Molecular Biophysical Sciences

Molecular Biophysical Sciences

From Molecular Structure to Biological Function
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Wissam Helal

Associate Professor of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
Affiliation: The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
Education:

  • Ph.D., Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Toulouse (University Paul Sabatier), Toulouse, France
  • M.S., Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Toulouse (University Paul Sabatier), Toulouse, France
  • M.S., Physical Chemistry, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
  • B.S. (First Class Honors), Chemistry, Applied Science University, Amman, Jordan

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Academic Biography

Academic Biography

Doctor Wissam Helal began his academic journey by earning General Secondary Education Certificate from Ibn Abbas Secondary School in Tlaa’ Al-Ali, Amman, Jordan, in 1993, focusing on the scientific section. Then, Dr. Wissam Helal pursued a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Chemistry at Applied Science University, Amman, Jordan, graduating first in his class in 1997.

Following his undergraduate studies, Dr. Wissam Helal continued his education with a Master of Science (MS) in Chemistry at Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan, between 1997 and 2001. His thesis, entitled Fluorescence probes for polymer rigidity: The case of 10-cyano-9-tert-butyl anthracene in polyalkylmethacrylate polymer matrices, was supervised by Khader Al-Hassan Al-Janaydeh and Yasser Al-Haj.

From 2003 to 2005, Dr. Wissam Helal expanded his expertise in theoretical chemistry by obtaining a Master’s degree in Physical and Theoretical Chemistry from the University of Toulouse (Paul Sabatier), Toulouse, France. His research focused on the theoretical study of electron transfer in a bistable system: the spiro molecular cation, under the supervision of Stefano Evangelisti and Thierry Leininger. Then, Dr. Wissam Helal continued his academic career at the same institution, earning his PhD in Physical and Theoretical Chemistry between 2005 and 2009. His PhD research, also supervised by Evangelisti and Leininger, explored the use of multi-reference localization methods for quasi-degenerate chemical systems, contributing significantly to the field of quantum chemistry.

Parallel to his academic pursuits, Dr. Wissam Helal began his teaching and research career as a Teaching Assistant at Yarmouk University from 1999 to 2000. During his doctoral studies, Dr. Wissam Helal worked as a Research Assistant and Instructor at the Laboratory of Quantum Chemistry and Physics, University of Toulouse, from 2005 to 2009, continuing as a Researcher at the same laboratory from 2009 to 2012.

In 2013, Dr. Wissam Helal returned to Jordan and joined Tafila Technical University as a Part-Time Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry. Later that year, Dr. Wissam Helal became a Full-Time Lecturer at The University of Jordan, where Dr. Wissam Helal served until 2018. Then, Dr. Wissam Helal was promoted to Assistant Professor of Physical Chemistry, a role Dr. Wissam Helal held from 2018 to 2020. Since August 2020, Dr. Wissam Helal have been an Associate Professor of Physical Chemistry at The University of Jordan, where Dr. Wissam Helal continue to contribute to research and teaching in the fields of physical and theoretical chemistry.

Research Interest

Research Interest

Research Areas

  • Quantum Chemical Methods and Molecular Properties
  • Electronic and Vibrational Excited States
  • Renewable Energy Materials

Doctor Wissam Helal research focuses on the development of ab initio multi-reference quantum chemical methods to accurately compute molecular electronic structures and properties. His work extensively applies highly correlated ab initio methods to complex chemical systems, including organic and inorganic mixed-valence compounds, molecular electronics, and various nanostructures such as graphene, nanotubes, and fullerenes.

Doctor Wissam Helal is also deeply involved in the theoretical modeling of electronic and vibrational excited states, with a particular emphasis on intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) processes. His research includes the use of linear scaling methods and the modeling of advanced materials like Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) and perovskites, contributing to the development of renewable energy technologies.

In addition, Dr. Wissam Helal benchmarks density functional theory (DFT) and wave function-based methods for excited state calculations, ensuring accurate predictions in computational chemistry. His research extends to the theoretical modeling of photochemical processes, as well as the application of quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) and molecular dynamics (MD) methods for studying large molecules and biomolecules, providing insights into complex biological systems.

