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Laboratory of Supramolecular Organic Synthesis is located in the Department of Chemical Sciences of the University of Catania. The Laboratory collects active researchers in the Supramolecular Organic Chemistry field, from University Professors, to researchers, Post-Doc, PhD and University students.

Starting from a long experience on Physical Organic Chemistry, today the main target of the research activity is the development of new supramolecular systems having application in sensoristic and catalytic fields. 

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Group photos

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Members
PhD
M.S

Members

Professors

Prof. Andrea Pappalardo

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He was born in Catania in 1974, in 1999 he achieved the degree in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies at the University of Catania. In 1999 worked for the Department of Physical and Chemical Methodologies for the Engineering of the University of Catania of 5 month-old duration. In 2000 he overcomed the examination of qualification to the exercise of the profession of farmacist.In 2003 he achieved the PhD in Chemical Sciences at the University of Catania. In 2003 he had a Post-Doc position at the Department of Organic Chemistry of the University of Catania of 1 year-old duration working on a project titled: "Design and synthesis of macrocyclic catalysts (calixarenes and resorcarenes) with salen moieties for enantioselective epoxidation". In 2004 he had a Post-Doc position at the Department of Organic and Biological Chemistry of the University of Messina of 4 year-old duration working on a project titled: " Ordered-structured assemblies of calixarenes and ionic species". In 2007 he become a university researcher of Organic Chemistry at the Department of Chemical Sciences of the University of Catania. From 2018 he is Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry. In 1999 his research activity started, it is proven by 56 international publications and 42 congresses communications. Such activity has been developed at the Department of Chemical Sciences and the Department of Physical and Chemical Methodologies for the Engineering of the University of Catania and at the Department of Organic and Biological Chemistry of the University of Messina. The publications are concerned on the synthesis of calixarene macrocycles and their use as catalysts in enantioselective epoxidations, and receptors in the supramolecolar host/guest chemistry.

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Courses: Organic Chemistry I and Laboratory at the B.D. course of Industrial Chemistry; Novel Synthetic Methodologies at the M.D. course in Organic and Biorganic Chemistry; Organic Chemistry at the B.D. course of Biological Sciences.

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Web Page: www.dipchi.unict.it/courses/lm-54-org/faculty/andrea.pappalardo

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Prof. Giuseppe Trusso Sfrazzetto

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Giuseppe Trusso Sfrazzetto achieved the Master Degree in Chemistry (Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, University of Catania) on 2007 with 110/110 cum laude, discussing the thesis entitled "Design and synthesis of new macrocyclic cavitand for molecular recognition." Then, he worked in the research laboratories of Prof. Gaetano Tomaselli, in the University of Catania, on the design and synthesis of new organometallic catalysts for asymmetric epoxidation. He achieved the PhD in Chemical Sciences on 2011, discussing the thesis entitled "Design and synthesis of novel macrocyclic cavitands". Then, he worked on many founded projects, focused on the development of new methods for the selective and green oxidation of organic substrates. During his post doc activity, he developed new fluorescent organic receptors able to detect intracellular metal ions involved in some important neurodegenerative diseases (i.e. Parkinson and Alzheimer). During the meeting of “Physical Organic and Mechanistic Chemistry, he received the prize for the best scientific work. In addition, he received the Reaxys – Elsevier prize for Analytical, Environmental, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry.
Currently, he is Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry in the Department of Chemical Sciences, in the University of Catania. He is co-author of 60 articles, published in international peer reviewed journals. Furthermore, he is corresponding author of 34 manuscripts, and referee of many important international journals.

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Courses (Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Catania):

  • Laboratory of Organic Chemistry  2

  • Organic Chemistry 2 and 3

  • Supramolecular Organic Chemistry

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Web Page: www.dipchi.unict.it/courses/lm-54-org/faculty/giuseppe.trussosfrazzetto

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Researchers

Dr. Roberta Puglisi

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Roberta Puglisi achieved her Master Degree in Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry in 2017 with marks 110/110 cum laude. In December 2020 she attained her Ph.D. Degree in Chemical Sciences defending a thesis entitled: “Detection of Chemical Warfare Agents via Supramolecular Multitopic Approach for the Development of High Performance Sensing Devices”. Her research work comprised the synthesis of new fluorescent receptors able to selectively detect Chemical Warfare Agents simulants, for application in sensing devices. As a part of her Ph.D. pathway she spent ten months at the Eindhoven University of Technology (TUE, Holland) where she worked on the development of stimuli-responsive solid devices for real time sensing of toxic organophosphates, via supramolecular interactions. 

In 2021 she started a two years Post-Doc at the Italian National Research Council (CNR). Here her research activity was focused on the formulation of new molecularly imprinted magnetic hydrogels for the selective removal of emerging pollutants from water. Moreover she performed both, the synthesis and the extraction of organic photosensitizers, suitable to be included within the hydrogel network, for the photocatalytic degradation of pollutants in water. 

