History of Coordination Chemistry Research Groups
Coordination Chemistry beginnings are often traced back to the year 1890 when Alfred Werner (who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1913) introduced a groundbreaking theory that promoted the concept of two types of valency within a broad range of compounds, which were later termed Coordination Chemistry.
After 30 years Coordination Chemistry became the main focus of research at the Lviv Polytechnic, where a young analytical chemist, Wiktor Jakób (1886-1971), was appointed as an associate professor of Inorganic Chemistry and the head of the Department of Inorganic Chemistry. The research area initiated by Wiktor Jakób attracted a group of young, talented students, some of whom later became prominent scientists working in Poland (Włodzimierz Trzebiatowski, Bogusława Jeżowska) and Ukraine (Cyryl Michalewicz).
Professor Wiktor Jakób in the 1970s of the 20th century.
World War II suddenly interrupted the research conducted by professor Jakób and his students, which included the study of coordination compounds of the newly discovered element - rhenium (1925). After the end of World War II, some Polish scientists relocated from Lviv to Wrocław, while Wiktor Jakób established the Department of Inorganic Chemistry in Kraków (initially at the University of Technology in Gliwice and later at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow). The first lecture on inorganic chemistry delivered by professor Jakób to first-year students took place in October 1949. Since the fall of 1951, professor Jakób was traveling from Gliwice to Krakow two or three times a week, and in November 1951, he officially took the position of Head of the Department of Inorganic Chemistry at the Jagiellonian University.
Professor Jakób initiated his research in the field of coordination chemistry at Jagiellonian University, initially collaborating with his son Zbigniew Jakób (who passed away prematurely in 1955), and later with other members of the Department of Inorganic Chemistry: Krystyna Warchałowska (Director), Mieczysław Dyrek, Maria Ogorzałek (1926-1960), Tadeusz Senkowski (1919-1989), and Adam Krawiec (1924-2004). In 1954, Janina Chojnacka (1914-1977) joined Professor Jakób's group, followed by Emilia Hejmo (1930-1998), and right after completing their studies, Maria Aleksandra Dąbrowska (Kanas), just as in 1955, Alina Kosińska (Samotus, 1932-2002), and Zofia Wilczewska (Stasicka), who worked under Professor Jakób's supervision during their studies.
Right after that (1960-1964), the first PhD thesis in the field of coordination chemistry was defended at the Jagiellonian University. The first awarded doctoral works in coordination chemistry were authored by: K. Warchałowska (Dyrek), T. Senkowski, J. Chojnacka, M. Dyrek, E. Hejmo, A. Dąbrowska (Kanas), A. Kosińska (Samotus), and Z. Wilczewska (Stasicka).
Professor Jakób group research activities were focused on the structure, electrochemistry, spectroscopy, thermal reactivity, and photochemistry of coordination compounds of transition metals, mainly molybdenum, tungsten, chromium, manganese, and cobalt. Research undertaken by the Group was pioneering, ahead of that time and its value was recognized recently. One field within professor Jakób research, concerning spectroscopy and the photochemistry of coordination compounds, initiated in the 1920s, was significantly expanded later in collaboration with the following scientists: Z. Jakób, A. Samotus, Z. Stasicka, and T. Senkowski. The results revealed the pathways of photochemical octahedral rearrangements in molybdenum and tungsten complexes. The research involved both chemical and photochemical experiments, as well as spectroscopy and mechanistic issues, which were resolved in cooperation with Professor Alojzy Gołębiewski. Krystyna Dyrek's research concerning nature of iodine bonding to chromium complexes shed new light on the properties of Reinecke's salt, which is currently used as an actinometer. Among the compounds intensely studied in professor Jakób group and by his students were cyanide complexes containing a nitrosyl ligand. In these studies, not only photochemistry but also electrochemistry was investigated (T. Senkowski, E. Hejmo, and A. Kanas). The research on isopolymolybdenates and isopolytungstates conducted by J. Chojnacka and M. Dyrek is considered pioneering in the field of macromolecular compounds.
