensure that IUPAC can, in the future, extraordinary benefits to the quality of life, public engage in processes that help the recommended guid- health, and agriculture throughout the world made ing principles for codes to be embodied in the practice available by the knowledge, methods, and techniques of chemistry. involving chemicals. It would promote all aspects of chemistry, not just among members of the profession, For more information and comments, contact the Task Group Chair Graham S. but increasingly to the worldwide community. While Pearson
Continued from page 9
Radionuclides and Radiochemistry: Part 2 References 1. Handbook on Nuclear Chemistry, 5 Vols, A. Vértes, S. Nagy, Z. Klencsár, Eds., Kluwer Academic, Amsterdam, The fast particles of nuclear origin (nucleons or clusters Netherlands, 2003. of nucleons). Further, due to their nature as neutral 2. An.N. Nesmeyanov, Radiochemistry, MIR Publishers, English translation, Moskow, Russia, 1974. particles, neutrons can induce nuclear reaction even 3. G. Friedlander, J.K. Kennedy, E.S. Macias, J.M. Miller, at the most probable thermal energy of only 0.025 eV Nuclear and Radiochemistry, John Wiley and Sons, New 2 (i.e.,
CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 25 Provisional Recommendations
Provisional Recommendations are drafts of IUPAC recommendations on terminology, nomenclature, and symbols made widely available to allow interested parties to comment before the recommendations are finally revised and published in Pure and Applied Chemistry.
www.iupac.org/reports/provisional
Metrological Traceability of Glossary of Terms Used in Measurement Results in Chemistry Pharmaceutics In commerce, society, and science, metrological com- This Glossary of Terms in Pharmaceutics is needed by parability of measured quantity values and various practitioners in the field of pharmaceutics—a field that published values is essential to determine their spa- fulfills an important and crucial role, different from the tio-temporal differences, ratios, and drifts. Achieving roles of other scientific disciplines involved in the drug- metrological comparability of measurement results making process. The glossary contains 156 definitions requires definition of calibration hierarchies provid- used in pharmaceutics. These are related to various ing metrological traceability chains which enable the aspects of this discipline such as 1) physicochemical establishment of metrological traceability of measured characterization of pharmaceutical preparations and quantity values to a common metrological reference. the active ingredients they contain; 2) unit operations Experience has shown that the understanding of used in the practice of pharmaceutics; 3) terms related the concepts involved, their relation, role, definition, to the various dosage forms; 4) terms related to the and use is insufficient and varied. Consequently, an various modes and routes of drug delivery; and 5) attempt is made in this study to arrive at a set of terms used in pharmacokinetics and biopharmaceutics consistent concept systems with associated termi- in general, and additional miscellaneous terms. Since nology for measurement in chemistry. The systems the field of pharmaceutics is multidisciplinary, with build on definitions of concepts and associated terms practitioners from a variety of fields such as chemistry from the new 3rd edition (2007) of the International or various biological sciences, a glossary containing Vocabulary of Metrology—Basic and General Concepts authoritative definitions would be useful to them. The and Associated Terms, such as quantity, measurand, terms used in pharmaceutics are rarely covered by calibration, measurement procedure, measurement existing glossaries, and in cases were they are, their uncertainty, measurement standard, calibrator, and definitions are often inappropriate for the field of reference material. Additional concepts such as met- pharmaceutics and require new or modified definitions rological equivalence of measurement results are also to better fit the new context. given. Flow charts of generic calibration hierarchies are Comments by 30 April 2008 presented as well as a variety of examples. Prof. Eli Breuer The establishment, assessment, and reporting of Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Department of metrological traceability are discussed, including the Medicinal Chemistry, P.O. Box 12065, IL-91120 needed metrological institutional hierarchy and the Jerusalem, Israel role of interlaboratory comparisons. TEL.: +[972] 2 675 8704 Recommendations are made about the essential FAX: +[972] 2 675-8934 steps in planning and performing a measurement, and E-MAIL: [email protected] reporting a measurement result. www.iupac.org/reports/provisional/abstract07/breuer_300408.html Comments by 29 February 2008 Prof. Paul De Bièvre TEL: +[32] 14 851 338 FAX: +[32] 14 853 908 E-MAIL: [email protected]
www.iupac.org/reports/provisional/abstract07/fajgelj_290208.html
26 CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 Recent IUPAC technical reports and recommendations that affect the many fields of pure and applied chemistry. Making an imPACt See also www.iupac.org/publications/pac
Representation of Configuration and where they are already satisfactorily defined for in Coordination Polyhedra and the the scope of this document, terms from other IUPAC publications have been used. Otherwise, the terms and Extension of Current Methodology their definitions have been assembled in consultation to Coordination Numbers Greater with experts in the relevant fields. The definitions are than Six (IUPAC Technical Report) intended to assist the reader who is unfamiliar with sol-gel processing, ceramization, and related tech- Richard M. Hartshorn, Evamarie Hey-Hawkins, nologies and materials, and to serve as a guide to the René Kalio, and G. Jeffery Leigh use of standard terminology by those researching in Pure and Applied Chemistry these areas. Vol. 79, No 10, pp. 1779–1799, 2007 doi:10.1351/pac200779101779 www.iupac.org/publications/pac/79/10/1801
In this report, established IUPAC recommendations for the representation of configuration are reviewed Alcohols with Water briefly, and then methodologies are examined for dealing with regular polyhedra that are typically used IUPAC-NIST Solubility Data Series. 82 when working with coordination numbers greater than Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference 6. More than one method is available and can be used Data, 2007 for many such geometries, but the deviations from regular polyhedral geometries that are typically found In this five-part series published in 2007 in the Journal in such molecules can make it difficult to arrive repro- of Physical and Chemical Reference Data (volume 36), ducibly at the same description for a complex using the mutual solubility and related liquid–liquid equilib- purely objective criteria. Recommendations are made ria of C4, C5, C6, C7, and C8–C17 alcohols with water are for some geometries of coordination numbers 7, 8, and exhaustively and critically reviewed. Reports of experi- 9, but not for higher coordination numbers. mental determination of solubility are compiled for the chemically distinct binary systems that appeared in www.iupac.org/publications/pac/79/10/1779 the primary literature prior to end of 2004. For most of the systems, sufficient data are available to allow critical evaluation. All data are expressed as mass Definitions of Terms Relating to the percent and mole fraction as well as the originally Structure and Processing of Sols, reported units. In addition to the standard evaluation criteria used throughout the Solubility Data Series, a Gels, Networks, and Inorganic- number of new methods based on the evaluation of all Organic Hybrid Materials (IUPAC experimental data were used. Recommendations 2007) www.iupac.org/publications/sds/2007/82_abstract.html J. Alemán, A.V. Chadwick, J. He, M. Hess, K. Horie, R.G. Jones, P. Kratochvíl, I. Meisel, I. Mita, G. Moad, S. Penczek, and R.F.T. Stepto Pure and Applied Chemistry ew IUPAC projects have recently been initi- Vol. 79, No 10, pp. 1801–1829, 2007 Nated that will evaluate solubility data useful to doi:10.1351/pac200779101801 industrial processes. The projects will cover nitriles C+3: binary and multicomponent systems; mutual This document defines terms related to the struc- solubility of esters with water; solubility of higher ture and processing of inorganic, polymeric, and alkynes in liquids; and solubility in systems with inorganic-organic hybrid materials from precursors, lithium and/or sodium nitrates. through gels to solid products. It is divided into four sections—precursors, gels, solids, and processes—and www.iupac.org/divisions/V/502 the terms have been restricted to those most com- monly encountered. For the sake of completeness
CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 27 Books and publications hot off the press. See also www.iupac.org/publications Bookworm