Roberta participated at several national/international conferences as speaker, presenting her research results. At the moment she is author/co-author of 13 publications in peer reviewed international journals.

Currently, as a researcher at the University of Catania (LabSorS), Roberta is working on the development of innovative sensors for air pollutants, exploiting non-covalent interactions. 

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Postdoc

Dr. Rossella Santonocito

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Rossella Santonocito was born in Catania, in 1996.  She attended the scientific high school “Concetto Marchesi” in Mascalucia, receiving the diploma in 2015.

She achieved the bachelor’s degree in Chemistry in July 2019, working on the synthesis of new metal catalysts for the conversion of CO2 into organic cyclic carbonates, under the supervision of Prof. Giuseppe Trusso Sfrazzetto.

She participated in a cultural exchange on the restoring and conservation of cultural heritage between the Department of Chemical Sciences of the University of Catania and the Universities of Cairo and Luxor in Egypt.

She participated in an international collaboration between the Department of Chemistry Sciences of the University of Catania and the College of Environmental Science And Engineering of the Peking University of Peking in which issues related to current environmental problems were addressed through lectures through the means of Green Chemistry. 

She received her master degree in Chemical Sciences (curriculum Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry), in July 2021 with a score of 110/ 110 cum laude, working on the synthesis and application of new nanosensors for the supramolecular detection of explosives (always under the supervision of Prof. Trusso).

She received her Ph.D. in Chemical Sciences on 27/02/2025, at LabSOrs, worked on and developed a sensor array to detect biomarkers of stress released in extreme environments in collaboration with Kayser Italia, an independent small medium-sized company specialising in aerospace systems.

She currently has a one-year grant as part of the ‘Sicilian MicronanoTech Research and Innovation Center-SAMOTHRACE’ project, the result of a collaboration between UniCT and the IOR of Bologna, for the validation of a microfluidic device for the screening of biomarkers in biological fluids useful for the preparation and monitoring of prosthetic surgery in the orthopaedic field and the definition of therapeutic protocols in the field of orthopaedic oncology.

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Web Page:https: //www.linkedin.com/in/rossella-santonocito-5525ab20b/

Email: rossella.santonocito@phd.unict.it

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PhD Student

Dott. Alessia Cavallaro

Alessia Cavallaro was born in Catania (Italy) in 1999. She attended the Scientific High School “Leonardo” in Giarre (CT) and took the diploma in 2018. In March 2022, she achieved the Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry with 110/110 cum laude, working on the synthesis of metal catalysts for the conversion of CO2 into cyclic carbonates, under the supervision of Prof. Giuseppe Trusso Sfrazzetto. In January 2024, she achieved the  Master’s Degree in Chemical Sciences (curriculum Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry) with a score of 110/110 cum laude, working on array sensors based on fluorescent probes to detect stress biomarkers, under the supervision of Prof. Giuseppe Trusso Sfrazzetto and Dr. Rossella Santonocito. She spent one year as Research Fellow at LabSOrS in collaboration with CSGI (Florence), under the supervision of Prof. Nunzio Tuccitto. Currently, she is a Ph.D. student in Chemical Sciences, working on optical sensors for environmental monitoring supervised by Prof. Giuseppe Trusso Sfrazzetto.

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Email: alessia.cavallaro@phd.unict.it

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Research fellow

Dott. Michael Spinello

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​Michael Spinello was born in Catania, in 1995. He attends scientific high school “Principe Umbero di Savoia” in Catania, receiving diploma in 2014. In march he achieved the bachelor’s degree in Chemistry witch 110/110 working on synthesis of a new metal catalyst for the conversation of CO2 , under the supervision of Prof. Giuseppe Trusso Sfrazzetto. In November 2024 he achieved the master’s degree in Chemical Sciences (Curriculum Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry) with a score of 110/110, working on new fluorescent sensors to detect catecholamine. He currently has a six-months grant as part of the ‘Sicilian MicronanoTech Research and Innovation Center-SAMOTHRACE’ project for the synthesis of sensors to monitoring air pollution.

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Master's degree students

Dott. Giuliana Scifo

Giuliana Scifo was born in Gela (Italy) in 1999. She attended the Scientific High School “E.Vittorini” in Gela (CL) and took the diploma in 2018. In March 2024, she achieved the Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry with 109/110, working on the “Synthesis of supramolecular sensors for the detection of dopamine” under the supervision of Prof. Giuseppe Trusso Sfrazzetto and Dr. Puglisi Roberta. Currently, she is a student of the master's degree course in Chemical Sciences- curriculum Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry and she is working on the “creation of point of care devices for the early diagnosis of osteosarcomas”  under the supervision of Prof. Trusso Sfazzetto Giuseppe and the Dr. Santonocito Rossella.

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Dott. Roberta Travaglianti

Agata Roberta Travaglianti was born in 2000. She graduated from "Ven. Ignazio Capizzi" Classical High School in 2018. In 2024, she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry, with a thesis focused on testing new metal catalysts for the conversion of CO2 into cyclic carbonates, under the supervision of Prof. Giuseppe Trusso Sfrazzetto. She is currently continuing her studies with a Master's degree in Chemical Sciences, specializing in Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, and will carry out her Master's thesis research at LabSOrS.

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Bachelor's degree students

Federico Calì

Federico Calì, born in Catania in 1999, graduated from ITIS Stanislao Cannizzaro of Catania.
He attends the chemistry degree course and is currently working in the thesis laboratory with the aim of synthesising fluorescent chromophores for stress biomarkers in the human body within the labsors, under the supervision of Dr. Rossella Santonocito and Professor Giuseppe Trusso Sfrazzetto.

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Nunzia Di Pasqua

Nunzia Di Pasqua born in Enna in 1999, graduated from the ‘Enrico Medi’ linguistic high school in Leonforte.
She is currently enrolled in the chemistry degree course and is working on a thesis based on the synthesis and functionalisation of carbon nanoparticles for the sensing of catecholamines, in the LabSOrS laboratory.

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Senior Members

Prof. Gaetano Tomaselli

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Prof. Gaetano Tomaselli graduated in Industrial Chemistry with a grade of 110/110 cum laude from the University of Catania, where he held the positions of Ordinary Assistant to the Chair of Chemical Plants (1977) and Advanced Organic Chemistry (1979) and subsequently Associate Professor of Reaction Mechanisms in Organic Chemistry (1983). After winning the national competition for a professorship, in 1994 he was called by the University of Palermo to hold a professorship in Organic Chemistry. In 1997 he was called to fill a chair of Organic Chemistry at the University of Catania.

He worked for three years (1979, 1980, 1982) as Research Associate in the group of Prof. J.F. Bunnett at the University of Santa Cruz, California (USA). He was Visiting Professor at the Universities of Vezsprem and Szeged (Hungary) (1988). He has been invited speaker at various national and international congresses and lecturer at the XXII National Summer School "A. Corbella" (1997). He has been a scientific consultant for Procter&Gamble (Oxidation Processes). He has been a member of commissions for competitions for Associate and Full Professor positions.

He was coordinator of the PhD programme in Chemical Sciences at the University of Catania (XVII° Ciclo) (2001-2003) and external member of the commission for the final examination of the PhD programmes in Chemistry at the Universities of Padua and Palermo. He has been a member of the national scientific committee of COFEM (Organic Physical and Mechanical Chemistry). He has been tutor for several PhD theses. He has been local scientific coordinator of the projects "New catalytic reactions for oxidation processes" (Progetto Finalizzato Chimica Fine e Secondaria), "Reactivity and Catalysis in Selective Organic Processes" (MURST 40%), "Efficient processes for the controlled oxidation of organic compounds" (Cofin 98), "Activation of Peroxide Species in Innovative Selective Oxidation Processes" (Cofin 2000), "Efficient environmentally friendly processes of selective oxidation of target organic compounds" (Prin 2003). He was national scientific coordinator of the PRIN 2008 "New selective and eco-compatible methods for the oxidation of key organic substrates" and local head of the research unit of the FIRB project entitled "Molecular bases in age-related degenerative syndromes". He has held the position of President of the DU in Chemistry for the Environment and Cultural Heritage (Syracuse site) (1997-2000), Director of the Department of Chemical Sciences of the University of Catania (2007-2014), President of the College of Department Directors (2007-2010), Member of the University Organization Commission (2008-2010) and Representative of the University of Catania in the Board of Directors of the National Interuniversity Consortium "Reactivity and Catalysis" (2003-2008). In 2014 he gave the prologue for the inauguration of the Academic Year 2013/2014 of the University of Catania in the presence of the President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano.

The research activity has resulted in 102 publications in journals of international circulation and numerous communications to national and international conferences.

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Courses: Organic Chemistry II and Lab (A-L) at B.D course in Chemistry; Organic Chemistry of Functional Materials in M.D. course of Materials Chemistry.

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Web Page: www.dipchi.unict.it/courses/l-27/faculty/gaetano.tomaselli

B.S
Senior Members
Postdoc
Research Activites

Research Activities

CHIRAL CAVITANDS

The research activity is oriented to the molecular recognition of important biological analytes and catalysis, both in solution than on solid state, leading to a biomimetic systems. Many natural processes such as immunological responses, the mechanism of drug action, and the storage and retrieval of genetic information are regulated by enantiomeric discrimination processes. The development of chiral artificial receptors possessing chiral recognition properties has attracted increasing attention because of their high sensitivity and potential applications in pharmaceuticals, analysis, biology, catalysis, and sensing.

Cavitands are robust molecules with a bowl shape consisting of four resorcinol rings linked by four methylene bridges. In order to host more sizeable guests, the cavity wall size can be enlarged by insertion of quinoxaline units, which make the cavity deeper and at the same time more conformationally rigid and more lipophilic.
The cavity can provide π-electron-rich regions able to develop CH–π and π–π interactions, thus facilitating the recognition of organic cations.