Publications

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Articles

  1. Taher, Deeb; Saleh, Sundus; Habashneh, Almeqdad Y.; Hourani, Wafa; Mustafa, Morad; Helal, Wissam; Al-Noaimi, Mousa; Obeidat, Safwan M.; Kloda, Matous; Alhindi, Tareq; Kailani, Mohammed H.; Ghazzy, Asma. Synthesis and anticancer activity of bis(β-ketoiminato) palladium(II) complexes of 3-[(chloro-substituted phenyl)amino]-1-phenyl-2-buten-1-one. Journal of Molecular Structure. 2025; 1340:142542. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0022286025012219

  2. Taher, Deeb; Al-Said, Naim.H.; Albanna, Mohammad; Kloda, Matous; Mustafa, Morad; Helal, Wissam; Assaf, Khaleel I.; Hourani, Wafa; Kotob, Wael-Rémy; Saleh, Sundus; Makahleh, Ahmad;Rabba’a, Manar Mohammad. Biological activity evaluation and molecular docking studies of newly synthesized β-ketoiminato-based palladium complexes. Inorganica Chimica Acta. 2025; 583:122711. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S002016932500177X

  3. W. Helal, “Effect of Thermal Fluctuations on the Electronic Excitation Energies of Linear Polyenes: A Combined Molecular Dynamics and TD-DFT Study”, Int. J. Quantum Chem., vol. 124, p. e27270, 2024. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/qua.27270
  4. W. Helal, “Double Hybrid Density Functionals for the Electronic Excitaion Energies of Linear Cyanines”, J. Phys. Chem. A, vol. 127, pp. 131–141, 2023.
    https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jpca.2c07192
  5. Z. Ishtaiwi, D. Taher, M. Korb, W. Helal, H. K. Juwhari, A. Al-Hunaiti, H. Amarne, K. Assaf, L. Alrawashdeh, M. W. Amer, Y. A. Yousef, and H. Lang, “Luminescent Materials Based on N-(3-Nitrophenyl)-N’-(4-R-C6 H4)Oxamato Zincate(II) Complexes”, J. Mol. Struct., vol. 1288, p. 135747, 2023.
    https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0022286023008438
  6. W. Helal, A. Marashdeh, Q. Alkhatib, H. Qashmar, M. Gharaibeh, A. T. Afaneh, “Tuning the Photophysical Properties of BODIPY Dyes Used in DSSCs as Predicted by Double-Hybrid TD-DFT: The Role of the Methyl Substituents”, Int. J. Quantum Chem., vol. 122, p. e27000, 2022. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/qua.27000
  7. Q. Alkhatib, W. Helal, and A. T. Afaneh, “Assessment of Time-Dependent Density Functionals for the Electronic Excitation Energies of Organic Dyes Used in DSSCs”, New J. Chem., vol. 46, pp. 7682–7694, 2022. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2022/nj/d2nj00210h
  8. Q. Alkhatib, W. Helal, and A. Marashdeh, “Accurate Predictions of the Electronic Excited States of BODIPY Based Dye Sensitizers Using Spin-Component-Scaled Double-Hybrid Functionals: A TD-DFT Benchmark Study”, RSC Adv., vol. 12, pp. 1704–1717, 2022. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2022/ra/d1ra08795a
  9. W. Helal, Q. Alkhatib, and M. Gharaibeh, “Can Time-Dependent Double Hybrid Density Functionals Accurately Predict Electronic Excitation Energies of BOD-IPY Compounds?”, Comput. Theor. Chem., vol. 1207, p. 113531, 2022. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2210271X21003893
  10. A. Eftaiha, A. K. Qaroush, A. K. Hasan, W. Helal, F. M. Al-Qaisi, “CO2 Fixation into Cyclic Carbonates Catalyzed by Single-Site Aprotic Organocatalysts: A Benchmark Study”, React. Chem. Eng., vol. 7 pp. 1807–1817, 2022. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2022/re/d2re00157h
  11. B. Al Tbakhi, H. Nsairat, W. Alshaer, A. Al-Kadash, W. Helal, L. Alrawashdeh, A. Day, K. I. Assaf, R. Hassouneh, F. Odeh, and A. Al Bawab, “Cinnamaldehyde–Cucurbituril Complex: Investigation of Loading Efficiency and its Role in Enhancing Cinnamaldehyde in vitro Anti-Tumor Activity”, RSC Adv., vol. 12, pp. 7540–7549, 2022. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2022/ra/d2ra00044j