Despite retiring in 1960, Professor Jakób remained scientifically active until the last days of his life (he passed away in 1971). In 1970, Assistant Professor Tadeusz Senkowski (hired in 1968) became the Head of Coordination Chemistry and continued the research initiated by Professor Wiktor Jakób. Later, the coordination chemistry group was divided into three parts:
1. The group led by Tadeusz Senkowski and Zofia Stasicka, which included: Emilia Hejmo, Mieczysław Dyrek, Tadeusz Jarzynowski (since 1969), Ewa Rzeszowska-Wasielewska (since 1972), Adam Marchaj (since 1973), Zygmunt Wołek (since 1975), Andrzej Karocki (since 1979), Grzegorz Stopa (since 1977), Grażyna Kurzawska-Stochel (since 1978), Anna Herdegen (since 1978), and Janusz Oszajca (since 1982).
2. The group led by Alina Samotus, which included: Aleksandra Kanas, Magdalena Dudek, Barbara Sieklucka, Ryszard Gryboś, Janusz Szklarzewicz, and Jolanta Sosin.
3. The group led by Janina Chojnacka, which collaborated with Ewa Hodorowicz. This group investigated the structure and properties of isopolytungstates in organic cations.
Since 1984, within the Faculty of Chemistry at the Jagiellonian University, two groups specialized in coordination chemistry were active: I Coordination Chemistry Group (led by Professor Zofia Stasicka, who was appointed as an assistant professor in 1974, obtained the associate professor title in 1987, and became a full professor in 1995) and II Coordination Chemistry Group (led by Professor Alina Samotus, who was appointed as an assistant professor in 1974, obtained the associate professor title in 1987, and became a full professor in 1995). The Coordination Chemistry II group was under the leadership of Alina Samotus from 1984 to 2002. In 2002, following Professor A. Samotus' retirement, the group split into two parts: the Coordination Chemistry Group led by Professor Janusz Szklarzewicz (awarded the title of professor in 2010) and the Inorganic Molecular Materials Group led by Professor Barbara Sieklucka (awarded the title of professor in 2004).
The I Coordination Chemistry Group
Between 1988 and 1994, research in the Coordination Chemistry Group I mainly focused on the chemical and photochemical properties of cyanide and nitrosylcyanide complexes of transition metals (E. Hejmo, E. Wasielewska, T. Jarzynowski, A. Marchaj, G. Stochel, G. Stopa, J. Oszajca), including the correlation between electronic structure and reactivity in collaboration with the Department of Theoretical Chemistry at the Jagiellonian University. The research also concerned the activation and photoactivation of molecular oxygen and nitric oxide in complexes with mixed ligands (A. Marchaj, G. Stochel, G. Stopa, J. Oszajca); the mechanisms of reactions of iron, manganese, chromium, and cobalt complexes studied by both conventional and unconventional spectroscopic and kinetic methods, primarily high-pressure and time-resolved techniques (G. Stochel in collaboration with R. van Eldik from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg), as well as reactions of transition metal complexes with organic ligands of biological significance (T. Senkowski, M. Dyrek, G. Stochel). In the 1980s, the group initiated studies related to the application of d-electron metal complexes with mixed ligands in photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis (Z. Stasicka, A. Marchaj, G. Stochel, G. Stopa, J. Oszajca).
From 1994 onwards, research conducted in the I Coordination Chemistry Group was carried out in two research groups:
1. The group led by Zofia Stasicka, members: Ewa Wasielewska, Grzegorz Stopa, Janusz Oszajca, Konrad Szaciłowski (since 1995), Iwona Maciejowska, Joanna Kotaś, Hung Bui Quang, Zygmunt Wołek, Andrzej Karocki, and Wojciech Macyk (master's thesis). Research in this group focused on: the thermal and photochemical reactivity of cyanide complexes of d-block transition metals, both homoleptic and with mixed ligands; homogeneous photocatalysis, the interaction of iron and chromium complexes in macromolecular complexes; the role of light and coordination compounds in environmental pollution processes. The group collaborated with Prof. F. Wasgestian from the University of Cologne and Prof. M. Aresta from the University of Bari.