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SUPRAMOLECULAR SENSORS

Chemical warfare agents (CWAs) are a class of toxic chemicals, introduced as pesticides and then used as chemical weapons to harm people. Since the First World War, a large number of chemical compounds have been synthesised to act as CWAs, with the development of G and V series organophosphorus (OP) compounds. Sensing of CWAs today involves two different methods: (i) the covalent approach and (ii) a supramolecular approach. The
supramolecular approach attempts to recognise CWAs via non-covalent reversible interactions, involving different recognition sites (multi-topic). For these reasons, an ideal receptor should be able to simultaneously recognise two or more sites of the analyte, thus leading to a selective sensor, and avoiding false-positive responses.

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SENSING FOR EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS

The research activity is oriented on the creation of sensor devices for the detection of stress biomarkers in harsh and adverse environments such as space missions, war fronts, submarine missions, long duration.
We have chosen to exploit multi-array systems for the realisation of the sensor device because these systems are easy to use and extremely selective and are also characterised by: i) selective response; ii) easily analysable output; iii) easily deployable.
The interaction between the probes and the array will then be analysed and interpreted by analysing the images provided by a commercial smartphone. 

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GREEN CATALYSIS

The other research activity was oriented to the green and enantioselective catalysis. In the last decades, efforts have been devoted to heterogenize the Jacobsen catalyst by anchoring chiral (salen)Mn(III) complexes on solid surfaces in order to enhance their stability, activity, selectivity, recovery and recycling. Although several methods are known for this heterogenization, surface anchoring that assures no catalyst leaching and high efficiency remains a challenging goal.  Taking into account this considerations, design and synthesis of eterogeneous catalysts for the enantioselective epoxidation of important alkenes were performed, using quartz as solid support. In addition, supramolecular nanoreactors able to catalyze epoxidation in water were obtained. These systems exploited the ability of chiral micelle to create a closed organic nanospace in aqueous solution where organic substrates can be converted in the corresponding epoxides.

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ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

This research topic focuses on the development of optical sensors based on fluorescent molecules for environmental monitoring. These sensors are designed to be fast, highly selective, and sensitive, enabling efficient detection of target analytes in complex environmental matrices, such as air and water. These sensors can be integrated in a single device, which is also projected to be versatile, and gives a complex response.
The possibility to read the output using the Internet of Things pursues the ultimate goal: to create user-friendly and small-sized devices that can provide real-time and reliable data for a safer and more sustainable world. 

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Publications

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  1. R. Santonocito, A. Cavallaro, F. Ficili, G. Grasso, A. Pappalardo, N. Tuccittoa and G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, A Fluorescent Sensor Array for Rapid and Facile Point-of-Care Creatinine Detection in Saliva. Submitted to Sensors & Diagnostics, 2025, DOI: 10.1039/D5SD00063G

  2. R. Santonocito, A. Cavallaro, A. Pappalardo, R. Puglisi, A. Marano, M. Andolina, N. Tuccitto, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, Detection of Human Salivary Stress Biomarkers Using an Easy-to-Use Array Sensor Based on Fluorescent Organic Molecules. Submitted to Biosensors & Bioelectronics,2025, 270, 116986

  3. A. Cavallaro, R. Santonocito, R. Puglisi, A. Pappalardo, F. La Spada, R. Parlascino, M. Riolo, S. O. Cacciola, N. Tuccitto, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, Fast Detection of Penicillium Rot and Conservation Status of Packaged Citrus Fruit Using an Optical Array Sensor, Chem. Commun., 2024, 60, 13702-13705.

  4. R. Santonocito, A. Cavallaro, R. Puglisi, A. Pappalardo, N. Tuccitto, M. Petroselli, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, Smartphone-Based Sensing of Cortisol by Functionalized Rhodamine Probes, Chem. Eur. J. 2024, e202401201.

  5. R. Puglisi, A. Cavallaro, A. Pappalardo, M.  Petroselli, R. Santonocito, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, New Bodipy-based receptor for the fluorescent sensing of catecholamines, Molecules 2024, 29, 3714.

  6. R. Puglisi, L. M. Mancuso, R. Santonocito, A. Gulino, V. Oliveri, R. Ruffino, G. Li Destri, V. Muccilli, N. Cardullo, N. Tuccitto, A. Pappalardo, G. Sfuncia, G. Nicotra, M. Petroselli, F. Pappalardo, V. Zaccaria and G. Trusso Sfrazzetto Dopamine sensing by fluorescent carbon nanoparticles synthesized using artichoke extract. J. Mat. Chem. B 2024, 12, 7826-7836.

