University of Oxford
Methodology | Synthesis | Reactive Intermediates
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Research

Our research interests fall under the broad scope of organic synthesis and include: total synthesis, structure determination, methods development, structure and reactivity of unstable species, and rearrangement chemistry. We are interested in: the development of key reaction methodology (especially in the areas of radical chemistry), transition metal catalysed processes and catalytic enantioselective synthesis; all aspects of the structure and reactivity of oxonium ions; and the use of biosynthesis and computational methods as predictive tools for the structure determination of complex molecules. All of the above inform and guide our research on complex molecule total synthesis.

Synthetic Methodology

The development of new synthetic methodology is a key focus of our research.  We have a keen interest in transformations which result in a significant increase in molecular complexity and functionality from substrate to product, and have developed radical reactions for application in the synthesis of highly congested molecules and in the efficient synthesis of natural products as well as to the functionalisation of arenes. In recent work, we have developed a number of oxidative radical reactions and the sequencing of these radical reactions with subsequent ionic reactions allows the formation of complex molecular architectures from readily accessible substrates.  Our investigations into transition metal catalysed and organocatalytic methodology has informed the stereocontrolled synthesis of complex, functionalised molecular building blocks for use in the synthesis of biologically relevant targets including natural products.  Additionally, we are investigating the chemistry of oxonium ions for use in organic synthesis.

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