Current research interests

Synthesis and characterization of pi-extended antiaromatics

A large part of our research efforts is directed towards the synthesis and characterization of unusual pi-systems that contain antiaromatic subunits. Besides the fundamental interest in understanding structure, bonding and reactivity of such polycyclic conjugated systems, pi-extended antiaromatics could be a useful compound class in molecular electronics applications.

Polydopamine-based surface chemistry

Polydopamine is a synthetic polymer inspired by mussel-adhesives that can be simply produced by the oxidative polymerization of dopamine. It is a general adherent, able to stick to essentially any surface. Furthermore, owing to the catechol moieties present in its structure, the polymer exhibits redox activity. Our group is interested in exploiting this polymer in applications ranging from heterogeneous catalysis to photoswitchable interfaces.

Recent publications:

Structure-property relationships in unsymmetric bis(antiaromatics): Who wins the battle between pentalene and benzocyclobutadiene?

Péter J. Mayer, Ouissam El Bakouri, Tamás Holczbauer, Gergely F. Samu, Csaba Janáky, Henrik Ottosson, Gábor London J. Org. Chem. 2020, DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.9b03119

Photoswitchable Macroscopic Solid Surfaces Based on Azobenzene‐Functionalized Polydopamine/Gold Nanoparticle Composite Materials: Formation, Isomerization and Ligand Exchange

Attila Kunfi, Rita Bernadett Vlocskó, Zsófia Keresztes, Miklós Mohai, Imre Bertóti, Ágnes Ábrahám, Éva Kiss, Gábor London ChemPlusChem 2020, DOI: 10.1002/cplu.201900674

Polydopamine: An Emerging Material in the Catalysis of Organic Transformations

Attila Kunfi, Gábor London Synthesis 2019, 51, 2829.

 Polydopamine supported palladium nanoparticles: Highly efficient catalysts in Suzuki cross-coupling and tandem Suzuki cross-coupling/nitroarene reductions under green reaction conditions

Attila Kunfi, Zoltán May, Péter Németh, Gábor, London J. Catal. 2018, 361, 84.


Gábor London