  7. R. Santonocito, R. Puglisi, A. Cavallaro, A. Pappalardo, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto Cortisol sensing by optical sensors Analyst, 2024, 149, 989–1001

  8. R. Puglisi, R. Santonocito, E. Butera, G. L. Mendola, A. Pappalardo, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto Supramolecular Detection of a Sub-ppm Nerve Agent Simulant by a Smartphone Tool ACSS Omega 2023, 8, 38038-38044

  9. R. Santonocito, A. Cavallaro, R. Puglisi, Manuelamaria Intravaia, Rosa Maria Toscano, A. Pappalardo, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto Fluorescent Bodipy Sensor for Trace Detection of Nerve Agents Simulant via Supramolecular Approach Curr. Org. Chem. 2023, 27, 876-882

  10. R. Santonocito, M. Spina, R. Puglisi, A. Pappalardo, N. Tuccitto, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto Detection of a Nerve Agent Simulant by a Fluorescent Sensor Array Chemosensors 2023, 11, 503.

  11. R. Santonocito, R. Parlascino, A. Cavallaro, R. Puglisi, A. Pappalardo, F. Aloi, A. Licciardello, N. Tuccitto, S. O, Cacciola, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto Sensors and Actuators: B. Chemical 393 (2023) 134305

  12. A. Cavallaro, R. Santonocito, R. Puglisi, A. Pappalardo, Giuseppe Trusso Sfrazzetto Molbank 2023, 2023, M1639

  13. Rossella Santonocito, Ivana Maria Caruso, Giuseppe Trusso Sfrazzetto Molbank 2023, 2023, M1568

  14. Santonocito, R.; Tuccitto, N.; Pappalardo, A.; Trusso Sfrazzetto, G., Smartphone-Based Dopamine Detection by Fluorescent Supramolecular Sensor Molecules, 2022, 27, I21, 7503

  15. Santonocito, R.,  Tuccitto, N., Cantaro V., Carbonaro, A. B., Pappalardo A., Greco, V., Buccilli, V., Maida, P., Zavattaro, D., Sfuncia, G., Nicotra, G., Maccarrone, G., Gulino, A., Giuffrida, A., Trusso Sfrazzetto, G., Smartphone-Assisted Sensing of Trinitrotoluene by Optical Array, ACS Omega 2022, 7, 37122−37132

  16. Santonocito, R; Intravaia, M.; Caruso, I. M.; Pappalardo, A.; Trusso Sfrazzetto, G.; Tuccitto, N. Fluorescence sensing by carbon nanoparticles Nanoscale Adv. 2022, 4, 1926-1948

  17. Calì, F.; Fichera, L.; Trusso Sfrazzetto, G.; Nicotra, G.; Sfuncia, G.; Bruno, E.; Lanzanò, L.; Barbagallo, I.; Li-Destri, G.; Tuccitto, N. Fluorescent nanoparticles for reliable communication among implantable medical devices Carbon 2022, 190, 262-275

  18. Pisagatti I.; Crisafulli D.; Pappalardo A.; Trusso Sfrazzetto G.; Notti A.; Nastasi F.; Parisi M. F.; Micali N.; Gattuso G.; Villari V. Photoinduced electron transfer in host-guest interactions of a viologen derivative with a didansyl-pillar[5]arene Materials Today Chemistry 2022, 24, 100841

  19. G. Catania, N. Tuccitto, A. Pappalardo, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, Agile Detection of Chemical Warfare Agents by Machine Vision: a Supramolecular Approach Chem. Eur. J. 2021, 27, 13715–13718

  20. F. Calì, V. Cantaro, L. Fichera, R. Ruffino, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, G. Li-Destri, N. Tuccitto Carbon Quantum Dots from Lemon Waste Enable Communication among Biodevices Chemosensors 2021, 9, 202

  21. N. Tuccitto, L. Fichera, R. Ruffino, V. Cantaro, G. Sfuncia, G. Nicotra, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, G. Li-Destri, A. Valenti, A. Licciardello, and A. Torrisi. Carbon Quantum Dots as Fluorescence Nanochemosensors for Selective Detection of Amino Acids, ACS Appl. Nano Mater. 2021, 4, 6, 6250–6256.​

  22. A. Pappalardo, F. P. Ballistreri, R. M. Toscano, M. A. Chiacchio, L. Legnani , G. Grazioso, L. Veltri, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto Alkene Epoxidations Mediated by Mn-Salen Macrocyclic Catalysts Catalysts 2021, 11, 465

  23. R. Santonocito, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto  (2021) Green Nanocatalysts in Organic Synthesis. In: Anilkumar G., Saranya S. (eds) Green Organic Reactions. Materials Horizons: From Nature to Nanomaterials. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6897-2_13

  24. C. M. A. Gangemi, U. Rimkaite, A. Pappalardo, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto Light-up photoluminescence sensing of a nerve agent simulant by a bis-porphyrin–salen–UO2 complex RSC Adv., 2021, 11, 13047–13050

  25. Pappalardo, Andrea, Gangemi, C. M. A.; Testa, Caterina; Trusso Sfrazzetto, Supramolecular assemblies for photodynamic therapy Current Organic Chemistry 2021, 25, 963 - 993

  26. N. Tuccitto, L. Riela, A. Zammataro, L. Spitaleri, G. Li Destri, G. Sfuncia, G. Nicotra, A. Pappalardo, G. Capizzi, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto Functionalized Carbon Nanoparticle-Based Sensors for Chemical Warfare Agents ACS App. Nano Mater. 2020, 3, 8182

  27. Zammataro, A.; Santonocito, R.; Pappalardo, A.; Trusso Sfrazzetto, G. Catalytic Degradation of Nerve Agents. Catalysts 2020, 10, 881.

