Research Team

Current research team

Bernice Mercia Currie

Doctoral Student – UP

Bernice’s work is focused the utilisation of flow chemistry to improve reaction/process sustainability. Highlights include the development of more sustainable and greener approaches to accessing benzo-fused heterocycles. Currently, she is investigating the application of novel thin-film photoreactors for performing photo-redox chemistries and the development of bespoke modules for automating downstream processing.

Dissertation:

Synthesis of an 8-membered oxygen containing benzo-fused heterocycle using flow technologies. (2023)

Lerato Shirley Dibokwane

Doctoral Student – UP

Lerato’s research focuses on the development of flow-based process routes to pharmaceuticals. Highlights include the development of a flow synthesis of the anti-cholinergic Alzheimer’s treatment Donepezil. She has also worked on flow-based Suzuki-Miyaura reactions using tetrafluoroborate coupling partners, photo-chlorination’s of organic molecules and the development of engineering solutions for performing recrystallisation’s in flow.

Dissertation:

Development of a flow-based process route for donepezil. (2020)

Zen Johnson

Doctoral Student – UP

Zen’s work is focused on the development of process routes to pharmaceuticals using flow technologies. Highlights include the development of a flow-batch hybrid process for the preparation of the schistosomal treatment Praziquantel. Currently he is looking into the development of more sustainable approaches for preparing isocyanides and developing more ways of preparing custom peptide fragments.

Dissertation:

A batch-flow hybrid approach for the synthesis of the Schistosomiasis treatment praziquantel

Anshe Michelle Reinhardt

Doctoral Student – UP

Michelle’s research looks at the integration of flow chemistry with drug discovery. Highlights included the development of solid supported for use in flow systems and the development of a flow platform from performing a combinatorial synthesis of compound libraries designed to act as anti-cholinergic agents. In addition, she is also investigating the development of processes to manufacture a commercial antifibrotic medication.

Dissertation:

The synthesis of analogues and
bioisosteres of the acetylcholinesterase
inhibitor donepezil in an attempt to
identify novel anti-Alzheimer’s agents

Ian Strydom

Doctoral Student – UP

Ian’s research is focused on the design, synthesis and testing of novel catalysts for use in flow systems. Highlights include the development of novel monolithic catalysts for performing Suzuki-Miyaura transformations. In addition, he has worked on the development of flow and flow-batch hybrid approaches targeting antidepressants and anti-malarials.

Lorinda Tarien Van Wyk

Doctoral Student – UP

Lorinda’s research is focused on the development of flow-based approaches for the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and the application of additive manufacturing as a tool to develop and prototype new reactor modules. Highlights include the development of a sustainable flow synthesis of the anti-depressant Bupropion. She has also worked on translating several other neurological pharmaceuticals to flow and has designed and prototyped several bespoke modules for processing solids in flow.

Dissertation:

Utilization of flow chemistry for
the synthesis of bupropion,
fluoxetine and amitraz

Publications:

The Synthesis of Bupropion Hydrochloride Under Greener and Safer Conditions Utilizing Flow Technologies
Lorinda T. Van Wyk, Nicole C. Neyt, Jaimee Jugmohan, Jenny-Lee Panayides and Darren L. Riley, Reaction Chemistry and Engineering, 2024, 9, 45-57

Thabo Peme

Post-Doctoral Fellow – UP

Thabo’s research is focused on the development of flow and batch-flow hybrid approaches for the synthesis of anti-malarial and anti-obesity medications


Kornelis Van Pletzen

Masters Student – UP

Kornelis’s research is focused on the development of a flow approaches for the synthesis of an anti-cancer agent currently utilized for the treatment of breast cancer. In addition, he is also working on approaches for handling and using solids in flow systems.

Alumni

Wessel Bonnet

MSc (2022)

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Sussan-Mari Botha

MSc (2021)

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Bryan Bulling

MSc (2018)

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George Dhimba

PhD (2020)

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Jabeen Khazir (Bilal Mir)

Post-Doc (2014-15)

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Betty Kwati

MSc (2022)

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Sergio Lovisa

MSc (2020)

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Kgotso Moagi

MSc (2020)

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Nicole Candice Neyt

MSc, (2017), PhD (2021), Post Doc (2022)

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Chantal Scholtz

PhD (2019)

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Carl Johan van der Westhuizen

MSc (2017), PhD (2020), Post-Doc (2021)

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Divan Gerald van Greunen

MSc (2016), PhD (2019)

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