Research group

Organic Chemistry, Synthesis, Catalysis

2 people in a chemistry lab

We study the structure, properties and reactions of organic compounds. One of our research aims is to develop environmentally sustainable approaches to chemical manufacture that minimise chemical waste.

Part of Chemistry

About

Organic chemists discover, design, and make molecules that have useful or interesting functions such as medicines, liquid crystals, electronic materials and smart inks. We have a strong international reputation for our research in a range of areas:

Flow chemistry
 

Chemical reactions are conducted in a continuous fashion rather than as a batch process. Our primary expertise is in the development of new 'reagentless' methodologies using electrochemistry, thermolysis and photochemistry, and in the study of reaction mechanisms.

Medicinal chemistry
 

Our multidisciplinary research covers chemistry, biology and medicine. Much of our research is directed at the optimisation of properties through introducing changes in the molecular structure of ‘lead’ compounds.

Total synthesis
 

We develop strategies for the efficient construction of target compounds.  These include the molecules of nature, and extend to exquisite non-natural structures such as fullerenes enclosing another atom or molecule, for example, C60@NH3.

Methodology and catalysis
 

Here, our focus is on developing tools and catalysts to enable synthetic transformations to be performed in an efficient manner. This includes the:

  • discovery, development and exemplification of new transformations
  • optimisation and scoping of existing methods (for example, by developing new reagents, catalysts and devices)
  • creation of novel molecular architectures

People, projects and publications

People

We are designing and synthesising molecules with useful optoelectronic properties for application in Organic Light Emitting Diodes, particularly for use in printable devices.
Professor of Chemistry