  28. L. Spitaleri, C M. A. Gangemi, R. Purrello, G. Nicotra, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, G. Casella, M. Casarin, A Gulino Covalently Conjugated Gold–Porphyrin Nanostructures Nanomaterials 2020, 10, 1644

  29. A. Pappalardo, C. M. A. Gangemi, R. M. Toscano, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto A New Fluorescent Salen-Uranyl Sensor for the Sub-ppm Detection of Chemical Warfare Agents Curr. Org. Chem. 2020, 24, 2378

  30. N. Tuccitto, L. Spitaleri, G. Li Destri, A. Pappalardo, A. Gulino and G. Trusso Sfrazzetto Supramolecular Sensing of a Chemical Warfare Agents Simulant by Functionalized Carbon Nanoparticles Molecules 2020, 25, 5731

  31. I. Pisagatti, N. Manganaro, C. F. M. Mirabella, A. Pappalardo, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, F. Nastasi, A. Notti, M. F. Parisi, G. Gattuso How do fluoride ions bind to tetrathiacalix[2]arene[2]triazines? Tetrahedron. Lett. 2020, 61, 151911

  32. A. Zammataro and G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, Carbon Dots as Catalysts: A New Class of Nanozymes Current Organocatalysis 2020, 7, 3-6

  33. L. Legnani, R. Puglisi, A. Pappalardo, M. A. Chiacchio and G. Trusso Sfrazzetto Supramolecular recognition of phosphocholine by an enzyme-like cavitand receptor, Chem. Commun., 2020, 56, 539-542

  34. C. M. A. Gangemi, U. Rimkaite, F. Cipria, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto and A. Pappalardo Enantiomeric Recognition of a-Aminoacids by a Uranyl Salen-Bis-Porphyrin Complex, Frontiers in Chemistry, doi: 10.3389/fchem.2019.00836

  35. C. Testa, A. Zammataro, A. Pappalardo and G. Trusso Sfrazzetto Catalysis with carbon nanoparticles RSC Adv., 2019, 9, 27659–27664

  36. A. Pappalardo, R. Puglisi, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto Catalysis inside Supramolecular Capsules: Recent Developments Catalysts 2019, 9, 630

  37. G. Li-Destri, L. Fichera, A. Zammataro, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, and N. Tuccitto Self-Assembled Carbon Nanoparticles as Messengers for Artificial Chemical Communication. Nanoscale, 2019, 11, 14203-14209

  38. Puglisi, R.; Mineo, P.G.; Pappalardo, A.; Gulino, A.; Trusso Sfrazzetto, G. Supramolecular Detection of a Nerve Agent Simulant by Fluorescent Zn–Salen Oligomer Receptors. Molecules 2019, 24, 2160.

  39. R. Puglisi, A. Pappalardo, A. Gulino, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto Multitopic Supramolecular Detection of Chemical Warfare Agents by Fluorescent Sensors ACS Omega 2019, 4, 7550−7555

  40. Zammataro, C. M. A. Gangemi, A. Pappalardo, R. M. Toscano, R. Puglisi, G. Nicotra, M. E. Fragalà, N. Tuccitto, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto Covalently functionalized carbon nanoparticles with a chiral Mn-Salen: a new nanocatalyst for enantioselective epoxidation of alkenes Chem. Commun., 2019, 55, 5255-5258

  41. M. A. Gangemi, R. Puglisi, A. Pappalardo, G.  Trusso Sfrazzetto Supramolecular complexes for nanomedicine, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters 2018, 28, 20, 3290-3301

  42. N. Tuccitto, T. Amato, C. M. A. Gangemi, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, R. Puglisi, A. Pappalardo, F. P. Ballistreri, G. M. L. Messina, G. Li Destri, G. Marletta Driving coordination polymer monolayer formation by competitive reactions at the air/water interface, Langmuir 2018, 34, 1706-11713

  43. R. Puglisi, A. Pappalardo, A. Gulino, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, Supramolecular recognition of CWAs simulant by metal-salen complexes: the first multi-topic approach Chem. Commun. 2018, 54, 11156 - 11159