Nomenclatura de Química Inorgánica This book contains the full translation and adaptation (Recomendaciones de la IUPAC de 2005) to Spanish of the IUPAC recommendations on nomen- clature of inorganic and organometallic compounds Spanish language version of published at the end of 2005. It is now available from Nomenclature of Inorganic Editorial Prensas Universitarias de Zaragoza, Spain. Chemistry The book was translated so that Spanish-speak- translated and adapted ing chemists can have a uniform and consistent by Miguel A. Ciriano and understanding of chemical terms. In this context, Pascual Román Polo of the the translators carefully reviewed the vocabulary of book by Neil G. Connelly, the Spanish version of Nomenclature of Inorganic Ture Damhus, Richard M. Chemistry (Recommendations 1990) by L.F. Bertello Hartshorn, and Alan T. and C. Pico Marín, which this new edition of the Red Hutton Book supersedes. The earlier Red Book proved to be ISBN 978-84-7733-905-2 a significant resource among Spanish-speaking chem- Editorial Prensas ists and was distributed widely. Universitarias de Zaragoza, June 2007 www.iupac.org/publications/books/author/RedBook-spanish.html
“Photochemistry for A Better Life” routes induced by UV radiation are described, in par- A special issue of L’Actualité Chimique, May/June ticular those involving the formation of pyrimidine 2007, edited by E. Amouyal and T.H. Tran-Thi dimers and guanine oxidation. The approaches used for the elucidation of the mechanisms involved in their reviewed by Marie-Laure Viriot, Bernard Valeur, formation include the synthesis and photochemical and Thu-Hoa Tran-Thi studies of model compounds, as well as experiments “Photochemistry for a Better Life” was the theme of performed by time resolved spectroscopy. The role of the June 2007 special issue of L’Actualité Chimique, UV radiation is also considered in the topic “Amino the official journal of the French Chemical Society Acids and Proteins in Photochemistry,” which focuses that is aimed at popularizing chemistry. For this on protein photo-fragmentation and protein photo- issue, the journal editor offered the French Group of inactivation by ruthenium complexes. In the chapter on Photochemistry the opportunity to write about the “Cellular Photoperception and Photoactive Proteins,” multiple applications of photochemistry in everyday the authors show how real-time laser spectroscopy life. The result is an issue covering four main themes: allows the characterization of the crucial photo- Light and Life; Photons for Lighting, Detection, and chemical steps in light-induced intracellular energy Analysis; Light for the Protection of the Environment; transduction. The proteins presented are involved in and Solar Energy: Energy for the Future? vision (bacteriorhodopsin), microorganism photomo- “How does light interact with living organisms?” is tility (yellow protein and oxyblepharismin), and plant the question addressed by the authors of the Light phototropism (cryptochrome), and can also be used and Life section. Five major topics are discussed, as a temporal probe (green fluorescent protein). with the central idea that light is a tool with which to The beneficial role of light is pointed out in observe, analyze, and understand the chemical reac- “Photodynamic Therapy,” which targets the destruc- tions in living organisms, but with the caveat that light tion of carcinogenic tissues by combining the actions can be harmful and beneficial at the same time. of a photoactive drug or photosensitizer with light UV radiation for instance provokes “DNA and oxygen. Additional topics discussed include the Photodamage.” Under this topic, the main DNA lesion search for new efficient and selective photoactive compounds, the photosensitization mechanism at the molecular level, and the main applications in therapy. * This review was first published in the June 2007 Newsletter of the European Photochemistry Association
28 CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 described, and different approaches for its prevention light emitting diodes and treatment are discussed. (LED). Future pros- Sustainable energy production based upon renew- pects are presented able resources is achievable. This is the message with special atten- conveyed by the authors of “Solar Energy: Energy for tion to environmental the Future?” A strategy for converting visible light into concerns. Fluorescent electrical current is described in “New Nanocrystalline lighting is of particu- Solar Cells,” with examples of credible devices able to lar interest, and cur- produce electricity from sunlight with an overall effi- rent efforts focus ciency of 11.1%. Another strategy described in this sec- on “Phosphors for tion involves new methods for efficiently splitting water Fluorescent Lighting,” into H2 and O2 without using noble metals as catalysts. with the aim of find- Many bio-inspired artificial systems elaborated for light ing more efficient materials in which “cascades of harvesting, energy transfer, and charge separation, photons” occur. The second section deals with the including a hybrid photobiofuel cell, are reviewed in use of light as a tool of detection in the field of secu- the section “Bio-Inspired Constructs for Sustainable rity. For instance, “The Detection of Explosives” is of Energy Production and Use.” In “Water Photolysis by major importance in preventing terrorist attacks and Molecular Biomimetics,” the authors describe recent facilitating mine clearance. Polymer-based fluorescent progress and findings on the structure of the water sensors show much promise in this respect. In the oxidizing enzyme of natural photosynthesis. article “Light to Fight Counterfeiting,” various marking “Light for the Protection of the Environment” cov- techniques are discussed that concern not only bank ers four topics. A rapid survey of the treatment and notes and artwork, but also more common commer- disinfection of spring water with UV and V-UV, and cial products. “Light and Trace in Police Inquiry” are also of air treatment using V-UV irradiation, is given strongly associated: Fluorescence and chemilumines- in “Photons Can Directly Destroy Pathogens and cence for are currently used at crime scenes. Pollutants.” In “Solar Light to Eliminate Pollutants,” The third theme concerns light and art. In the article the focus is on the solar-induced transformation of “Optics for a Better Knowledge of Works of Art,” organic pollutants present in the upper layer of water various techniques and applications are presented: surfaces, and on the surfaces of soil or leaves, which identification of pigments by diffuse reflectance, can lead to stable and more or less toxic compounds. identification of varnishes by fluorescence under UV To illustrate the photo-transformation of the pol- illumination, and distinction of different artistic tech- lutants, three examples are given. In “Detecting the niques by goniophotometry and colorimetry. “Dating Pollutants in Air and in Water,” the authors show the by Luminescence” is the subject of the last article. large panoply of tools and methods (LIDARs, chemilu- The energy accumulated by minerals with time, as a minescence, fluorescence) developed for the analysis result of the natural radioactivity, can be released in and detection of pollutants (particulates, nitrogen the form of light with heating (thermoluminescence) oxides, formaldehyde, heavy ions) in various environ- or with light irradiation (optically stimulated lumines- ments. In section on “Photocatalysis for the Elimination cence), with the amount of light proportional to the of Pollutants,” the main concepts of photocatalysis are elapsed time. described and the latest research developments in the This issue can be ordered online through the web- field are reviewed. A special focus is on the strategies site of L’Actualité Chimique. A second special issue on aimed at improving the efficiency of TiO2, such as the “Photochemistry to Transform Matter” is scheduled in use of dopant, surface treatments, coupling of TiO2 2008. with dyes absorbing in the visible, and modifications of the structure and morphology of the photocata- Marie-Laure Viriot
CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 29 Providing brief overviews of helpful chemistry resources on the web. Internet Connection See also www.iupac.org/links
