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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 develop of new supramolecular systems having application in sensoristic and catalytic field. 

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Group photos

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Members
PhD
Research fellow
M.S

Members

Professors

Prof. Andrea Pappalardo

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.

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.

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

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Prof. Giuseppe Trusso Sfrazzetto

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.

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

  • Laboratory of Organic Chemistry  2

  • Organic Chemistry 2 and 3

  • Supramolecular Organic Chemistry

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

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Researchers

Dr. Roberta Puglisi

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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PhD Students

Dr. Cavallaro Alessia

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 multi-array sensors to detect stress biomarkers, under the supervision of Prof. Giuseppe Trusso Sfrazzetto and Dr. Rossella Santonocito. Currently, she is a Research Fellow at LabSOrS in collaboration with CSGI (Florence), under the supervision of Prof. Nunzio Tuccitto.

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Dr. Rossella Santonocito

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 is currently a PhD student in Chemical Sciences, at LabSOrs, she is working on multi-array sensors to detect biomarkers of stress released in extreme environments in collaboration with Kayser Italia, a small medium enterprise independent specialized in aerospace systems.

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

Email: rossella.santonocito@phd.unict.it

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Dr. Caterina Testa

Caterina Testa was born in Catania, Italy in 1995.  She attended the Scientific High School “Galileo Galilei" in Catania, receiving the diploma in 2014.

In july 2018 she achieved the Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, with 110/110, working under the supervision of Prof. Andrea Pappalardo at LabSOrS on the synthesis of new supramolecular organic sensors for the recognition of nerve agents. She continued her University career studying Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry at University of Catania, receiving her Master’s Degree in Organic e Bioorganic Chemistry on July 2020 with 110 cum Laude. The topic of her thesis was the desing and synthesis of supramolecular organic catalysts based on chiral Salen complexes incorporated in Calix[5]arene macrocycles for asymmetric Michael reactions, via a non-covalent approach, always under the supervision of Prof. Andrea Pappalardo at LabSOrS.

Since October 2021 she is attending the PhD in Chemical Sciences, at LabSOrs, developing a project about supramolecular sensors based on Fluorophore-Calix[5]arene for the recognition of bioactive guests, under the supervision of Prof. Andrea Pappalardo.  

Web page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caterina-testa-a024361b8/

Email: caterina.testa@phd.unict.it

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Research fellow

Martina Ricceri

Martina Ricceri was born in Catania, Italy in 1998.  She attended the Scientific High School “Giovanni Verga, Petronio Russo" in Catania, receiving the diploma in 2017.

In March 2021 she achieved the Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, with 110/110, working under the supervision of Prof. Andrea Pappalardo at LabSOrS on the Synthesis of a Fluorescent Bodipy derivative as a probe for arenic pillar [5] systems.

She continued her University career studying Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry at University of Catania; started her Master’s thesis focused on the Synthesis of cyclic carbonates catalyzed by bimetallic Porphyrin-Salen complex, under the supervision of Prof. Andrea Pappalardo and Dr. Caterina Testa at LabSOrS.

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Master's degree students

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Dr. Flavia Ficili

Flavia Ficili was born in Ragusa, Italy, in 1999. She attended the Scientific High School "Quintino Cataudella" in Scicli (RG), receiving the diploma in 2018.
Then, She achieved the Bachelor's Degree in Chemisty in September 2022 at the Departement of Chemical Sciences of University of Catania with 110/110 cum laude. She worked on a thesis about sensing of stress biomarkers by optical arrays, under the supervision of prof. Giuseppe Trusso Sfrazzetto.
Currently, she's a Master student in Chemical Sciences (curriculum Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry) at the Departement of Chemical Sciences of University of Catania. She's focused on a thesis work that deals with synthesis of fluorescent sensors for assembling of an array, whose aim is the detection of alternative tumor biomarkers, under the supervision of the prof. Giuseppe Trusso Sfrazzetto.

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Dr. Simone Francalanza

 

Simone Francalanza was born in Catania, Italy in 1998. He graduated at the Industrial Technical High School “ITI Archimede”, Catania in 2017 with a score of 100/100 cum Laude.

He is currently a Bachelor’s degree student in Industrial Chemistry at the Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Catania, and he is now working under the supervision of Prof. Andrea Pappalardo and Dr. Caterina Testa at LabSOrS on “Synthesis of cyclic carbonates catalyzed by a bimetallic Porphyrin-Salen complex’’.