  44. F. P. Ballistreri, R. M. Toscano, M. E. Amato, A. Pappalardo, C. M. A. Gangemi, S. Spidalieri, R. Puglisi, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto A New Mn–Salen Micellar Nanoreactor for Enantioselective Epoxidation of Alkenes in Water Catalysts 2018, 8, 129

  45. M. L.Giuffrida, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, C. Satriano, S. Zimbone, G. A. Tomaselli, A. Copani, E. Rizzarelli A New Ratiometric Lysosomal Copper(II) Fluorescent Probe To Map a Dynamic Metallome in Live Cells Inorg. Chem. 2018, 57, 2365−2368

  46. G. R. Walke, D. S. Ranade, S. N. Ramteke, S. Rapole, C. Satriano, E. Rizzarelli, G. A. Tomaselli, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, P. P. Kulkarni Fluorescent Copper Probe Inhibiting Aβ1−16-Copper(II)-Catalyzed Intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species Production Inorg. Chem. 2017, 56, 3729−3732

  47. R. Puglisi, F. P. Ballistreri, C. M. A. Gangemi, R. M. Toscano, G. A. Tomaselli, A. Pappalardo, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto Chiral Zn–salen complexes: a new class of fluorescent receptors for enantiodiscrimination of chiral amines New J. Chem., 2017, 41, 911-915

  48. Gulino, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, S. Millesi, A. Pappalardo, G. A. Tomaselli, F. P. Ballistreri, R. M. Toscano, L. Fragalà Nerve Gas Simulant Sensing by an Uranyl-Salen Monolayer Covalently Anchored on Quartz Substrates Chem. Eur. J. , 2017, 23, 1576-1583

  49. N. Tuccitto, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, C. M. A. Gangemi, F. P. Ballistreri, R. M. Toscano, G. A. Tomaselli, A. Pappalardo, G. Marletta Memory-Driven Order-Disorder Transition of 3D-Supramolecular Architecture Based on Calix[5]arene and Porphyrin Derivatives Chem. Commun., 2016, 52, 11681-11684

  50. F. P. Ballistreri, C. M. A. Gangemi, A. Pappalardo, G. A. Tomaselli, R. M. Toscano, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto (Salen)Mn(III) Catalyzed Asymmetric Epoxidation Reactions by Hydrogen Peroxide in Water: A Green Protocol Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2016, 17, 1112

  51. F. P. Ballistreri, G. Brancatelli, N. Demitri, S. Geremia, D. M. Guldi, M. Melchionna, A. Pappalardo, M. Prato, G. A. Tomaselli, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto Recognition of C60 by Tetra- and Tri-Quinoxaline Cavitands Supramol. Chem. 2016, 28, 601-607

  52. G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, C. Satriano, G. A. Tomaselli, E. Rizzarelli Synthetic fluorescent probes to map dynamic metallostasis and intracellular fate of zinc and copper Coord. Chem. Rev. 2016, 311.125-167

  53. Fraix, V. Torrisi, G. Marletta, S. Sortino, P. G. Mineo, G. A. Tomaselli, F. P. Ballistreri, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, A. Pappalardo Supramolecular Polymer Networks Based on Calix[5]arene Chained Poly(pphenyleneethynylene) and C60 Fulleropyrrolidine Supramol. Chem. 2016, 2016, 28, 485-492

  54. M. A. Gangemi, R. Randazzo, M. E. Fragalà, G. A. Tomaselli, F. P. ballistreri, A. Pappalardo, R. M. Toscano, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, R. Purrello and A. D'Urso, Hierarchically controlled protonation/aggregation of a porphyrin–spermine derivative.  New J. Chem., 2015, 39, 6722-6725

  55. G. Forte, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, A. Pappalardo A DFT study on the recognition of α-amino acid derivatives by chiral uranyl-salen Comput. Teor. Chem. 2015, 1068, 8-12

  56. M. A. Gangemi, A. Pappalardo and G. Trusso Sfrazzetto Assembling of Supramolecular Capsules with Resorcin[4]arene and Calix[n]arene Building Blocks Curr. Org. Chem. 2015, 19, 2281-2308

  57. Pappalardo, C. M. A. Gangemi, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto Applications of supramolecular capsules derived from resorcin[4]arenes, calix[n]arenes and metallo-ligands: from biology to catalysis RSC Advances, 2015, 5, 51919-51933

  58. G. Forte, A. D’Urso, F. P. Ballistreri, R. M. Toscano, G. A. Tomaselli, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, A. Pappalardo Enantiomeric Recognition of a-Amino Acid Derivatives by Chiral Uranyl-Salen Receptors Tetrahedron Lett. 2015, 56, 2922-2926

  59. G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, S. Millesi, A. Pappalardo,  R. M. Toscano,  F. P. Ballistreri, G. A. Tomaselli, A. Gulino Olefin Epoxidation by a (salen)Mn(III) Catalyst Covalently Grafted on Glass Beads Cat. Sci. Techn. 2015, 5, 673-679

