Department of Organic Chemistry

Research

The lecturers and researchers at the Department of Organic Chemistry work in the following research fields:

Semiconductor synthesis and research (supervised by professor. Vytautas Getautis). Scientific interests in this scientific group include synthesis and research into semiconductors and colourants. The biggest focus is on organic semiconductors and organic colourants and pigments. Semiconductors, both small molecules and polymers, are synthesised and investigated for positive, negative and semiconductor transporting loaders of both sign. Their thermal, optical, photophysical and electrochemical features are investigated. The main fields of the application of synthetic materials are electrophotographic photoreceptors, organic LEDs, photovoltaic (solar) elements and organic field transistors.

The group works closely with Lithuanian and international physicists and optoelectronic and electronic device makers. Its main partners include the University of Vilnius’ Department of Solid State Electronics and Institute of Applied Sciences, the Research Group of Photovoltaic and Optoelectronic Instruments at Oxford University (under professor H. Snaith) and the Molecular Engineering Group of Functional Materials at the Federal Polytechnic Institute of Lausanne (professor K. Nazeeruddin). Scientific research has been commissioned by foreign entities including BASF SE and TrinamiX GmbH for many years.

The group carries out various research projects funded by both international and national authorities including the Seventh European Union Framework Programme. Students of different levels are actively involved in these projects.

The group actively patents its work results and publishes them in high-ranking international scientific journals. Over the past decade, the group has published more than 90 scientific articles in international scientific journals included in the ISI database and has registered approximately 100 US, European, Japanese and Chinese patents.

The following people are actively involved in this research group: Dr. Marytė Daškevičienė, associate professor Tadas Malinauskas, Dr. Giedrė Bubnienė, Dr. Jolanta Ardaravičienė, Dr. Simona Urnikaitė, Dr. Daiva Tomkutė-Lukšienė and the Doctoral students Ieva Petrikytė, Artiom Magomedov and Titas Braukyla.

Synthesis and research into biologically active substances (supervised by professor V. Mickevičius). This research team conducts research into the synthesis of substituted β-amino acids, their chemical properties and the search for biologically active compounds. In the big list of bioactive compounds, sulphur, nitrogen, amino acids, carbonyl-containing compounds and their derivatives take an important place. The combination of various amino acids and nitrogen, sulphur-containing aromatic heterocyclic pharmacophores, many of which have antimicrobial, fungicidal, analgesic, sedative, anti-cancer and other properties, can be synthesised with compounds with a specific biological activity. The biological properties of synthesised compounds are investigated in order to determine the relationship between the structure and biological properties of the compounds. Professors active in the research group include Dr. Vytautas Mickevičius, Dr. Ingrida Tumosienė, Dr. Kazimieras Anusevicius, associate Dr. Birute Sapijanskaitė, associate Dr. Kęstutis Rutkauskas, associate Dr. Ilona Jonuškiene, Rita Vaickelionienė and the Doctoral students Irmantas Parašotas, Irena Ramanauskaitė and Ramunė Kolosej.

Synthesis and research into new heterocyclic systems (supervised by professor A. Šačkus). Heterocyclic compounds form the structural basis for many drugs and colourants. The department searches for new heterocyclic systems and their research. Working in the areas of ultra-grate photochromes and chemosensors.

Biotechnology (supervised by Dr. I. Jonuškienė). Recently, biotechnology has become increasingly important in the world. Each year more and more products are manufactured using microorganisms and enzymes. The focus is in the field of industrial biotechnology production. Works carried out in the department include organogenesis of medical plants and oil plants, morphogenesis, emission of primary and secondary metabolites from plants, growth regulators, biologically active compounds for plants research in vitro, enzymes determination in plant culture research, antimicrobial, antioxidant evaluation of biologically active compounds, excretion of bio-products from bacteria and plant or algae experiments are rapidly developing and relevant.

Oil refining and alternative energy resources (supervised by Dr. L. Miknius). Research is carried out on waste of organic origin including plastics and used tyres refined into energy and other value added products as well as other aggregate fuels, adsorbents and chemicals. The aim is to determine the optimal conditions for the processing of individual raw materials, corresponding to the maximum output of products and the desired chemical composition to create a rational recycling technology.

In cooperation with the Lithuanian fuel company ORLEN Lietuva, research is carried out into various intermediate plant, hydrogenation, hydrocracking and hydroisomerisation products of which the results are used to optimise the company’s production activities. The manufacturing problems of a non-standard company are being solved.

Since 2014, the department has been moving in a new scientific direction with research into hemp fibre (Cannabis sativa). The chemical composition of the extracts isolated in different ways is analysed, the methods of concentration and purification of the active ingredients are applied and improved and the basis of which the technologies of production are made.