2. The bioinorganic chemistry group led by Grażyna Stochel (habilitation in 1993, title of professor in 2001, appointed as a full professor in 2005), members: Elwira Ilkowska (since 1991), Alicja Wanat-Franke (since 1996), Maria Wolak (since 1997), Ewa Kuliś (since 1996), Małgorzata Brindell (since 1999), Wojciech Macyk (since 2002), Łukasz Orzeł (since 2006). This group research focused on aspects of bioinorganic and biomedical chemistry of transition metals (Fe, Co, Cu, Cr, Mn); the biochemistry of small inorganic molecules (e.g., O2, NO, CO) and their thermal and photochemical activation, mechanisms and modeling of electron transfer processes, substitution, and addition in systems containing cellular reductants or S-, N-, O- nucleophilic reagents and metal complexes; the role of light and coordination compounds in photomedicine (phototherapy and photodiagnostics, including photodynamic therapy); the study of the mechanisms of thermal and photochemical reactions of complex compounds using high-pressure kinetic methods.
Coordination and Bioinorganic Physicochemistry Research Group
In 1998, the I Coordination Chemistry Group changed its name to the Coordination and Bioinorganic Physicochemistry Group. In 2003, after the retirement of Professor Zofia Stasicka, the group was led by professor Grażyna Stochel. The group included members: Zofia Stasicka, Ewa Wasielewska, Grzegorz Stopa, Alicja Wanat (Franke), Konrad Szaciłowski (habilitation in 2008, title of professor in 2016), Wojciech Macyk (habilitation in 2009, title of professor in 2016), Maria Wolak, Małgorzata Brindell, Ewa Kuliś, Zygmunt Wołek, Janusz Oszajca, Łukasz Orzeł, Agnieszka Jańczyk (Kyzioł), Andrzej Karocki. The group conducted research on the mechanisms and practical aspects of the thermal and photochemical reactivity of coordination compounds in homogeneous and heterogeneous systems. For several years, the group consisted of: G. Stochel, W. Macyk, M. Brindell (habilitation in 2016), Ł. Orzeł (since 2007, habilitation in 2020), A. Kyzioł (since 2007, habilitation in 2018), J. Dąbrowski (since 2009, habilitation in 2018), Joanna Kuncewicz (since 2011), Przemysław Łabuz (since 2011), Maria Oszajca (since 2014), Olga Mazuryk (since 2015), Marcin Kobielusz (since 2016), Justyna Polaczek (since 2019), Ilona Gurgul (since 2021).
The group's primary interests are coordination compounds and nanomaterials based on d-electron metals in the context of their role in catalytic and photocatalytic processes in the environment, biomedicine, as well as their application in advanced materials. The scientific activities focus on designing and studying potential materials for optoelectronics and nanoelectronics, self-cleaning surfaces, functional systems for environmental protection, diagnostics, and therapy, especially for so-called diseases of affluence. The research has an interdisciplinary nature and is carried out in collaboration with research groups in biological, medical, environmental, or materials sciences as part of national and international projects and grants. The research topics of the group, combining issues of bioinorganic chemistry and coordination chemistry, as well as homogeneous catalysis and photocatalysis, have been expanded in recent years towards inorganic medical chemistry and advanced functional materials and heterogeneous photocatalysis in environmental protection. Research in the field of heterogeneous photocatalysis and the modification of wide-bandgap semiconductors, especially titanium dioxide, in the context of environmental protection and solar energy conversion, has been the focus of interest in the newly formed (2016) Photocatalysis Group, which includes Prof. Wojciech Macyk as the group leader, Marcin Kobielusz, Joanna Kuncewicz, Przemysław Łabuz, Kaja Spilarewicz (since 2021), and Tamyaz Tabari (since 2018).
Family tree of Coordination Chemistry in Poland
1: prof. Wiktor Jakób, 2: prof. Cyryl Michalewicz; 3. prof. Bogusława Jeżowska-Trzebiatowska, 4: doc Janina Chojnacka, 5. doc. Tadeusz Senkowski, 6. prof. Alina Samotus, 7. prof. Zofia Stasicka, 8. prof. Grażyna Stochel, 9. prof. Barbara Sieklucka, 10. Prof. Janusz Szklarzewicz, 11. prof. Konrad Szaciłowski 12. prof. Wojciech Macyk (narysowane przez inż. Zygmunta Wołka).
* The text is written based on the article by Z. Stasicka, J.J. Ziolkowski “Pochodzenie i rozwój chemii koordynacyjnej w Polsce - uwagi wstępne”. Coord. Chem. Rev. 2005, 249, 2133-2143 and the article by G. Stochel in Alma Mater UJ 2021 no. 225.