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    • Home
    • Prof. Young
    • Research Interests
    • Research Group
      • Current Group Members
      • Former Group Members
      • Group Photos and Outings
    • Publications
      • 2024
      • 2023
      • 2022
      • 2021
      • 2020
      • 2019
      • 2018
      • 2017
      • 2016
      • 2014
    • Facilities

  • Home
  • Prof. Young
  • Research Interests
  • Research Group
    • Current Group Members
    • Former Group Members
    • Group Photos and Outings
  • Publications
    • 2024
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2014
  • Facilities

Research Interests

My group’s chemistry is focused on developing and understanding catalytic chemical transformations. The ability to streamline the efficiency of current and future industrial catalytic processes is a key element in societies’ reduction of energy usage for a greener future. This research field encompasses more traditional redox-active metal-based catalysis to recently developed Frustrated Lewis Pair (FLP) catalysis.

Frustrated Lewis Pair (FLP) small molecule activation and catalysis

Chemistry of acidic metal hydrides and their conjugate (metal) bases

Frustrated Lewis Pair (FLP) small molecule activation and catalysis

The emergence of Frustrated Lewis Pairs (FLPs) has led to the activation of small molecules using group 13 and 15 centres. We are currently exploring catalytic reactivity of customised FLPs to target a variety of molecule activations and catalytic transformation. 


Key References:

Org. Lett. 2017, 19, 1934–1937

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140, 10682–10686

Chem. Eur. J. 2019, 25, 6290–6294

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 2572–2578 

 Org Lett. 2021, 23, 1915–1920 


PCcarbeneP pincer complex chemistry

Chemistry of acidic metal hydrides and their conjugate (metal) bases

Frustrated Lewis Pair (FLP) small molecule activation and catalysis

PCP pincer complexes featuring alkylidene central donors have shown huge potential in synergistic metal-ligand bond-activation chemistry. Unfortunately, these ligands are often difficult to access, especially for base metal examples. Our group has found new ways to access such complexes and is currently exploring their potential in challenging bond-activation processes and metal-ligand cooperative catalysis.

 

Key References:

 Organometallics 2017, 36, 3117–3124

Dalton Trans. 2017, 46, 15407–15414

Chem. Sci. 2018, 9, 8234–8241

Organometallics 2020, 39, 797–803

 Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2021, 60, 18168–18177

Chemistry of acidic metal hydrides and their conjugate (metal) bases

Chemistry of acidic metal hydrides and their conjugate (metal) bases

Chemistry of acidic metal hydrides and their conjugate (metal) bases

Traditionally, metal hydrides are thought of as being basic in nature. Through the use of phosphine-based pincer-type ligands, we are developing ever more acidic metal hydrides that can undergo alternate reactivity with a number of substrates as compared to their more traditionally basic counterparts.


Key References:

Organometallics 2017, 36, 1609–1617

Dalton Trans. 2020, 49, 15184–15189

 J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 10700–10708