Abstract

The molecular deuteration of organic compounds and biomolecules is an essential requirement in many neutron scattering and other characterization techniques. This need has been increasingly recognized by neutron facilities and research groups around the world. The custom synthesis of deuterated molecules can be laborious and costly to achieve optimum chemical as well as isotopic purity. Users of deuterated molecules can have different requirements for their deuterated molecules depending on the type of experiments they are performing. This becomes particularly challenging to commercial suppliers who are driven by market demand of specific and defined products. As such, custom synthesis of deuterated molecules tailored to the neutron users’ need can produce more useful deuterated products. A better choice in deuteration decisions, made in consultation between the user-scientist, the deuteration scientist, and the neutron scattering scientist, can enable cost-effective experiments that are otherwise hindered by the elevated costs of the deuterated molecules and their limited supply and availability. This presentation will detail the recent advances, challenges, the demand and supply, and the impact of the bespoke deuterated compounds produced.

The Deuteration Network (DeuNet) is an international network of deuteration facilities and laboratories that aims to facilitate access to deuteration services and customised deuterium labelling of molecules and biomolecules for use in neutron research and in other characterisation techniques.

Biography

Dr Tamim Darwish is the Leader of the National Deuteration Facility (NDF) at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). He is recognised as world expert in chemical deuteration and he serves on advisory committees for deuteration projects and facilities in Europe and Japan.  He is the Board Chair of the Deuteration Network (DEUNET), which includes > 15 deuteration facilities and groups from all over the world. He has co-authored >90 peer-reviewed publications in the field of deuteration and molecular characterisation using neutron, NMR, IR and MS spectrometry. He obtained his PhD degree in Chemistry from The University of New South Wales (2006), and he has postdoctoral trainings at UNSW, University of Sydney and ANSTO. He is a JSPS fellow and currently holds the role of the secretary of the executive committee of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Alumni Association in Australia (JSPSAAA).

Profile page: https://www.ansto.gov.au/people/dr-tamim-darwish