Norwegian version of this page

Abril Castro Aguilera

Image of Abril Castro Aguilera
Room V234A
Username
Visiting address Sem Sælands vei 26 0371 Oslo
Postal address Postboks 1033 0315 Oslo

Academic interests

  • Computational NMR Spectroscopy of Transition-metal complexes.
  • ab-initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations.
  • Two- and four-component Relativistic Quantum Methods.
  • DFT Molecular Modeling.

Personal website: https://abrilccastro.wordpress.com

Higher education and employment history

  • Postdoctoral position at the Hylleraas Centre for Quantum Molecular Sciences, University of Oslo, Norway, 2021.
  • Postdoctoral position in the group of Prof. Oscar Jiménez-Halla, University of Guanajuato, Mexico, 2018.
  • PhD degree in Chemistry, University of Girona, Spain, 2017.
  • Master of Science degree in Chemistry, University of Guanajuato, Mexico, 2012.

Selected Publications

  • A. C. Castro, D. Balcells, M. Repisky, T. Helgaker, M. Cascella, First-Principles Calculation of 1H NMR Chemical Shifts of Complex Metal Polyhydrides: The Essential Inclusion of Relativity and Dynamics, Inorg. Chem., 2020, 59, 17509.
  • A. C. Castro, A. Romero-Rivera, S. Osuna, K. N. Houk, M. Swart, Computational NMR Spectra of o-Benzyne and Stable Guests and their Hemicarceplexes, Chem. Eur. J., 2020, 26, 2626-2634.
  • A. C. Castro, H. Fliegl, M. Cascella, T. Helgaker, M. Repisky, S. Komorovsky, M. A. Medrano, A. G. Quiroga, M. Swart, Four-component relativistic 31P‑NMR calculations for trans-platinum(II) complexes: Importance of the solvent and dynamics in spectral simulations. Dalton Trans., 2019, 48, 8076-8083.

Awards

  • Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Individual Fellowship (2019-2021) funded by the European Union’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020.
  • National Researcher Level 1 (SNI I) distiction, granted by the National Council of Science and Technology of Mexico (CONACyT), Mexico, 2019.
  • National Chemistry Prize awarded by the Mexican Society of Thermodynamics and Center for Research and Advanced Studies (CINVESTAV) for the Best Master thesis in the area of Thermodynamics, Mexico, 2013.

 

