Department of Organic Chemistry PřF UP cooperates long-term with a number of foreign universities and institutions. Mutual cooperation has already provided a number of significant grants, scientific publications or patents and has confirmed our competitiveness and application worldwide.
IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems (Rakousko): Department of Science and Technology
The cooperation with IMC University of Aplied Science in Austria started in 2021 according to PhD internship of our students under the supervision of prof. Uwe Rinner. His area of interest is a range of organic chemistry topics, extending from the synthesis of biologically active compounds to the production of functional prepolymers and the development of new synthesis methods. The institute also uses biotechnological processes to produce starting materials for the manufacture of highly functionalised products. These fermenting processes convert aromatic compounds into the corresponding cyclohexanediols, which are valuable chiral components for synthesis projects.
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Belgium – Department of Chemistry
Collaboration with Vrije Universiteit Brussel was established with prof. Frank De Proft and F. De Vleeschouwer. Originally, the joint research focused on DFT and ab initio calculations of radicals with a major interest in the oxidoreduction properties of plant secondary metabolites (phenyl propanoids). More recently, we have focused on the development of joint theoretical (DFT calculations) and experimental studies that would allow us to predict pKa values of novel hydrogen-bonding donors suitable for organocatalysis.
Publications list with Frank De Proft
University of Notre Dame (IN, USA): Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Collaboration with Notre Dame University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry was launched in 2007 with prof. Viktor Krchňák, a specialist in combinatorial chemistry, especially for solid phase synthesis. Many students and staff from the Department of Organic Chemistry at Palacky University have undergone research internships in their research group to gain skills and knowledge in solid phase synthesis and combinatorial chemistry. Currently he focuses on two research topics. The first one is dedicated to the development of synthetic pathways to afford diverse chiral heterocyclic compounds with 3D architectures and complete control of stereochemistry, that structurally mimics a complex natural substanceS and contains connected / bridged medium and large circles. The second project focuses on solid-phase synthesis of heterogeneous nitrogen compounds qualified as privileged structures. The key transformation is the displacement of the aryl group by intramolecular arylation of advanced solid-binding intermediates containing the 2-nitrobenzenesulfonamide moiety. 
Later cooperation was extended to the research group prof. Shahriar Mobashery. Its central theme is the study of antibiotic resistance and the development of new antibiotics. Effective synthesis of alkenes using Wittig reaction with silver carbonate or regioselectivity of amination to 5-substituted 2,4-dichloropyrimidine using tertiary amines as nucleophiles was studied. 
Významná kooperace byla navázána i s dalším světovým specialistou na vývoj a výzkum nových antibiotik prof. Marvinem J. Millerem. Significant cooperation was also established with another world specialist for the development and research of new antibiotics, prof. Marvin J. Miller. The long-term topic of his research group is the study of the regioselective hetero Diels-Alder reaction of arylnitroso compounds leading to oxazine derivatives with simultaneous chiral analysis of target compounds.
Publications list with Viktor Krchňák
Publications list with Shahriar Mobashery
Publications list with Marvin J. Miller
Jagiellonian University Kraków (Poland): Faculty of Pharmacy
Cooperation with Jagiellonian University has began in 2014. It is targeted to synthesis and study of novel ligands of certain molecular targets. Currently there are two fields of interest. The first area is devoted to research and development of compounds with agonistic/antagonistic effect against specific serotonine receptors. The second field is devoted to the research for dual inhibitors of selected phosphodiesterases. The key collaborator in both fields is Assoc. Prof. Pawel Zajdel. The joint aim is identification of drug candidates for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and also finding derivatives acting as potent and selective anti-inflammatory agents or antidepressants. Recently, we discovered a novel class of serotonine ligands which were protected by the international patent. Their advanced preclinical development is in progress.
Publications list with Pawel Zajdel
Johannes Kepler University, Austria – Institute of Organic Chemistry
Collaboration with JKU was established with prof. Mario Waserem and his group, and the focus was on the development of novel organocatalysts and reactions promoted with organocatalysts. The main emphasis is given to the design and development of the reaction catalysts; however, novel reaction disclosure is not neglected.
Publications list with Mario Waser
Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (IN, USA): Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Collaboration with prof. William L. Scott of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology was established in 2012 through a series of invited lectures for students and staff of the Faculty of Science UP. Activities in his research are based on the systematic integration of students into the field of drug development. His strategy is based on the international D3 (Distributed Drug Discovery) project, to which our two students have been accepted in the past. The strategy of the D3 project is about simple synthesis of new compounds using inexpensive equipment and their subsequent biological screening within the educational process.
University of Tromsø (Norway): Institute of Pharmacy
Since 2008, the Department of Organic Chemistry has been working with prof. Natasou Skalko-Basnet of the Department of Pharmacy, University of Tromsø, Norway. The research cooperation was established on the basis of a joint EEA grant aimed at increasing the bioavailability of poorly soluble new biologically active substances. Within the collaboration, a study was developed to increase the solubility and stability of derivatives of 3-hydroxyquinoline-4(1H)-ones with promising cytostatic and cancerostatic activity.
Publications list with Natasa Skalko-Basnet
University of Southern Denmark (Denmark): Department of Physics and Chemistry
Cooperation with the University of Southern Denmark takes place both on the scientific and educational level within the Erasmus + program. Our partner is prof. Poul Nielsen, whose research group has long been involved in the synthesis and application of modified oligonucleotides (DNA-analogues). One of the research topics is C-branched oligonucleotides and conformationally restricted DNA analogues such as the recently discovered Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA), which has unprecedented binding affinity for complementary DNA and RNA compared to DNA analogues known so far.
Publications list with Poul Nielsen
University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia): Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Prof. John Bartlett from the University of Sunshine Coast of Australia (USC) visited the Department of Organic Chemistry in 2013 with a lecture about nanoparticles of silicon dioxide designed to transport pharmaceuticals and began collaborating with our workplaces. His specialization includes, among others, “sol-gel” chemistry for the synthesis of nanostructured materials, especially at temperatures compatible with polymeric and biological substrates. During cooperation nano-silicates suitable for the transmission of synthesized substances at our center in Olomouc are being developed.
Publications list with John Bartlett
Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium – Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences
In cooperation with prof. Raphaël Robiette is investigating Julie’s reaction. A study of the E / Z selectivity of Julia olefination on aromatic aldehydes has been published successfully. Currently, a DFT calculation project is being developed to focus on a mechanistic study of modified Julie’s reaction and related olefination protocols.
