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Chemical Kinetics: My research interest involves studying oxidation kinetics and mechanisms of several biologically-important compounds, mostly small sulfur-containing organic compounds. The choice of sulfur-containing compounds originate from the fact that many physiological reactions are known to occur at the sulfur center in the molecule. Sulfur compounds are very important in living organisms and often play vital roles such as in antioxidant chemistry. Compounds of interests include amino acids, thiocarbamides, thioureas and important xenobiotics such as thionicotinamide. Many thioamides upon oxidation of the sulfur center to higher valent state can become quite toxic. Kinetics and mechanistic studies of such compounds with various oxidants can provide information on relative rates of reaction of different compounds, nature of products and physiological predictions can be made based on these results when such compounds undergo metabolism. Computational simulation of the measured kinetic data provides important tool in explaining reaction dynamics at the elementary levels.
Biological Chemistry: I am equally interested in studying formation of reactive oxygen species via enzymatic reduction of metal ions using the technique of electron spin spectroscopy. Qualitative and quantitative measurements of these oxygen-derived species can provide vital information needed to better understand the different mechanisms involved in free radicals generation. Measurement of several oxidative stress parameters and associated oncogenic activities at cellular levels are important to help understand specific damages that can result from these species. Understanding these fundamental mechanisms leading to the generation of these radicals in various physiological processes is the primary focus of our research laboratory. This is because they provide the keys to preventing and treating excessive production of damaging free radicals and its associated diseases, especially when the natural body's defenses fail.
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Chinake, C.R; Olojo, R; Jonnalagada, S.B; and Simoyi, R.H. “Kinetics and Mechanism of the Oxidation of 4-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazide by Acidic Bromate”. Inter. Journal of Chem. Kinetics. (2002), 34 (4), 237-247.
Street, K.; Mundoma, C.; Olojo, R.; and Simoyi, R.H. “Complex Kinetics in the Reaction of Taurine with Aqueous Bromine and Acidic Bromate: Possible Cytoprotective Role against Hypobromous Acid”. S. Afr. J. Chem. (2002), 55,136-143.
Chinake, C.R; Olojo, R.; Chigwada, T. and Simoyi, R.H. “Oxyhalogen-sulfur Chemistry: Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of a Bunte salt 2-aminoethanethiolsulfuric acid (AETSA) by chlorite.” Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. (2001), 3, 4957-4964.
Chinake, C.R; Olojo, O.O; and Simoyi, R.H. “Oxidation of Formaldehyde by Chlorite in Basic and Slightly Acidic Media”. J. Phys. Chem. A (1998), Vol. 21, No. 3, pg.606-611.
Ojo, J.F; Olojo, O.O; Oyetunji, O.A; and Olubuyide, O.A. “The reductions of Chloro-, Bromo-, and Iodopentacyanocobaltate (III) anions by Titanium (III) in aqueous acidic solution”. Transition Met. Chem. (1996), Vol.21, pg. 123-126.
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