  12. A. Ghazzy, D. Taher, M. Korb, K. Al Khalyfeh, W. Helal, H. Amarne, T. Ruffer, Z. Ishtaiwi, H. Lang, “Rearrangement of Diferrocenyl 3,4-Thiophene Dicarboxylate”, Inorganics, vol. 10, art. no. 96, 2022. https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6740/10/7/96
  13. A. Abu-Yamin, D. Taher, M. Korb, K. Al Khalyfeh, Z. Ishtaiwi, H. K. Juwhari, W. Helal, H. Amarne, S. Mahmood, R. Loloee, Y. YouSef, A. Ghazzy, H. Lang, “Synthesis, Chemical and Physical Properties of Lanthanide(III) (Nd, Gd, Tb) Complexes Derived from (E)-Ethyl 4-(2-Hydroxybenzylideneamino)Benzoate”, Polyhedron, vol. 222, p. 115906, 2022. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0277538722002583
  14. Z. Ishtaiwi, D. Taher, M. Korb, W. Helal, A. Al-Hunaiti, H. K. Juwhari, H. Amarne, M. W. Amer, Y. A. Yousef, S. Klaib, and S. T. Abu-Orabi, “Syntheses, Crystal Structures, DFT Calculation and Solid-State Spectroscopic Properties of New Zincate(II) Complexes with N-(4-Substituted Phenyl)-N’-(4-Nitrophenyl)-Oxamate”, Arab. J. Chem., vol. 15, no. 12, p. 104349, 2022. https://arabjchem.org/syntheses-crystal-structures-dft-calculation-and-solid-state-spectroscopic-properties-of-new-zincateii-complexes-with-n-4-substituted-phenyl-n-4-nitrophenyl-oxamate/
  15. 13. H. Amarne, W. Helal, D. Taher, M. Korb, and A. Al-Hunaiti, “Crystal structure, Hirshfeld Surface Analysis and Contact Enrichment Ratios of 5,5-Dimethyl-2-(2,4,6-tris(Trifluoromethyl)Phenyl)-1,3,2-Dioxaborinane”, Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst., vol. 743, no. 1, pp. 77–88, 2022. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15421406.2022.2050981
  16. 14. K. Al Khalyfeh, D. Taher, W. Helal, M. Korb, H. Amarne, and H. Lang, “Crystal Structure and Hirshfeld Surface Analysis of Bis(3-Thienoyl) Disulfide”, J. Chem. Crystallogr., vol. 52, pp. 113–121, 2022. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10870-021-00896-z?error=cookies_not_supported&code=630944db-5205-4392-8f56-243bd95cba82
  17. M. Gharaibeh, B. Al-Shami, and W. Helal, “Electronic Spectrum of Boron Dichloride. Theoretical Study of Vibronic Levels of the Ground and First Excited States”, J. Mol. Struct., vol. 1224, p. 129206, 2021. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S002228602031526X
  18. K. Al Khalyfeh, D. Taher, W. Helal, M. Korb, I. Hamadneh, A. Al-Dujaili, A. Imraish, H. M. Hammad, R. M. Al-As’ad, S. T. Abu-Orabi, A. Hildebrandt,
    and H. Lang, “Synthesis and Characterization of 1,4-Chalcogenesters Bearing 5-Membered Heterocycles”, J. Chem. Sci., vol. 132, no. 1, p. 117, 2020. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12039-020-01825-x?error=cookies_not_supported&code=fdf0be1c-0b57-437c-9a3f-1ffde3eeb2aa
  19. A. Ghazzy, D. Taher, W. Helal, M. Korb, K. Khalyfeh, F. F. Awwadi, R. K. Al-Shewiki, S. Weheabby, N. Al-Said, S. T. Abu-Orabi, and H. Lang, “Aryl
    Ferrocenylmethylesters: Synthesis, Solid-State Structure and Electrochemical Investigations”, Arab. J. Chem., vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 3546–3557, 2020. https://arabjchem.org/aryl-ferrocenylmethylesters-synthesis-solid-state-structure-and-electrochemical-investigations/
  20. H. Amarne, W. Helal, and S. Wang, “Synthesis, Structure and Sensity Functional Theory Calculations of a Novel Photoluminescent Trisarylborane–Bismuth(III) Complex”, Luminescence, vol. 34, no. 7, pp. 731–738, 2019. https://analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bio.3667
  21. D. Taher, A. Ghazzy, F. F. Awwadi, W. Helal, K. Al Khalyfeh, M. Korb, A. Hilde-brandt, E. Kovalski, and H. Lang, “Ferrocenylmethyl-Functionalized 5-Membered Heterocycles: Synthesis, Solid-State Structure and Electrochemical Investigations”, Polyhedron, vol. 152, pp. 188–194, 2018. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0277538718303565
  22. D. Taher, S. Klaib, F. F. Awwadi, W. Helal, M. Gharaibeh, G. Rheinwald, T. Rüffer, and H. Lang, “Ti(η5 -1-SiMe3-C9H6)(Cl)2(OR): Structure and Bonding,” Inorganica Chim. Acta, vol. 477, pp. 270–276, 2018. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0020169318301099
