Synthesis and Catalysis

PhD student using the electrochemistry machine

We investigate new methods to synthesise molecules with desirable functions such as biological activity, catalytic reactivity and thermoelectric properties. Research is focused on developing new reactions, catalysts and technologies to synthesise molecules required by society in a simple, efficient and sustainable manner.

Our Research

An important goal in this work is to control the selectivity of reactions to prepare only the desired target compound and minimise the formation of side-products. This research is supported by detailed studies into how reactions work, to facilitate more accurate prediction of molecular function from chemical structure.

New synthetic methods and reactions
The development of new transition metal catalysts and organic catalysts
Asymmetric synthesis and catalysis
The synthesis of natural products and their analogues
Molecular targeting of cancer, malaria and neurodegeneration
Design and synthesis of chemical probes for biological systems
Physical organic chemistry, including kinetic studies, isotopic labelling and analysis of structure-activity relationships
Reactions in supercritical carbon dioxide
Green and sustainable synthesis
New enabling technologies for synthesis, such as photochemistry, electrochemistry and flow chemistry
The design and synthesis of molecules with thermoelectric properties

Members

Staff Finder

PhD student in Green Laboratory, GSK Building

Catalysis close up

Student holding up flask filled with a chemical

Spotlights

A collaborative publication across the 糖心原创, including Professor Chris Hayes, reporting on thapsigargin's antiviral performance on coronavirus.

Examining enzyme reactions

A collaborative publication from Dr James Cuthbertson and Professor Ross Denton, in the high impact journal Science.

A publication of interest to the community, in the high impact journal Nature, from Dr Liam Ball.

A recent publication in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition from Nottingham Research Fellow, Dr Silvi.

A REF2021 submission publication from Professor Woodward, on the growing field of Thermoelectrics. Professor Woodward paper on Thermoelectrics

Recent Publications

Alomari, K., Pavan Chakravarthy, N. S., Duchadeau, B., Ermanis, K., & Clarke, P. A. Org. Biomol. Chem. 2022.

Gillbard, S. M., & Lam, H. W. Chem. Eur. J. 2022.

Gillbard, S. M., Green, H., Argent, S. P., & Lam, H. W. Chem. Commun. 2021, 57, 4436-4439.

Dawood, R.S., & Stockman, R. A. Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2021, 3850.

Green, H., Argent, S., & Lam, H. Chem. Eur. J. 2021, 27(19), 5897-5900.

Lloyd, J. R., Hogan, A., Paschalis, V., Bellamy-Carter, J., Bottley, A., Seymour, G. B., Hayes, C. J., & Oldham, N. J. Proteomics. 2021, e2000288.

L. S. Fitzgerald, M. L. O'Duill, Chem. Eur. J. 2021, 27, 8411.

Atkinson, R. L., Monaghan, O., Elsmore, M. T., Topham, P. D., Toolan, D. T. W., Derry, M. J., Stockman, R., …Howdle, S. M. Polym. Chem. 2021, 12(21), 3177-3189.

Senior, A., & Ball, L. T. Synlett. 2021, 32(03), 235-240.

Groves, A., Sun, J., Parke, H. R. I., Callingham, M., Argent, S. P., Taylor, L. J., & Lam, H. W. Chem Sci. 2020, 11(10), 2759–2764.

Ball, L. T., Corrie, T., Cresswell, A., & Lloyd-Jones, G. C. ACS Catalysis. 2020, 10(18), 10420–10426.

Stoll, E., Tongue, T., Andrews, K. G., Valette, D., Hirst, D. J., & Denton, R. M. Chemical Science. 2020, 11(35), 9494-9500.

Gunnell, E. A., Al-Noori, A., Muhsen, U., Davies, C. C., Dowden, J., & Dreveny, I. Biochemical Journal. 2020, 477(4), 787–800.

Postgraduate research

We are interested in the recruitment of talented and enthusiastic students with a passion for creative research.

School of Chemistry

University Park Nottingham, NG7 2RD

For all enquiries please visit:

糖心原创