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Bachelor's degree students

Senior Members

Prof. Gaetano Tomaselli

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.

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.

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

Prof. Francesco Ballistreri

Francesco Ballistreri was graduated (summa cum laude) at the University of Catania (1975), where he held the positions of "Borsista CNR" (1977), researcher (1980) and associate professor in Organic Chemistry (1987). From 2005 he is full professor of Organic Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry of the University of Catania. Since 2009 he is a member of the board of the Reactivity and Catalysis Interuniversity Consortium (Consorzio Interuniversitario di Reattività e Catalisi – CIRCC).

He has been a committes member for associate and full professor positions. He was chairman / member of Chemistry PhD exam committees of the University of Catania and Palermo. He has been supervisor of PhD theses. He was president of Teaching Aggregate Structure in Chemical Science and Technology (april 2010 - october 2011) and board chairman of the degree course in Chemistry (2012/2016).

He has participated in various research projects: MURST 60%; COFIN 2003; FIRB 2003; PRIN 2004; PRIN 2007: PON 2003-2007, FAR MIUR (DM 17767) 2006-2008; PRIN 2010/2011; FIRB MERIT; PON Energetic 2007-2013; FIR 2014.

He is acting as referee for various scientific journals. He is the regular teacher of the following course: Organic Chemistry II and Lab (Mod. II, Course A-L)) for the bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. His research activity is directed mainly to the design, synthesis, characterization and use of new catalyst systems for the selective transfer of oxygen to bioactive molecules and organic substrates of potential interest application.

He is author of more than 90 scientific publications in international journals and more than 100 communications to national and international conferences.

Courses: Organic Chemistry II and Lab (A-L) at B.D. course in Chemistry.

Web Page: www.dsc.unict.it/faculty/francesco.paolo.ballistreri

Prof. Rosa Maria Toscano

Dr Rosa Maria Toscano graduated in Chemistry with a grade of 110/110 cum laude from the University of Catania.

In 1987 she obtained her PhD in Chemical Sciences from the University of Catania.

In 1988 she was awarded a scholarship by the "Guido Donegani" foundation at the Department of Chemical Sciences in Catania.

Since 1991 she has been a university researcher (scientific disciplinary sector CHIM/06-Organic Chemistry) at the Department of Chemical Sciences of the University of Catania.

She has been the representative of researchers in the Council of the Degree Course in Chemistry (1992-1994).

In 2003 she was a member of the examining board for the filling of university research posts (CHIM/06) at the Faculty of Science, University of Palermo.

In 2005 she was a member of the examining board for the filling of university researcher posts (CHIM/06) at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Palermo.

In the academic year 2005-2006 she was awarded the title of aggregate professor.

She was a member of the organising committee for the "COFEM 2006" conference held in Catania from 21 to 23 September 2006.

She was a member of the board of teachers of the International Doctorate in Chemical Sciences, cycle XXXII.

She has participated in various research projects: MURST 60%; COFIN 2003; FIRB 2003; PRIN 2004; PRIN 2007: PON 2003-2007, FAR MIUR (DM 17767) 2006-2008; PRIN 2010/2011; FIRB MERIT; PON Energetico 2007-2013; FIR 2014. 

The research activity has led to 60 scientific publications in international journals and numerous communications at national and international conferences.

Courses: Physical Organic Chemistry in M.D. course of Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry.

Web Page: www.dsc.unict.it/faculty/rosa.maria.toscano

B.S
Senior Members
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.

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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Publications

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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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.

  5. 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

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

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

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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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.​

  16. 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

  17. 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

  18. 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

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

  20. 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

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

  22. 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

  23. 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

  24. 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

  25. 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

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

  27. 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

  28. 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

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

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

  31. 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

  32. 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.

  33. 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

  34. 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

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

  36. 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

  37. 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

  38. 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

  39. 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

  40. 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

  41. 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

  42. 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

  43. 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

  44. 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

  45. 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

  46. 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

  47. 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

  48. 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

  49. 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

  50. 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

  51. 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

  52. 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

  53. 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

  54. 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

  55. 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

  56. 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.

  57. 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

  58. 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

  59. 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

  60. 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

  61. 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

  62. 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

  63. 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

  64. 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

  65. 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

  66. 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

  67. 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

  68. 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

  69. 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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Viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy

Prof. Andrea Pappalardo

email: andrea.pappalardo@unict.it

tel: +390957385010

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

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