Organic and Inorganic Synthesis

Dr Bart Jones

Electrochemistry of organometallic species such as (MeCp2ZrH2)2
Determination of acidity of Cp protons in CpReL3L2L3 species
Trace analysis method development using electrochemistry, spectroscopy, and chromatography.

Dr. John Tyrell

Organic synthesis and methodology: regioselective aromatic substitutions.
Polymer precursors and catalysis: development of synthetic methods for monomers; synthesis of heterocyclic ligands for polymer catalysis.
Industrially relevant research: determination of the fate of a heterocyclic compound used in water purification; extension of the scope of existing uses of a supported transition metal compound; development of analytical techniques for process streams.

Dr.Robert Hancock

Computer-aided design of ligands for use in medical imaging (MRI, PET), fluorescence-based sensors, and metal ion separations such as removal of radioactive isotopes from nuclear waste.
Study of complexing of metal ions by NMR, polarography, potentiometry, UV-visible and IR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and fluorescence measurements.
Study of complexing of metal ions by NMR, polarography, potentiometry, UV-visible and IR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and fluorescence measurements.

Dr. Sridhar Varadarajan

Organic synthesis of DNA-alkylating molecules.
Design, organic synthesis, and investigation of molecules that target specific receptors on cells.
Targeting specific cell-types with DNA-damaging agents that induce cell-death, but not mutations, for potential therapeutic applications in diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

Dr. Pam Seaton

Dr Jeremy Morgan

New transition metal-catalyzed and organocatalytic methods for the synthesis of chiral, non-racemic organic molecules.
Catalyst development and study of reaction mechanism.
Application in bioactive natural product total synthesis.

Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry