Research summary
Pyrrole is an interesting component of the materials that scientists use to study and treat diseases. In chemistry, pyrrole is also involved in the use of light to generate responses that report sensing or enable the storage and delivery of energy.
Dr. Alison Thompson, Canada Research Chair in Pyrrole Chemistry for Chemical Biology and Energy, is developing sensors to monitor glucose levels in humans, air-stable enzymes in biosynthesis, and materials for redox-flow batteries. She and her research team are also generating fundamental knowledge of pyrroles and polypyrroles that emit light from the red into the infrared. Ultimately, their work depends on developing practical syntheses of molecules that incorporate pyrroles—syntheses that are robust, economical and can tolerate a wide variety of substituents.