Dr C Slabbert

Tel:                +27 (0)12 420-2519
Email:            [email protected]
Office:            NW1, 3-38

Position:        Lecturer

Academic qualification: PhD

Teaching

Undergraduate Physical Chemistry courses and BSc(Hons) Crystallography course

Modules: CMY 282, CMY 719

Research interests

The increasing emergence of new psychoactive substances (NPS), not only pose regulatory difficulties, but also immense health risks. The absence of reliable pharmacological and/or analytical data lies at the core of this. We aim to use single crystal X-Ray crystallography, in combination with molecular docking studies, towards understanding the observed structure-activity relationships on a molecular level by evaluating the affinity and selectivity profiles of some of the NPS’s confiscated in South Africa. Analysis of non-covalent bonding patterns observed in the solid-state structures of these substances, amalgamated with the characterisation of binding modes obtained from molecular docking studies, may aid the development of synthetic chemical receptors. This will facilitate the design of drug testing kits based on recognition of characteristic binding modes, thereby enabling the identification of drugs by effects elicited upon abuse.

Selected publications

Journal articles

S. J. Prathapa, C. Slabbert, M. Fernandes and A. Lemmerer: Structure determination of liquid biofuels via in‐situ cryocrystallisation and single crystal X‐ray diffraction, CrystEngComm, 2018. 2017/18: IF 3.304   

C. Slabbert and M. Rademeyer: The MX₂L_x matrices, with M = Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺, X = Cl^-, Br^-, I^- and L = pyrazine, quinoxaline, phenazine, J. Coord. Chem., 2017, 70, 676-695. 2014/15: IF 2.012

C. Slabbert and M. Rademeyer: Structures and trends of neutral MX_xsolvent_4-x tetrahedra and anionic [MX₄]^2- tetrahalometallates of zinc(II), cadmium(II) and mercury(II) with benzopyridine and -pyrazine type N-donor ligands or cations, CrystEngComm, 2016, 18, 4555-4579. 2014/15: IF 4.034

C. Slabbert and M. Rademeyer: One-dimensional halide-bridged polymers of metal cations with mono-heterocyclic donor ligands or cations: A review correlating chemical composition, connectivity and chain conformation. Coord. Chem. Rev. 2015, 288, 18-49. 2014/15: IF 12.239

C. Slabbert and M. Rademeyer: Structures and trends of one-dimensional halide-bridged polymers of five-coordinate cadmium(II) and mercury(II) with benzopyridine and –pyrazine type N-donor ligands, CrystEngComm., 2015, 17, 9070-9076. 2014/15: IF 4.034

Conference proceedings

Abstracts

S. J. Prathapa, C. Slabbert, M. Fernandes and A. Lemmerer: ‘Developing techniques for the structure determination of fatty esters’, Acta Cryst  A, 73(A70), p. C743.

C. Slabbert and M. Rademeyer: ‘Halide-bridged Polymers of d¹⁰ Metals with Heterocyclic Type Donor Ligands’, Acta Cryst. A, 2014, 70(a1), C1025. 23rd International Union of Crystallography (IUCr) Congress and General Assembly, Palais des Congrès, Montreal, Canada, 5-12 August 2014

C. Slabbert and M. Rademeyer: ‘One-dimensional d¹⁰ metal halido bridged coordination polymers’, ECM 28, Warwick, UK, 25-29 August 2013

C. Slabbert and M. Rademeyer: Vele fasette van kwik(II) in eendimensionele haliedgebrugde polimere van d¹⁰‑metaalkatione met N‑bensopiridien en‑pirasientipe ligande, 2015, SATNT, 34(1), 2 pages.

C. Slabbert and M. Rademeyer: Conference Abstract:  Organies-anorganiese hibriedverbindings van metaalhaliede, 2014, SATNT, 33(1), 1 page.

Slabbert, C., Vleggaar, R.: Conference Abstract: ’n [2,3]-Wittig-herrangskikkingsbenadering tot die sintese van die fumonisien-ruggraat, 2010, SATNT, Vol 29(3), 160.

Posters

Ode to the Clandestine Chemist, Indaba 9 Insights from Structure, Skukuza, Kruger National Park, 2-7 September 2018

Developing techniques for the structure determination of fatty esters, 24^th Congress and General Assembly of the International Union of Crystallography, Hyderabad, India, 21-28 August 2017

Halide-bridged Polymers of d¹⁰ Metals with Heterocyclic Type Donor Ligands, 23rd International Union of Crystallography (IUCr) Congress and General Assembly, Palais des Congrès, Montreal, Canada, 5-12 August 2014

One-dimensional d¹⁰ metal halido bridged coordination polymers, ECM 28, Warwick, UK, 25-29 August 2013

Halide-bridged Polymers of d¹⁰ Metals with Pyrazine/Pyridine Type Donor Ligands, Southern African Powder Diffraction Conference and Workshop, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 27-31 January 2014

Acridine and Phenazine as Chromophores in Metal Halide Coordination Compounds, Indaba 7 Insights from Structure, Kruger National Park, 2-7 September 2012

A [2,3]-Wittig Rearrangement Approach towards the Synthesis of the Backbone of the Fumonisins, Bi-national Organic Chemistry incorporating the 10^th Frank Warren Conference on Organic Chemistry, Kruger National Park, 14-19 September 2008

A [2,3]-Wittig Rearrangement Approach towards the Synthesis of the Backbone of the Fumonisins, 39^th SACI National Convention, Stellenbosch, 30 November - 5 December 2008