  23. W. Helal, “Tuning Ring Inversion and Internal Rotation in 10-Substituted-9-Tert-Butylanthracenes: A Theoretical Study”, Jordan J. Chem., vol. 13, pp. 115–122, 2018. https://jjc.yu.edu.jo/index.php/jjc/article/view/35
  24. M. El Khatib, G. L. Bendazzoli, S. Evangelisti, W. Helal, T. Leininger, L. Tenti, and C. Angeli, “Beryllium Dimer: A Bond Based on Non-Dynamical Correlation”, J. Phys. Chem. A, vol. 118, no. 33, pp. 6664–6673, 2014. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jp503145u
  25. W. Helal, S. Evangelisti, T. Leininger, and A. Monari, “A FCI Benchmark on Beryllium Dimer: The Lowest Singlet and Triplet States,” Chem. Phys. Lett.,
    vol. 568-569, pp. 49–54, 2013. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0009261413003254
  26. Y. A. Yousef, K. A. Al-Hassan, and W. Helal, “Excited State Structural Changes of 10-Cyano-9-Tert-Butyl-Anthracene (CTBA) in Polymer Matrices”, J. Fluoresc., vol. 23, pp. 957–961, 2013. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10895-013-1221-y?error=cookies_not_supported&code=8dd805cd-b1ff-4440-acd7-8b05e421863d
  27. W. Helal, A. Monari, S. Evangelisti, and T. Leininger, “Electronic Bistability in Linear Beryllium Chains”, J. Phys. Chem. A, vol. 113, no. 17, pp. 5240–5245, 2009. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jp900663p
  28. W. Helal, S. Evangelisti, T. Leininger, and D. Maynau, “Ab-initio Multireference Study of an Organic Mixed-Valence Spiro Molecular System”, J. Comput. Chem., vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 83–92, 2009. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jcc.20982
  29. M. Pastore, W. Helal, C. Angeli, S. Evangelisti, T. Leininger, and R. Cimiraglia, “Application of a “Charge-Averaged” Second Order Multireference Perturbation Theory Strategy to the Study of a Model Mixed-Valence Compound”, J. Mol. Struct.: THEOCHEM, vol. 896, no. 1, pp. 12–17, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theochem.2008.10.042
  30. M. Pastore, W. Helal, S. Evangelisti, T. Leininger, J.-P. Malrieu, D. Maynau, C. Angeli, and R. Cimiraglia, “Can the Second Order Multireference Perturbation Theory be Considered a Reliable Tool to Study Mixed-Valence Compounds?”, J. Chem. Phys., vol. 128, no. 17, p. 174102, 2008. https://pubs.aip.org/jcp/article/128/17/174102/984683/Can-the-second-order-multireference-perturbation
  31. W. Helal, S. Evangelisti, T. Leininger, and D. Maynau, “Localized Multi-Reference Approach for Mixed-Valence Systems”, AIP Conf. Proc., vol. 1046, no. 1, pp. 3–6, 2008. https://pubs.aip.org/aip/acp/article/1046/1/3-6/861164
  32. W. Helal, B. Bories, S. Evangelisti, T. Leininger, and D. Maynau, “Ab-initio Multi-Reference Study of a Bistable Spiro Molecule”, in Computational Science and Its Applications – ICCSA 2006 (M. Gavrilova et al. eds.), (Berlin, Heidelberg), pp. 744–751, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2006. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/11751540_79?error=cookies_not_supported&code=3594ba93-e420-43f0-bb3b-71c21bf89407

Conferences, Symposiums, and Workshops

  1. W. Helal, B. Bories, S. Evangelisti, T. Leininger, D. Maynau, “Localized Multi-Reference Approach for Mixed-Valence Systems”, ICCMSE 2007, International Conference of Computational Methods in Sciences and Engineering, Corfu, Greece, 25–30 September 2007. [Presentation]
  2. W. Helal, B. Bories, S. Evangelisti, T. Leininger, D. Maynau, “Multi-reference localization quantum chemical algorithms for the study of complex organic molecular systems”, ICCSA 2006, International Conference on Computational Science and its Applications, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 8–11 May 2006. [Presentation]
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