Katedra organické chemie PřF UP Olomouc

Faculty of Science, Palacky University Olomouc, Czech republic

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Tř. Svobody 8, 772 00 Olomouc Czech Republic
tel.: 585 634 405
fax: 585 634 405
email: orgchem(at)orgchem(dot)upol(dot)cz

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About us...

The Department of Organic Chemistry at the Faculty of Science of Palacky University in Olomouc offers a Masters Programme (duration two years, awarded degree: "magistr" ("Master"), abbreviated as "Mgr.") and a Doctoral Programme in Organic Chemistry. The Doctoral Programme is of a standard duration of 3 years and the degree awarded is that of "doktor" ("Doctor"), abbreviated as "Ph.D." (state doctoral examination, doctoral thesis defence).

A variety of study programmes ensure that students will be informed about many chemicals processes and operations, from synthesis to the study of the structure and character of new substances. Students can also learn more about the mechanism of all these reactions. In cooperation with other departments, students can be informed about the biologic qualities of prepared substances.

The Department of Organic Chemistry has several laboratories, some for teaching organic chemistry and some for experiments during lessons. Students at the end of their Master Programme may use a separate laboratory room for experimental research. Students can also work in a special laboratory room used for the analysis and separation of organic substances.

Beside the basic responsibility of educating students at university, the Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, also participates in the education of teachers of secondary and basic schools. They can learn more about organic chemistry or can complete their education in this area. The department also participates in teaching senior citizens at the University of the Third Age. When working with young people, we focus on the presentation of interesting chemical experiments at different schools. The purpose of these activities is to make chemistry attractive and exciting for students to chemistry and help them to decide whether to study chemistry or not. We present the Department of Organic Chemistry at many events intended for the public, e.g. the annual Fair of chemistry, mathematics and physics held in Olomouc.

We also participate in several projects of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic and in projects of the Faculty of Science as financed by the European Union.

In terms of science, the Department of Organic Chemistry at the Faculty of Science focuses upon the chemistry of heterocyclic substances with biologic activity. The purpose of our scientific work is to prepare and research the characteristics of new organic heterocyclic substances with potential biology activity and to do research on new synthesis methods. Synthetic analogies of natural heterocyclic substances with biologic activity and research on new synthetic methods play an important part in our work. We had success in establishing new procedures for creating several heterocyclic substances through research at the Department of Organic Chemistry. The results included the synthesis of many new condensed heterocyclic materials, including substances similar in structure to some biologic active substances, such as folic acid, flavone, etc.

The aim of our current research is to develop synthesis conductive to the next generation of non-condensed and condensed heterocyclic substances and to study their characteristics and modifications. Prepared heterocyclic substances are investigated in terms of the following processes: virostatic, cancerstatic, bacteriostatic and herbicidal or insecticidal. Separate attention is given to those substances, which anticipate their disposal in interactions with some biomolecule, e.g. with nuclear acids or enzymes. Some of the prepared substances showed prominent antiviral, sytostatic, tuberculostatic or antiprotozoic activity and are in pre-clinical testing now.

The Department of Organic Chemistry closely cooperates with the Faculty of Medicine at Palacky University in Olomouc and with some international institutions (such as the National Cancer Institute (USA), Japan's National Cancer Center and the Swiss Tropical Institute) which concentrate on progress in studying biologic active substances.

Scientific Centres are given a grant for projects. The most important current project is "Modulation of signal routes in normal and tumour cells", which is being researched by our Department of Organic Chemistry in co-operation with some other departments from the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Medicine of the University Palacky in Olomouc.