ChemSpider and Its only it could be found. The challenge is finding chem- istry—specifically chemical structures across the web. Expanding Web Maybe ChemSpider can help? Building a Structure-Centric ChemSpider13 was initially developed as a hobby Community for Chemists project by a small group of dedicated cheminformatics specialists. The inten- by Antony Williams tion was to aggregate and index avail- able sources of chemical structures o declare that the worldwide and their associated information into a web has changed our lives is single searchable repository that would Treally an understatement. The be available to everybody, at no charge. impact on commerce, information The success of the PubChem project14 exchange, social networking, and pro- had demonstrated both the value and vision of access to a myriad of other attractiveness of an online structure forms of interaction and data, while breathtaking, database for facilitating the connections between continues to expand at an astounding pace. In the structures and associated data. While PubChem deliv- domain of chemistry, scientists have long had access ered on its mission to host and disseminate data to text-based searching provided by any of the pri- associated with the Molecular Libraries Roadmap mary search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and so Initiative,15 the plethora of possible extensions to such on. When those search efforts are facilitated by a pro- an approach to provide value to the chemistry com- vider such as Google and focused on patent searches1 munity remained attractive to the ChemSpider team. and literature articles2 then chemists can directly ChemSpider, unveiled to the public on 24 March probe those domains of information. In a similar way 2007 in time for the Spring ACS meeting, delivered on chemists today have access to tens of thousands of one of the initial concepts. There are tens if not hun- chemistry articles via searches on platforms including dreds of chemical structure databases such as literature PubMed,3 Google Scholar,4 and ChemRefer.5 data, chemical vendor catalogs, molecular properties, environmental data, toxicity data, analytical data etc. While the general nature of text-based searches and no single way to search across them. Many of provides a familiar environment for chemists to search these databases are for profit and there is no way to and review their results, chemists’ natural affinity for easily determine the availability of information within communicating via chemical structures demands the these commercial or open access databases. One of need to perform searches in a “natural language.” Ask the initial concepts for ChemSpider was to aggregate a chemist about his/her preferred manner for search- into a single database all chemical structures available ing chemistry databases and he/she will generally within open access and commercial databases and to state they prefer structure-based searching. There are provide the necessary pointers from the ChemSpider certainly commercial solutions that provide chemical- search engine to the information of interest. When structure-based searches of literature and patent data the system first went online, only the PubChem data (CAS,6 Infochem,7 and Elsevier MDL8 to name a few) sources, around 10 million structures, were hosted as as well as a myriad of solutions for managing in-house a proof of concept. As of this writing, the ChemSpider organizational data collections. database has indexed over 8 million additional unique In a world changed forever by the dominance of chemical compounds. The data hosted today comes web-based searching and the freedom that blogging from over 80 different data sources, including include now offers to scientists in terms of creativity, criti- chemical vendors, chemistry database vendors, online cism, and connectivity, a focus on the management chemistry resources, aggregated data sets from the of only highly curated, peer-reviewed data is leaving literature, virtual libraries, and user submissions. untouched the information deposited and exchanged Rather than provide here a detailed examination across the web on a daily basis. With daily updates of of the functions and capabilities associated with Open Access9 articles, with online theses now expos- ChemSpider, the reader is pointed to the online ing research,10 and Open Notebook Science11 starting overview13 of the capabilities of the system. The to grab the attention of scientists, chemistry that was capabilities include flexible text and structure-based previously “lost”12 might be available for all to review, if searching of the database to facilitate structure iden-
30 CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 www.chemspider.com tification, the text-based searching of over 50 000 open access chemistry articles, structure/substruc- ture-based searching of U.S. and European patents, structure and spectra deposition to share data across the chemistry community, and the prediction of chem- ical properties using software provided by a series of collaborators. ChemSpider continues to grow in its reach into the chemistry community with a number of specific missions: The intention for ChemSpider remains true to its ini- 1. Improving the quality of available information. tial vision—to build a structure-centric community for A number of blog postings16 have pointed to chemists. The manner by which we get there is chang- the quality of information available in online ing with experience and available tools, but hopefully databases. With millions of indexed compounds, we will be part of the overall team of passionate indi- ChemSpider has enabled a community-based viduals working to make the worldwide web search- curating process17 to help improve the association able by chemical structures, improving accessibility between a chemical compound and a set of iden- to scientific information, and speeding the process of tifiers (systematic names, trade names, synonyms, discovery. ChemSpider will continue to demonstrate registry numbers). the potential of the semantic web.24 2. Increased access to chemistry-related information. There are many types of data and information Acknowledgments that can be associated with chemical compounds I would like to acknowledge the development team and made available to the benefit of the chem- of ChemSpider. They continue to amaze me with their istry community. As an example, the association passion, energy level, and commitment to making a of analytical data18 has been demonstrated, the difference. We have used a number of Open Source integration to patent searches,19 and, presently in tools on ChemSpider, but I would especially like to progress, the integration to QSAR-based model- thank the OpenBabel team, the InChI team, and the ing.20 These efforts will continue. JSpecView team. My acknowledgements to ACD/ 3. Provide access to online tools and services. Labs, Igor Tetko, and ChemAxon for providing predic- ChemSpider already serves up the online predic- tion algorithms for the system. My personal thanks to tion of certain chemical properties for chemists to many of my fellow bloggers who keep the conversa- take advantage of and a number of software algo- tions entertaining, especially Joerg Wegner, Egon rithms provided by collaborators will be added Willighagen, Jean-Claude Bradley, Peter Murray-Rust, into the system. Web services such as the recently and Rich Apodaca. My thanks to the advisory group released InChI21 and OpenBabel services will con- of over 20 people from across the industry—you help tinue to be made available as a service to the make it all possible. community.22 References ChemSpider is proving to be a success based on a All of the references for this article are URLs, which are avail- able online at
CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 31 Reports from recent conferences and symposia See also www.iupac.org/symposia Conference Call The Evolving Identity of try. The severe attacks on chemistry’s public image has Chemistry led for several decades to various counter-strategies, many focused on costly advertising campaigns, oth- by D. Thorburn Burns and Brigitte Van ers on popularizing the discipline and developing new Tiggelen teaching techniques. To historians, the problem is not just one of image; the recent emergence of new fields A widely attended international conference of more (material science or biotechnology to name but two) than 110 participants from 26 countries gathered in clearly raises the question of the identity of chemis- Erasmushuis at the University of Leuven, Belgium, try. Putting this question in historical perspective is from 28 August–1 September 2007 for the 6th a good reminder that chemistry actually never held a International Conference on the History of Chemistry definite and unchanging identity. On the contrary, the (6ICHC), organized by the Working Party on History of science of matter (chemistry) and its transformations Chemistry of the European Association for Chemical with time are very much controlled by reactivity to and Molecular Sciences (EuCheMS). A major aim changes in the scientific and social environments. of these conferences is to facilitate communication Throughout its history, chemistry has been shifting between chemists interested in history and historians ground between different identities. From its roots of chemistry from all over Europe. The first such con- in artisan technologies, pharmaceutical workshops, ference was organized in Hungary in 1991. Since then and alchemistic philosophy, it has developed into an the working party has fostered the creation of what archetypical laboratory science of the eighteenth and is now a well-connected community that meets every nineteenth centuries, ultimately claiming full academic two years. status. Chemists have invaded many new fields, from Previous conferences were held in Budapest in agriculture and industry, to medicine, public hygiene, September 2003 and in Lisbon in September 2005. and pharmacology. In the twentieth century, chemistry The 2007 theme “Neighbors and Territories: The contributed to the major scientific developments in Evolving Identity of Chemistry” focused on the disci- molecular biology, quantum mechanics, environmental plinary identity of chemistry and its changing relation- science, and nanotechnology. Chemists also gained ships with other fields. The Program Committee was key positions in the oil, plastics, and pharmaceuti- chaired by José R. Bertomeu-Sanchez (University of cal industries. This broad and continuous adaptation Valencia) and the Belgo-Dutch Local Committee was of the discipline to various fields of endeavour has chaired by Brigitte Van Tiggelen (University of Leuven brought chemistry in close contact with neighboring and Mémosciences). disciplines and to social pressures. Time and again, So, why would members of EuCheMS, IUPAC, and, chemists have needed to carve out their own territory, more generally, active practicing chemists be inter- to negotiate with other specialists, and to gain particu- ested in this conference? First, it should be noted that lar expertise in widely divergent fields. How chemists many of the questions investigated by historians and achieved this aim was a major thread in the meeting. philosophers are naturally rooted in their experiences, Although this was a meeting on the history of reflections, and views on the present state of chemis- chemistry, many speakers brought the discussions
Participants at the 6th International Conference on the History of Chemistry.
32 CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 up to date. The opening plenary lecture discussed interactions. As usual, the conference outings were the current popular polarization of chemistry into private visits to museums of interest, this time in separate areas, namely bio- and nanotechnologies. Ghent. The first visit, which deserves a special men- For Bernadette Bensaude-Vincent (Université Paris tion, was to the Museum for the History of Sciences X), “The New Identity of Chemistry as Biomimetic at the University of Ghent. The museum has an excel- and Nanoscience” does not erase the need for broad lent collection of instruments used in teaching and chemical expertise which is, and will be, needed more research since its foundation in 1817. The director, than ever to advance these new fields. Kristel Wautier expertly introduced the main col- The conference was attended by more than 110 lections and the temporary exhibition she had pre- participants. Europe was of course well represented, pared about Leo Hendrik Baekeland (1863–1944), the but what was more striking was the growing pres- inventor of Bakelite, who studied chemistry in Ghent ence of overseas historians of chemistry or histori- under Théodore Swarts (1839–1911). On show was the cally-minded chemists: Some came from the fringes Bakelite volumetric apparatus, resistant to hydroflu- of Europe, Israël, or Russia, others from much further oric acid, which Baekeland made for his step-brother, away, including Canada, USA, Mexico, Brazil, Taiwan, Frédéric Jean Edmond Swarts (1866–1940). This was and Japan. a most significant and useful gift to Swarts, a pioneer Fifty-nine oral presentations were given in 18 ses- in the organic chemistry of fluorine. The museum col- sions; posters were available to view throughout lection also includes memorabilia of August Kekulé the conference. The wide range of material covered (1829–1896); Kekulé was professor of the University is indicated by the session topics: alchemy and of Ghent from 1858 to 1867. The contemplation of early chemistry to early modern chemistry; iden- such chemical heritage was at least as significant and tity and boundaries in the seventeenth, nineteenth meaningful to those who devote themselves to the and twentieth centuries; boundaries between physics current practice or to the history of chemistry. and chemistry, chemistry, medicine and pharmacy, organic chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biol- Duncan Thorburn Burns
CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 33 Conference Call
The Venue of Melbourne), who adopted them for synthesis of a The venue, at the University of New South Wales range of heterocycles of biological interest. Ferenc (UNSW), close to the center of Sydney, provided an Fülöp (University of Szeged) also gave an overview of attractive, modern academic backdrop to the con- his contributions toward understanding the ring chain ference. The university provided convenient access equilibrium of 1,3-(X-N)-heterocycles. to coastal beach scenery and lively attractions in There followed expositions of new synthetic meth- and around Sydney Harbor and Darling Harbor. The ods to unusual classes of heterocycles, such as silole Congress was organized under the auspices of the heterocycles, by Masahiro Murakami (Kyoto University), International Society for Heterocyclic Chemistry and and a fascinating study by Alan Rowan (University of a local committee headed by David Black. The pro- Nijmegen) of polymer threading mechanisms that gram, ably coordinated by Kate Jolliffe (University of have found importance in the development of proces- Sydney), was designed to bring together heterocyclic sive rotaxane catalysts. The topic of catalysis and the chemists from industry and government research design of new catalysts and catalytic processes was laboratories, as well as academia, and care was taken picked up later in the conference, particularly around to engage and showcase local industry. the lecture on chiral phenyl-bis(oxazoline) derivatives in asymmetric catalysis by Hisao Nishayama (Nagoya The Opening University). Delegates and guests were welcomed by Margaret The relevance of new technologies, such as micro- Brimble (University of Auckland), president of the wave acceleration, in heterocyclic chemistry was sum- ISHC. The Congress marized in a series of presentations by pioneers of the was officially opened field, Rajendar Varma (U.S. Environmental Protection by the New South Agency) and Nicholas Leadbeater (University of Wales Governor, Her Connecticut), and put into practical context by Keller Excellency Professor Barnhardt (CEM Corporation). The power of pro- Marie Bashir, who spoke grammed self-assembly in providing new hetero- of the importance of cycle-based materials for molecular electronic and heterocycles as drug optoelectronic applications and opportunities in func- candidates, bioactive tional nanomaterials was beautifully presented by materials, and chemi- Takuzo Aida (University of Tokyo) and Thomas Carell cals that had played (University of Munich). major roles in agricul- Others, including Toshiaki Mase (Banyu ture and the pharma- Pharmaceutical Company), David Tschaen (Merck ceutical industry. She USA), and Naresh Kumar (UNSW), provided updates also praised the many on the establishment of commercially viable syn- Professor Margaret Brimble, presi- important advances in thetic chemistry in support of the use of biologically dent of the ISHC, speaking at the opening ceremony. fundamental science active heterocyclic molecules for drug development. and applied technology Presenters on these topics described the discovery that had resulted from the study of heterocyclic com- and adoption of natural products and natural product pounds and their chemistry. analogues in the development process, and efforts to harness supramolecular chemistry of heterocyclic The Program derivatives, including those of Troger’s base and With his lecture on cycloaddition reactions of 2-azo- novel macrocyclic systems, to develop functional niaheterodienes, professor Scott Denmark (University and diagnostic materials. Efforts to understand and of Illinois) then set the scene for what was to be a mimic natural heterocyclic systems provided another week-long feast of formal scientific presentations, theme of enquiry in de novo and biological control including two poster sessions, a trade exhibition, and studies, and this topic was developed by Cynthia informal networking. Burrows (University of Utah) in her lecture on guanine New cycloaddition and annulation strategies oxidation in genomic and mitochondrial DNA. Such were revisited later in the conference through lec- oxidative damage leads to hydantoin products by pre- tures by Rick Danheiser (Massachusetts Institute of viously unrecognized pathways. Technology), Shengming Ma (Shanghai Institute of Total synthesis and improvements in existing syn- Organic Chemistry) and Andrew Holmes (University thetic methods were featured in much of the work
34 CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 Conference Call
of the globe, and with some hardship. We recommend attendance at the next ICHC, which will be held in St John’s, Newfoundland, August 2009.
www.chem.unsw.edu.au
Greenhouse Gases: Mitigation and Utilization by John M. Malin While there are citizens who still deny it, the scientific community has largely accepted the premise that anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (GHG’s) are raising GHG concentra- Presentation of congress plaque by Professor Girolamo tions in the atmosphere and the resulting “greenhouse Cirrincione, chair of ICHC20, to Professors David Black effect” is driving global warming. Governments, indus- and Roger Read, co-chairs of ICHC21. try, scientists, and private citizens are grappling with the problems posed. The phenomenon has profound described, but plenary lectures in this area included economic implications as industry seeks to reduce the work of Mikiko Sodeoka (RIKEN Institute of emissions, but lacks appropriate technologies and Physical and Chemical Research) on enantioselective clear direction from government. Policymakers and synthesis of heterocycles based on palladium enolate politicians struggle to balance environmental respon- chemistry, the underlying methods developed by sibility against immediate economic goals and the Thorsten Bach (Technical University Munich) for the needs of the developing world, while the scientific total synthesis of heterocyclic natural products, and community is engaged with understanding the nature, the design and synthesis of heterocyclic cleft-shaped causes, and solutions of the GHG problem. receptors for molecular recognition and transport To explore these important issues, CHEMRAWN, (Phillip Gale, University of Southampton). together with the International Conferences on Carbon Dioxide Utilization (ICCDU), co-sponsored Awards for Heterocyclic Chemistry the CHEMRAWN XVII and ICCDU IX conference on Other scientific highlights of the program included the Greenhouse Gases: Mitigation and Utilization. The presentations of the ISHC Senior Prize in Heterocyclic meeting, attended by 200 people from 30 countries, Chemistry (sponsored by Pfizer) to Professor K.C. took place 8–12 July 2007 at Queens University, Nicolaou (Scripps Research Institute), and the ISHC Ontario, Canada. It was organized around three main Katritzky Junior Award in Heterocyclic Chemistry themes: (1) policy issues and strategies, (2) sequestra- to Professor David MacMillan (Princeton University), tion of GHGs, and (3) their mitigation and utilization. respectively. Each gave marvelous award lectures Many of the presentations are posted on the confer- that illustrated the power and elegance of their dis- ence website
ing. But no conference can be a success without the lizing emissions. Increasing atmospheric CO2 levels, delegates, some of whom had come from the far side they say, will produce severe economic consequences.
CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 35 Environmental degradation due to climate change and Panel on Climate Change, published in February 2007, the accompanying rises in sea levels will, they forecast, Hengeveld pointed out that 25 percent of the green-
disrupt food supplies, limit access to potable and house effect is caused by CO2, 65 percent by water irrigation water, pose serious medical risks to human vapor (whose atmospheric concentration increases health, and ultimately create a refugee problem that when the temperature rises), and 10 percent from will threaten the world’s stable societies. If emissions other gases, including methane. Greenhouse gas con-
are not limited, the current concentration of CO2 in centrations, he said, are now at levels unprecedented the atmosphere, some 425 ppm, is projected to rise in the past 650 000 years and recent paleoclimatic to 550 ppm by 2050 and to 650 ppm by 2100. These studies indicate that the past 50-year period has been changes correlate with at least a 50 percent prob- unusually warm. Global temperatures, he said, have ability of increases in average global temperature of 3 risen by 0.74 οC in the last century while snow cover is and 5 degrees Celsius, respectively. Zhengelis pointed decreasing and many glaciers are shrinking. Sea levels out that the average temperature rise since the most will rise due to thermal expansion of the oceans and recent ice age has been 5 degrees. the melting of land ice. The Stern Review urges that steps to curb carbon Extreme precipitation events, said Hengeveld, are dioxide emissions should begin immediately. The likely to become more frequent in some areas while costs of inactivity, Zhengelis noted, are far greater droughts will occur more often in others. Yet, temper- than those of action and they are likely to increase. ate regions such as North America may derive benefits If nothing is done, the poorest countries will suffer from a warmer environment. These would include disproportionately—even though they have made the lower snow removal costs, less ice cover on the Great smallest contributions to GHG emissions. Lakes and along Canada’s east coast, longer, warmer Economic models for a “business as usual” scenario growing seasons, and lower costs for space heating. predict the overall risks and losses due to climate These advantages would be offset in tropical regions change amount to at least a 5 percent decrease in by loss of habitable land due to floods and sea level gross domestic product (GDP) per year. On the other rise, crop loss due to droughts, and threats to health hand, said Zhengelis, meeting the challenge by reduc- caused by poor air quality and extreme weather. ing emissions of greenhouse gases may cost no more Hengeveld described the scientific community’s best than 1 percent of GDP annually. Global emissions of estimates on the level of effort that will be needed to
CO2 in the year 2000 were near 42 Gigatons per year, stabilize the level of CO2 at 550 ppm, which may bring with power generation accounting for 24 percent risks to an acceptable level. In particular, emissions
of the CO2 produced, transport and industry each must be reduced by at least 50 percent. producing 14 percent, buildings at 8 percent, and mis- Pieter P. Tans of the U.S. National Oceanic and cellaneous sources at 5 percent. Non energy-related Atmospheric Administration’s Earth Systems Research
sources included 18 percent from nonagricultural land Laboratory noted that the pre-industrial levels of CO2 use and 14 percent from agriculture. were close to 280 ppm. Tans cited a striking correla- Important components to an international strategy tion over the past 650 000 years between the levels
to combat global temperature rise include (1) Emissions of atmospheric CO2 and changes in the global tem- trading, through which funds from larger countries perature. The pre-industrial atmosphere contained
could help pay for the transition to low-carbon devel- 600 Gtons of carbon as CO2. Since then, humans have opment trajectories in economically disadvantaged contributed 330 Gtons of carbon as CO2, of which countries; (2) Technology cooperation, through prod- 210 Gtons have persisted in the atmosphere with the uct standards and shared R&D targeted at raising remainder being absorbed by the ocean. The potential energy efficiency; (3) Action to reduce deforestation, for future anthropogenic increases is very real since which both contributes carbon to the ecosphere and current coal resources are assessed at 4000–8000