Tags: Computational Chemistry

Publications

  • Cerpa, Erick; Cruz, Jose Alberto Guerrero; Merino, Gabriel; Jimenez-Halla, J. Oscar C. & Castro, Abril C. (2025). Covalent bonding and extreme shielding in xenon–icosagen fluoride cations. Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics - PCCP. ISSN 1463-9076. doi: 10.1039/d5cp03397g. Full text in Research Archive
  • Gahlawat, Sahil; Artselsmair, Markus; Castro, Abril C; Norrby, Per-Ola & Hopmann, Kathrin Helen (2024). Computational Study of the Ir-Catalyzed Formation of Allyl Carbamates from CO<inf>2</inf>. Organometallics. ISSN 0276-7333. 43, p. 1818–1826. doi: 10.1021/acs.organomet.4c00177. Full text in Research Archive
  • Luthra, Mahika; Castro, Abril C; Badia, David Balcells; Daasbjerg, Kim & Flores, Ainara Nova (2024). Metal-Dependent Mechanism of the Electrocatalytic Reduction of CO<inf>2</inf> by Bipyridine Complexes Bearing Pendant Amines: A DFT Study. ACS Organic & Inorganic Au. doi: 10.1021/acsorginorgau.4c00046. Full text in Research Archive
  • Cao, Ning; Aguilera, Abril Castro; Badia, David Balcells; Olsbye, Unni & Flores, Ainara Nova (2024). Copper(II)-Oxyl Formation in a Biomimetic Complex Activated by Hydrogen Peroxide: The Key Role of Trans-Bis(Hydroxo) Species. Inorganic Chemistry. ISSN 0020-1669. 63(49), p. 23082–23094. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c01948. Full text in Research Archive
  • Gahlawat, Sahil; Hopmann, Kathrin Helen & Castro, Abril C (2024). Advancing 19F NMR Prediction of Metal-Fluoride Complexes in Solution: Insights from Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics. Journal of Physical Chemistry A. ISSN 1089-5639. 128(49), p. 10498–10506. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpca.4c05408. Full text in Research Archive
  • Giovanetti, Marinella de; Eliasson, Sondre Hilmar Hopen; Castro, Abril C; Eisenstein, Odile & Cascella, Michele (2023). Morphological Plasticity of LiCl Clusters Interacting with Grignard Reagent in Tetrahydrofuran. Journal of the American Chemical Society. ISSN 0002-7863. 145(30), p. 16305–16309. doi: 10.1021/jacs.3c04238. Full text in Research Archive
  • Hong, Wanwan; Luthra, Mahika; Jakobsen, Joakim B.; Madsen, Monica R.; Castro, Abril C & Hammershøj, Hans Christian D. [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2023). Exploring the Parameters Controlling Product Selectivity in Electrochemical CO<inf>2</inf> Reduction in Competition with Hydrogen Evolution Employing Manganese Bipyridine Complexes. ACS Catalysis. p. 3109–3119. doi: 10.1021/acscatal.2c05951. Full text in Research Archive
  • Westhuizen, Danielle van der; Castro, Abril C; Hazari, Nilay & Gevorgyan, Ashot (2023). Bulky, electron-rich, renewable: analogues of Beller's phosphine for cross-couplings. Catalysis Science & Technology. ISSN 2044-4753. doi: 10.1039/d3cy01375h. Full text in Research Archive
  • Castro, Abril C; Cascella, Michele; Perutz, Robin N.; Raynaud, Christophe & Eisenstein, Odile (2023). Solid-State 19F NMR Chemical Shift in Square-Planar Nickel-Fluoride Complexes Linked by Halogen Bonds. Inorganic Chemistry. ISSN 0020-1669. 62(12), p. 4835–4846. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c04063. Full text in Research Archive
  • Sojka, Martin; Chyba, Jan; Paul, Shib Shankar; Wawrocka, Karolina; Honigova, Katerina & Cuyacot, Ben Joseph R. [Show all 13 contributors for this article] (2021). Supramolecular coronation of platinum(II) complexes by macrocycles: Structure, relativistic DFT calculations, and biological effects. Inorganic Chemistry. ISSN 0020-1669. 60, p. 17911–17925. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.1c02467. Full text in Research Archive
  • Castro, Abril C; Balcells, David; Repisky, Michal; Helgaker, Trygve & Cascella, Michele (2020). First-principles calculation of 1H NMR chemical shifts of complex metal polyhydrides: The essential inclusion of relativity and dynamics. Inorganic Chemistry. ISSN 0020-1669. 59(23), p. 17509–17518. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c02753. Full text in Research Archive
  • Gómez-Alcocer, Fátima; Castro, Abril C.; Jimenez-Halla, J. Oscar C.; Saldaña-Piña, Noe; Basavanag, Murali V. & Báez-García, J. Eduardo [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2020). Neutral Hexacoordinate Tin(IV) Halide Complexes with 4,4'‐Dimethy‐2,2'‐bipyridine. Zeitschrift für Anorganische und Allgemeines Chemie. ISSN 0044-2313. 646, p. 1274–1280. doi: 10.1002/zaac.202000073. Full text in Research Archive
  • Castro, Abril C & Swart, Marcel (2020). Recent Advances in Computational NMR Spectrum Prediction. In Wilson, Philippe B. & Grootveld, Martin (Ed.), Computational Techniques for Analytical Chemistry and Bioanalysis. Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Publishing. ISSN 9781788014618. p. 41–68. doi: 10.1039/9781788015882-00041. Full text in Research Archive

View all works in NVA

  • Schmidtke, Inga Lena; Erken, Christina; Aguilera, Abril Castro; Repo, Timo & Flores, Ainara Nova (2025). Ethylene hydrogenation mediated by Rhodium(I)-hydride: mechanistic insights. Full text in Research Archive
  • Cruz, Jose Alberto Guerrero; Lersch, Martin; Tilset, Mats & Castro, Abril C (2025). Analyzing the electronic structure of Pt(II) Complexes via 195-Pt NMR. Full text in Research Archive
  • Schmidtke, Inga Lena; Erken, Christina; Aguilera, Abril Castro; Repo, Timo & Flores, Ainara Nova (2025). Mechanistic insights into Ethylene hydrogenation mediated by Rhodium(I)-monohydride. Full text in Research Archive
  • Cruz, Jose Alberto Guerrero & Aguilera, Abril Castro (2024). Understanding the electronic properties of Pt(II) complexes via 195Pt NMR chemical shifts. Full text in Research Archive
  • Cruz, Jose Alberto Guerrero; Schröder, Mirjam; Corzilius, Björn; Beweries, Torsten & Castro, Abril (2024). Describing the Electronic Structure of Group-4 Metallocenes with 19F-NMR Chemical Shifts. Full text in Research Archive
  • Schmidtke, Inga; Erken, Christina; Castro, Abril C; Repo, Timo & Flores, Ainara Nova (2024). Ethylene hydrogenation via Rh(III)-dimers: a mechanistic study. Full text in Research Archive
  • Cruz, Jose Alberto Guerrero; Tilset, Mats & Castro, Abril C (2023). Understanding Electronic Properties of Pt(II) Complexes via 195Pt NMR Chemical Shifts. Full text in Research Archive
  • Cruz, Jose Alberto Guerrero; Tilset, Mats & Castro, Abril C (2023). Molecular approach to the 195Pt NMR chemical shifts of square-planar Pt(II) complexes with diimine ancillary ligands. Full text in Research Archive
  • Gahlawat, Sahil; Castro, Abril C; Norrby, Per-Ola & Hopmann, Kathrin Helen (2022). CO2 Reduction via an Ir-based Catalyst. Full text in Research Archive
  • Castro, Abril C. (2022). Computational NMR Spectroscopy of Complex Systems: The role of Relativity, Solvent, and Dynamics. Full text in Research Archive
  • Gahlawat, Sahil; Castro, Abril C; Norrby, Per-Ola & Hopmann, Kathrin Helen (2022). Mechanistic Insights into the Reduction of CO2 using Molecular Catalysis. Full text in Research Archive
  • Guerrero, Jose Alberto Cruz; Tilset, Mats & Castro, Abril C (2022). The influence of substituents and the environment on the 195Pt NMR chemical shifts of square-planar Pt complexes with ancillary ligands. Full text in Research Archive
  • Luthra, Mahika; Nova, Ainara; Balcells, David & Castro, Abril C (2022). Mechanistic Insight into Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction with Mn Bipyride complexes using Ab-Initio MD and Static DFT. Full text in Research Archive
  • Castro, Abril C (2021). Computational Methods applied to NMR Spectroscopy of Transition-metal Complexes. Full text in Research Archive
  • Castro, Abril C (2021). Relativity and Dynamics in Computational NMR Spectroscopy. Full text in Research Archive
  • Castro, Abril C (2021). Métodos Computacionales Aplicados a Espectroscopia de RMN de Complejos Metálicos. Full text in Research Archive
  • Castro, Abril C (2021). Relativity and Dynamic effects in Computational NMR Spectroscopy of Transition-Metal Complexes (ReaDy-NMR). Full text in Research Archive
  • Luthra, Mahika; Nova, Ainara; Castro, Abril C & Balcells, David (2021). Mechanistic Insight into the Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 using Homogenous Molecular Catalysts. Full text in Research Archive
  • Castro, Abril C (2020). Relativistic and Dynamic effects are needed to correctly model NMR chemical shifts of metal polyhydride complexes. Full text in Research Archive
  • Castro, Abril C (2020). First-Principles Calculation of 1H NMR Chemical Shifts of Complex Metal Poly- hydrides — The Essential Inclusion of Relativity and Dynamics. Full text in Research Archive
  • Castro, Abril C (2019). Relativistic and Dynamic effects in Computational 1H-NMR Spectroscopy of Iridium Polyhydride complexes. Full text in Research Archive
  • Castro, Abril C (2019). Relativistic and Dynamic effects in 1H-NMR chemical shift calculations of Iridium Polyhydride clusters. Full text in Research Archive

View all works in NVA

Published Mar. 28, 2019 12:12 PM - Last modified Mar. 15, 2026 3:03 PM