Research Areas
Transition-Metal Catalysis
Our group is exploring the development of novel catalysts and catalytic strategies that enable us to activate and functionalise typically inert C–H bonds. To achieve this, we use a combination of catalyst screening, computational analysis and data science approaches to guide the design of new metal complexes that deliver enhanced activity and selectivity in catalytic processes.
To date, we have discovered a series of new olefination, allylation, alkynylation, amidation and hydroarylation reactions using rhodium, ruthenium, iridium and cobalt-based catalytic systems. Specific applications of the new catalytic processes we have discovered include the late-stage functionalisation of pharmaceuticals, the rapid synthesis of drug conjugates and post-polymerisation modification.
Photochemistry
Synthetic photochemistry uses light irradiation to excite molecules. Photochemical excitation can provide access to novel activation modes, reactive intermediates and mechanistic pathways. Our group’s focus in this area is the use of light to drive chemical reactions using two different approaches:
- Photons absorbed by photosensitisers that activate reactants through energy transfer or electron transfer processes
- Photons absorbed by the reactants, where specific functional groups can be directly excited to generate reactive intermediates
As a result of our investigations, we discovered a series of new photochemical reactions involving light-induced siloxycarbene intermediates generated via the direct irradiation or photosensitised activation of acylsilane reagents. Recently, we have explored the use of oxime ester reagents as bifunctional radical precursors in a series of novel synthetic transformations. We are also interested in the discovery of new photoactivatable tools for chemical biology.
Medicinal Chemistry
Our group also focuses on the synthesis and evaluation of novel therapeutic candidates. One current challenge is the rapid emergence of drug-resistant tuberculosis strains that do not respond to traditional antibiotic medicines. To address this, we developed new molecules that are highly potent against drug-resistant strains of the tuberculosis bacteria yet produce fewer side effects than existing treatments. We have also explored macrocyclization as a strategy to enhance the potency and selectivity of small molecules designed as anti-cancer agents.