eliminates a “CO2 sink”; and (4) Adaptation, by sharing Gtons of carbon, while oil and gas resources are some regional information on effects of climate change and 500–1000 Gtons. developing crop varieties that are resistant to both Like Hengeveld, Tans emphasized that the least flood and drought. expensive option is to begin immediately in applying a In his plenary lecture, Henry Hengeveld of portfolio of techniques. “If we want to avoid massive, Environment Canada further explored the question and accelerating climate change,” said Tans, “we have
of how human activities are causing climate change. to greatly reduce CO2 emissions, eventually to zero.” Quoting the latest report by the Intergovernmental “Science cannot,” he continued, “provide at this time
36 CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 Conference Call
with confidence a ‘safe’ atmospheric CO2 level that we power program and Sweden employs nuclear energy should try not to exceed. The risks of dramatic climate extensively. The EU, he said, is “delivering on Kyoto,” change will increase with increasing emissions.” even though national attainment is uneven across the John Grefford of CRO Engineering, Ltd., provided Union. Canada, in contrast, has yet to develop and an overview of carbon-neutral energy sources and deliver an effective strategy. Meadocroft noted that options for the future. Grefford emphasized both political leadership is needed in this field. Canadian mitigation and adaptation to environmental warming policymakers, he urged, must realize that emissions scenarios. Hermann Ott of the Wuppertal Institute, control, rather than being ruinous, is highly possible. Berlin, described the mission of the developed coun- Of course, for any mitigation efforts to take effect, tries. He outlined the challenges in building political the public must “buy in” to the proposed measures. “If support, emissions trading, choosing effective policy we want to facilitate effective communication between instruments, and fostering technological innovation. policy experts and the public, it would be useful to Ott noted that the choices made by policy makers will understand how the public understands climate policy be crucial. while designing the communication programs,” said Truman Semans, director of the Business Stephen Hill of Trent University. Employing interviews Environment Leadership Council of the Pew Center and focus groups, Hill carried out a revealing study for Climate Change, described international efforts to of the public understanding of economic instruments strengthen global cooperation. Following positive dis- for climate change policy. “The public has been led cussions at the recent G-8 summit at Heiligendamm, to believe that climate policies will require little or the Pew Center convened a meeting of 25 govern- no inconvenience to their lifestyles,” he said. “People mental leaders from 15 countries to develop a frame- do not grasp the deep cuts in carbon emissions (e.g., work for global climate policy. Semans urged that the 60 percent to eliminate a 2–3 οC temperature rise) USA and other developed countries must implement required within a few decades.” Hill added that the
CO2 mitigation measures, and he discussed how policy debate has been clouded by “unhelpful contro- these measures should include the issues of interna- versies” at the expense of discussion about what we tional competitiveness and participation by develop- actually can do to reduce GHG’s and to prepare for ing countries. climate change. John Drexhage, director of Climate Change and Hill’s study found that the public does not under- Energy for the International Institute for Sustainable stand the “cap and trade” system by which emissions Development, discussed the history of federal climate permits are auctioned. Most people view emissions change policy in Canada. He noted that Canada signed trading as “copping out” (i.e., selling a problem that we the Kyoto Protocol in 1998 but, like many countries, should be solving ourselves). The idea of a carbon tax, has encountered bumps in the road toward compli- which on the other hand was well-understood, tended ance. Canadian projections of CO2 emissions total to be disfavored because people thought it would some 809 Mtons for 2010, while the Kyoto target for “just add to the cost of doing business.” However, Canada is 571 MTons, 6 percent below the 1990 level. some believed the idea would be supportable if the The USA has not signed the Kyoto Protocol. tax revenues were used for purposes of reducing James Meadowcroft of Carleton University con- GHG emissions, such as improving home insulation. trasted Canada’s climate change strategy with that It seems clear that these policy instruments will need of the European Union. Between 1990 and 2005, to be explained more effectively to the public. Eric said Meadowcroft, Europe’s CO2 emissions did not Lachapelle of the University of Toronto noted that, increase while Canada’s emissions rose by some 25 while only six OECD countries have a carbon tax, all percent. The EU, he noted, evolved a suite of policies, OECD countries tax motor fuels, with the lowest rates including a burden sharing agreement and an emis- being those in the USA and the highest in Sweden. sions trading system. The UK, for example, initiated the Stern Report, established a carbon change levy John M. Malin
CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 37 Announcements of conferences, symposia, workshops, meetings, and other upcoming activities Where 2B & Y Emulsion Polymers acterization, and properties of high polymer latexes. 2–6 June 2008, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania The subject matter includes a balance between theory USA and application as well as a balance between chemi- cal and physical problems. Lectures will be given by This one-week short course on Advances in Emulsion leading academics and industrialists. Lectures will Polymerization and Latex Technology will be offered begin with introductory material and reviews, and will by the Emulsion Polymers Institute at Lehigh University progress through recent research results. in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA, from 2–6 June 2008. The course is an in-depth study of the synthesis, char- http://fp2.cc.lehigh.edu/inemuls/epi/Lehigh_sc.htm
Applied Thermodynamics • Molecular simulation • Product and process design 29 May–1 June 2008, Cannes, France • Sustainable development (resources, energy, environment, storage and capture of greenhouse The 23rd European Symposium on Applied gases) Thermodynamics (ESAT2008) will be held on the • Ionic liquids French Riviera from 29 May–1 June 2008. The goal of • Polymers the event is to bring together engineers and scientists • Biochemical systems (from universities, industry, and research institutes) to • Colloïdal and interfacial systems discuss applications of chemical engineering thermo- • Electrolytes dynamics. • Experimental techniques and data Theoretical and experimental aspects will be cov- ered, and researchers are encouraged to report new During the conference, the “ESAT2008 Best Poster results and theories. Speakers will consider future Award” will honor a young researcher who has pre- applications based on today’s results, offer solutions sented a poster of exceptional merit dealing with for current problems, and discuss the present state a subject related to thermodynamics. All young of the art. researchers are encouraged to participate in this Major topics covered will be as follows: competition. • Phase equilibria • Petroleum fluids www.esat2008.com • Supercritical fluids
Polar Research tists form connections through an international net- 8–11 July 2008, St. Petersburg, Russia work of early career polar and cryosphere scientists and researchers. These groups are organizing a one- The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research day professional-development workshop for 7 July (SCAR) and its Arctic counterpart IASC (International 2008, the day before the SCAR/IASC open science Arctic Science Committee) have organized a con- conference. The meeting will include invited keynote ference on Polar Research—Arctic and Antarctic speakers, panel sessions, and discussion groups. For Perspectives in the International Polar Year that will more information, contact Liz Thomas
38 CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 Solid State Chemistry Silicate Society. The scientific program of SSC 2008 6–11 July 2008, Bratislava, Slovakia will comprise the following sections: Synthesis and Characterization of Materials; Crystal, Electronic, and The scope of the 8th Conference on Solid State Magnetic Structure; Electrochemistry and Molten Chemistry is solid state chemistry in the broadest Salts; Chemistry of Glasses; Novel Inorganic Materials sense, including results of various experimental and and Nanomaterials; Layered Compounds, Clathrates theoretical methods applied in investigation of solid and Intercalates; and Deposited Films and Surface state substances. Chemistry. This conference is a continuation of the previous conferences on solid state chemistry, held biannually See Mark Your Calendar on page 40 for contact information. in the Czech and Slovak republics. It is endorsed by the three organizing institutions and by the Slovak www.ssc2008.sav.sk Chemical Society, Slovak Clay Group, and Slovak
Stable Isotope — interactions within and between ecosystems and environmental compartments 31 August–5 September 2008, Presqu’île de — terrestrial and extra-terrestrial geologies Giens, Var, France — human activities and practices — impact and resolution of problems generated The second Joint European Stable Isotope Users by human activities and practices group Meeting (JESIUM) is being organized by the — diagnostic and decision tools for society French Society of Stable Isotopes under the coordina- • stimulate discussion and reflection on the impor- tion of Jaleh Ghashghaie. It will take place in southern tance of quality in measurements France from 31 August–5 September 2008. • stimulate exchanges in Europe between nonprofit The specific objectives of JESIUM 2008 are as scientific societies and organizations promoting follows: the use of isotopic measurements • discuss the role of isotopic measurements for a • create a formal European Federation of better understanding of Associations of Stable Isotope Users — processes of life — ecology — mechanisms in terms of physical chemistry, http://sfis.snv.jussieu.fr/jesium2008/ biology, circulation, evolution
Polymer Processing goals of the group are to foster scientific understand- ing and technical innovation in polymer processing 15–19 June 2008, Salerno, Italy by providing a discussion forum for the worldwide community of engineers and scientists in the field. The The 2008 Annual Meeting of the Polymer Processing thematic range encompasses all formulation, conver- Society (PPS-24) will take place in Salerno, Italy, sion, and shaping operations applied to polymeric 15–19 June 2008. Scientists and engineers working in systems in the transformation from their monomeric polymer processing and related fields are invited. See forms to commercial products. Membership in PPS is program online. open to all researchers in the field, and to all persons The Polymer Processing Society was founded in who feel the activities of the society advance their March 1985 at the University of Akron, Ohio, USA, professional development. with the intent of providing a mechanism and format for interaction and presentation of research results in www.pps-24.com the international polymer processing community. The
CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 39 Upcoming IUPAC-sponsored events See also www.iupac.org/symposia for links to Mark Your Calendar specific event websites
2008 IUPAC poster prizes to be awarded
8–11 January 2008 • Agrochemicals • New Delhi, India International Conference on Agrochemicals Protecting Crop, Health and Natural Environment, Dr. N.A. Shakil, Division of Agricultural Chemicals, IARI, New Delhi 110 012, India, Tel.: +91 009818196164, Fax: +91 11-25843272 2–8 February 2008 • Photodynamics • Havana, Cuba 5th International Meeting on Photodynamics Prof. Jesús Rubayo Soneira, Instituto Superior de Tecnologias y Ciencias Aplicadas, Ave. Salvador Allende y Luaces, A.P. 6163, Havana 10600, Cuba, Tel.: + 53 7-2041188, Fax: +53 7-2041188, E-mail: [email protected] 17–21 February 2008 • Advanced Materials • Lucknow, India POLYCHAR-16—World Forum on Advanced Materials Prof. Poonam Tandon, Department of Physics, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226 007, India, Tel.: + 91 522 274, 0840 | Fax: +91 522 274 0840, E-mail: [email protected] 9–12 March 2008 • Heterocyclic Chemistry • Gainesville, Florida, USA 9th Florida Heterocyclic Conference Prof. Alan R. Katritzky, University of Florida, Dept. of Chemistry, Gainesville, FL 32611-7200, USA, Tel.: +1 352 392 0554, Fax: +1 352 392 9199, E-mail: [email protected] 2–6 June 2008 • Molecular Order and Mobility in Polymer Systems • Saint-Petersburg, Russia 6th International Symposium on Molecular Order and Mobility in Polymer Systems, Prof. T.M. Birshtein, Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences (IMC RAS), Bolshoi pr. 31, Saint-Petersburg, RU-199004 Russia, E-mail: [email protected] 22–27 June 2008 • Organic Synthesis • Daejeon, Korea International Conference on Organic Synthesis (ICOS-17) Prof. Sung Ho Kang, Department of Chemistry, KAIST, Daejeon 305-701, Korea, Tel.: +82-42-869-2825, Fax: +82-42-869-2810, E-mail: [email protected] 29 June–4 July 2008 • Macro 2008 • Taipei, Taiwan Polymers at Frontiers of Science and Technology Conference Secretariat, MACRO 2008, Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing-Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu, 30013 Taiwan, Tel.: (03) 5713131 ext. 33683, Fax: (03) 5715408, E-mail: [email protected] 6–11 July 2008 • Solid State Chemistry • Bratislava, Slovakia 8th Conference on Solid State Chemistry Dr. Milan Drabik, Ceramics Department, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences, SK-84536 Bratislava, Slovakia, Tel.: +421 (7) 5941-0474, Fax: +421 (7) 5941-0444, E-mail: [email protected] 13–18 July 2008 • Biodiversity and Natural Products • Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada International Conference on Biodiversity and Natural Products (ICOB-6 & ISCNP-26) Prof. Russell Kerr, Department of Chemistry, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue Charlottetown, PEI C1A 4P3, Canada, Tel.: + 1 902 566 0565, Fax: +1 902 566 0632, E-mail: [email protected]. Ann Worth, Conference Manager, E-mail: [email protected] 13–18 July 2008 • Physical Organic Chemistry • Santiago de Compostela, Spain 19th International Conference on Physical Organic Chemistry (ICPOC-19) Prof. J. Ramón Leis, Faculty of Chemistry, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, E-15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain, Tel.: +34-98-156-3100, Fax: +34-98-159-5012, E-mail: [email protected] 20–24 July 2008 • Polymer Colloids • Prague, Czech Republic 2008 Prague Meetings on Macromolecules—48th Microsymposium “Polymer Colloids: From Design to Biomedical and Industrial Applications” Dr. Daniel Horák, Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Heyrovský Sq. 2, CZ-162 06 Prague 6, Czech Republic Tel.: + 42 029 680 9260, Fax: +42 029 680 9410, E-mail: [email protected] 20–25 July 2008 • Coordination Chemistry • Jerusalem, Israel 38th International Conference on Coordination Chemistry Prof. Dan Meyerstein, The College of Judea and Samaria, P.O. Box 3, Ariel 44837, Israel, Tel.: + 972 3 906 6153, Fax: +972 3 972 7555, E-mail: [email protected]