  60. M. L. Giuffrida, E. Rizzarelli, G. A. Tomaselli, C. Satriano, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto A novel fully water-soluble Cu(I) probe for fluorescence live cell imaging Chem. Commun. 2014, 50, 9835-9838

  61. D’Urso, C. Tudisco, F. P. Ballistreri, G. G. Condorelli, R. Randazzo, G. A. Tomaselli, R. M. Toscano, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, A. Pappalardo Enantioselective extraction mediated by a chiral cavitand–salen covalently assembled on a porous silicon surface Chem. Commun. 2014, 50, 4993-4496

  62. M. E. Amato, F. P. Ballistreri, A. Pappalardo, G. A. Tomaselli, R. M. Toscano, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto Selective Oxidation Reactions of Natural Compounds with Hydrogen Peroxide Mediated by Methyltrioxorhenium Molecules, 2013, 18, 13754-13768.

  63. Pappalardo, M. E. Amato, F. P. Ballistreri, V. La Paglia Fragola, G. A. Tomaselli, R. M. Toscano, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto  Binding of Reactive Organophosphate by Oximes via Hydrogen Bond J. Chem. Sci. 2013, 125, 896-873

  64. Satriano, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, M. E. Amato, F. P. Ballistreri, A. Copani, M. L. Giuffrida, G. Grasso, A. Pappalardo, E. Rizzarelli,G. A. Tomaselli, R. M. Toscano A Ratiometric Naphthalimide Sensor for Live Cell Imaging of Copper(I) Chem. Commun. 2013, 49, 5565-5567

  65. G. Brancatelli, A. Pappalardo, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, A. Notti, S. Geremia Mono- and Dinuclear Uranyl(VI) Complexes with Chiral Schiff Base Ligand Inorganica Chimica Acta 2013, 396, 25-29

  66. Pappalardo, M. E. Amato, F. P. Ballistreri, A. Notti, G. A. Tomaselli, R. M. Toscano, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto Synthesis and topology of [2+2] calix[4]resorcarene-based chiral cavitand-salen macrocycles  Tetrahedron Lett. 2012, 53, 7150-7153

  67. Pappalardo, F. P. Ballistreri, G. Li Destri, P. G. Mineo, G. A. Tomaselli, R. M. Toscano, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto Supramolecular Polymer Networks Based on Calix[5]arene Tethered Poly(p‑phenyleneethynylene) Macromolecules 2012, 45, 7549-7556

  68. V. La Paglia Fragola, F. Lupo, A. Pappalardo, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, R. M. Toscano, F. P. Ballistreri, G. A. Tomaselli, A. Gulino A surface-confined O=MnV(salen) oxene catalyst and high turnover values in asymmetric epoxidation of unfunctionalized olefins J. Mater. Chem. 2012, 22, 20561

  69. Pappalardo, M. E. Amato, F. P. Ballistreri, G. A. Tomaselli, R. M. Toscano, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto Pair of Diastereomeric Uranyl Salen Cavitands Displaying Opposite Enantiodiscrimination of α‑Amino Acid Ammonium Salts J. Org. Chem. 2012, 77, 7684-7687

  70. G. M. Lombardo, A. L. Thompson, F. P. Ballistreri, A. Pappalardo, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, G. A. Tomaselli, R. M. Toscano, F. Punzo An integrated X-ray and molecular dynamics study of uranyl-salen structures and properties Dalton Trans. 2012, 41, 1951-1960

  71. M. E. Amato, F. P. Ballistreri, S. D’Agata, A. Pappalardo, G. A. Tomaselli, R. M. Toscano,G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, Enantioselective Molecular Recognition of Chiral Organic Ammonium Ions and Amino Acids Using Cavitand-Salen Based Receptors Eur. J. Org. Chem., 2011, 5674-5680

  72. F. P. Ballistreri, G. G. Condorelli, I. Fragalà, A. Motta, A. Pappalardo, G. A. Tomaselli, C. Tudisco, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, Covalent functionalization of silicon surfaces with cavitand-modified salen Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2011, 2124-2131

  73. F. P. Ballistreri, A. Pappalardo, G. A. Tomaselli, E. Vittorino, S. Sortino, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, Synthesis and photophysics of a fullerene-triquinoxaline ensemble New J. Chem. 2010, 34, 2828-2834

  74. F. P. Ballistreri, A. Pappalardo, R. M. Toscano, G. A. Tomaselli, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, A New Heteroditopic Chiral Uranyl–Salen Receptor for Molecular Recognition of Amino Acid Ammonium Salts Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2010, 20, 3806-3810

  75. A. Patti, S. Pedotti, F. P. Ballistreri, G. Trusso Sfrazzetto, Synthesis and Characterization of Some Chiral Metal-Salen Complexes Bearing a Ferrocenophane Substituent Molecules, 2009, 14, 4312-4325

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Prof. Giuseppe Trusso Sfrazzetto
email: giuseppe.trusso@unict.it
tel: +390957385201

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