40 CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 27–31 July 2008 • Solubility Phenomena • Dublin, Ireland 13th International Symposium on Solubility Phenomena Including Equilibrium Process (ISSP-13) Prof. Earle W. Waghorne, Chairman, School of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, University College, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland, Tel.: +353 1 716 2132, Fax: +353 1 716 2127, E-mail: [email protected] 27 July–1 August 2008 • Carbohydrates • Oslo, Norway 24th International Carbohydrate Symposium (ICS 2008) Prof. Berit Smestad Paulsen, School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1068 Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway, Tel.: +47 22 856 572, Fax: +47 22 854 402, E-mail: [email protected] 28 July–1 August 2008 • Photochemistry • Gothenburg, Sweden XXII IUPAC Symposium on Photochemistry Prof. Devens Gust, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA, 85287- 1604, USA, Tel.: +1 602 965 4547, Fax: +1 602 965 2747, E-mail: [email protected] 3–8 August 2008 • Chemical Education • Pointe aux Piments, Mauritius 20th International Conference on Chemical Education: Chemistry in the Information & Communications Technologies Age, (20th ICCE) Dr. Ponnadurai Ramasami, Department of Chemistry, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius, E-mail: [email protected] 3–8 August 2008 • Chemical Thermodynamics • Warsaw, Poland 20th International Conference on Chemical Thermodynamics Questions should be addressed to E-mail: [email protected]. Comments, concerns, proposals, etc., should be addressed to E-mail: [email protected]. 14–20 September 2008 • Green Chemistry • Moscow, Russia 2nd IUPAC Conference on Green Chemistry Prof. Valery V. Lunin, Chairman Russia Chemistry Department, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskiye Gory 1, build. 3, 119992 Moscow Russia, Tel.: +7-495-9394575, Fax +7-495-9394575, E-mail: [email protected] 14–20 September 2008 • Humic Substances • Moscow, Russia 14th Meeting of the International Humic Substances Society (IHSS-14) Prof. Irina V. Perminova, Department of Chemistry, Moscow State University, 119992 Moscow, Russia, E-mail: [email protected], Tel: +7 495 939 5546, Fax: +7 495 932 8846 12–17 October 2008 • Biotechnology • Dalian, China 13th International Biotechnology Symposium (ISB 2008): “Biotechnology for the Sustainability of Human Society” Prof. Fengwu Bai, Dept. of Bioscience & Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong road, Dalian 116023, China, Tel.:+86 411 84706329, Fax:+86 411 84708083, E-mail: [email protected] 26–30 November 2008 • Soil Science • Pucon, Chile International Symposium of Interactions of Soil Minerals with Organic Components and Microorganisms Dra. Maria de La Luz Mora, Universidad de La Frontera, Ciencias de Recursos Naturales, Temuco, Chile, Tel: +56 45 325479, Fax: +56 45 325053, E-mail: [email protected]
Chemistry in a Changing cal societies in the European Union (plus Norway World—New Perspectives and Switzerland) about the role of COCI/IUPAC Concerning the IUPAC and to foster communication and discussion about
)COCI Corner Family the emerging role of IUPAC in a changing world. 25 April 2008, Marl, Germany Representatives of NAOs/chemical societies in the EU, Norway, and Switzerland will be invited to partici- The IUPAC Committee on Chemistry and Industry pate and to develop a framework for future actions. (COCI) will organize a Workshop on “Chemistry in Anyone interested in participating should contact Michael J. Droescher at a Changing World—New Perspectives Concerning
CHEMISTRY International January-February 2008 41 International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry Advancing the worldwide role of chemistry for the benefit of Mankind
Mission Statement—IUPAC is a non-governmental organization of member countries that encompass more than 85% of the world’s chemical sciences and industries. IUPAC addresses international issues in the chemical sciences utilizing expert volunteers from its member countries. IUPAC provides leadership, facilitation, and encouragement of chemistry and promotes the norms, values, standards, and ethics of science and the free exchange of scientific information. Scientists have unimpeded access to IUPAC activities and reports. In fulfilling this mission, IUPAC effectively contributes to the worldwide understanding and application of the chemical sciences, to the betterment of the human condition.
President: JUNG-IL JIN (Korea) Secretary General: DAVID StC. BLACK (Australia) Vice President: NICOLE MOREAU (France) Treasurer: JOHN CORISH (Ireland) Past President: BRYAN R. HENRY (Canada)
National Adhering Organizations
Australian Academy of Science (Australia) Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (Italy) Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften Caribbean Academy of Sciences—Jamaica (Austria) Chapter (Jamaica) Bangladesh Chemical Society (Bangladesh) Science Council of Japan (Japan) National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Jordanian Chemical Society (Jordan) (Belarus) Korean Federation of Science and Technology The Royal Academies for the Sciences and Societies (Korea) Arts of Belgium (Belgium) Kuwait Chemical Society (Kuwait) Brazilian Chemistry Committee for IUPAC Koninklijke Nederlandse Chemische Vereniging (Brazil) (Netherlands) Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (Bulgaria) Royal Society of New Zealand (New Zealand) National Research Council of Canada (Canada) Norsk Kjemisk Selskap (Norway) Sociedad Chilena de Química (Chile) Chemical Society of Pakistan (Pakistan) Chinese Chemical Society (China) Polska Akademia Nauk (Poland) Chemical Society located in Taipei (China) Sociedade Portuguesa de Química (Portugal) Croatian Chemical Society (Croatia) Colegio de Químicos de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico) Sociedad Cubana de Química (Cuba) Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia) Czech National Committee for Chemistry Union of Yugoslav Chemical Societies (Serbia (Czech Republic) and Montenegro) Det Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskab Slovak Chemical Society (Slovakia) (Denmark) Slovenian Chemical Society (Slovenia) National Committee for IUPAC (Egypt) National Research Foundation (South Africa) Chemical Society of Ethiopia (Ethiopia) Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (Spain) Suomen Kemian Seura—Kemiska Sällskapet i Svenska Nationalkommittén för Kemi (Sweden) Finland (Finland) Schweizerische Chemische Gesellschaft Comité National Français de la Chimie (France) (Switzerland) Deutscher Zentralausschuss für Chemie Türkiye Kimya Dernegi (Turkey) (Germany) National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Association of Greek Chemists (Greece) (Ukraine) Hungarian Academy of Sciences (Hungary) Royal Society of Chemistry (United Kingdom) Indian National Science Academy (India) National Academy of Sciences (USA) Royal Irish Academy (Ireland) Programa de Desarrollo de Ciencias Básicas Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities (Uruguay) CHEMISTRY International November-December 2003 (Israel)