Group News

Latest Group News

July 2024

PhD Studentship Available

We still have a 3.5 year PhD studentship available in the group from September 2024; fully funded (UK students) on the Leverhulme Trust Project Grant "Heteroborolediides: A New Class of Donor-Acceptor Ligand". The project will build on our work with the benzodiphosphaborolediide (CEJ 2021) to expand and develop the synthetic route to access a range of related ligands and explore their coordination chemistry. Full details

 Image of our diphosphaborolediide as its dilithium salt
   

Welcome Nathan, JRA 2024

We welcome Nathan to the group, whoi joins us for a summer project.  Nathan, one of our second year undergraduates, joins us having secured a very competitive Kroto-Walton JRA studentships, one of four awarded in memory of Prof. Sir Harry Kroto and Dr David Walton, as part of the Sussex Junior Research Associate Scheme.  Nathan's project will explore some of our cyaphide-derived chemistry, seeking to expand this toward previously inaccessible systems.  

 Nathan JRA 2024
   

May 2024

A Bis(Cyaphido) Complex

Our latest paper is just accepted in Chem. Eur. J. and describes the first example of a monometallic bis(cyaphido) complex. Maddie estabilshed access to this novel compound from her 5-coordinate cyaphidic cation during her Ph.D.; Monte then picked up the project and obtained x-ray data. This is the first time two cyaphide ligand have been bound to a single metal centre, representing a significant step in establishing the versatility of the ligand in line with its carbonyl and cyanide analogues. Our computational studies, in collaboration with our colleague John Turner, also show that in addition to being a good σ-donor and π-acceptor, cyaphide also has a degree of π-donor character beyond that of cyanide. The work has been highlighted in ChemistryViews Magazine.

 Our bis(cyaphido) complex, as an x-ray structure
   

March 2024

PhD Studentship Available

We have a 3.5 year PhD studentship available in the group from September 2024; fully funded (UK students) on the Leverhulme Trust Project Grant "Heteroborolediides: A New Class of Donor-Acceptor Ligand". The project will build on our work with the benzodiphosphaborolediide (CEJ 2021) to expand and develop the synthetic route to access a range of related ligands and explore their coordination chemistry. Full details

 Image of our diphosphaborolediide as its dilithium salt
   

October 2023

Welcome to Ben and Euritz

We welcome two new members to the group. Ben joins us from the University of Edinburgh (M.Sc. Cowley group) to start his Ph.D. research. His project will build on some of our work with conjugated organometallics featuring low-coordinate phosphorus, expanding the concept to include other main group elements. Euritz joins us for her MChem project, having returned from a year in industry. Her project will be focussed on developig new ligand/metal scaffolds to stabilise some of our novel phosphacarbon ligands. A warm welcome to them both.

  • Head Shot of Ben Warren
  • Head shot of Euritz Afonso
   

April 2023

Dalton 2023

Monte and Ian attended the 2023 Dalton meeting in Warwick, where Monte presented a poster of some of our recent work. It was also good to catch up with some past (and future) Crossley lab members

  • Monte with his poster at the 2023 Dalton meeting
  • Group photo of past, present and future members of the crossleylab
   

 

 

News Archive 2022

October 2022

Welcom to Rachel

We welcome new group member Rachel Brown, who joins us for her MChem project. Rachel will be working on the coordination chemistry of our recently reported benzodiphosphaborolediide ligand and the synthesis of analogues and derivatives.

 Head shot of Rachel
   

August 2022

ACS Fall 2022, Chicago

Ian was thrilled to be invited to present our work on phosphaorganometallic chemistry at a special symposium of the ACS Fall 2022 meeting (August 21st - 25th), entitled 'International Crossroads in Organometallic and Group V Chemistry'. The symposium included some of the most eminent group 15 chemists in the world, speaking about a wide range of Chemistry around the organometallic and group 15 interface.

  • Meeting logo for ACS Fall 2022, Sustainability in a Changing World.  Image shows a stylised chemist in white coat, a construction worker on a laptop against a skyline of chicago with a wind turbine
  • Image of a globe showing the origins of speakers in the symposium 'international Crossroads in Organometallic and Group V Chemistry' with flight paths showing the destination Chicago at the centre.
  • Full list of invited speakers, and organisers, for the International Crossroads symposium.
  • Company logos for the sponsors of the International Crossroads OM / group V symposium
   

July 2022

Graduation Celebrations

Maddie, Kyle and the MChem class of 2021 finally got to graduate on July 11th. Not all could make it in person but those who did had a fantastic day. Congratulations to all and best wishes with current and future endeavours.

  • Kyle and Maddie at Graduation
  • Alex Darnley at Graduation
  • Matt Reveley at Graduation
   

June 2022

Welcome to Monte and Theo

We welcome two new starters to the group! Dr Monte Helm joins us from Missouri for a sabbatical visit, while Theo Webb joins us for a summer project as part of our MChem with Summer Research Placement degree.

  • Head shot of Monte
  • Head shot of Theo the summer student 2022
   
News Archive 2021

October 2021

A Benzodiphosphaborolediide

Our latest paper, published in Chem. Eur. J., describes the first diphosphaborolediide - a previously missing member of the 'hetero-Cp' family of ligands. Kyle and Eli developed a simple one-pot synthesis from 1,2-bis(phosphino)benzene, following a sequential lithiation approach. Isolated as the dilithium salt, as both thf and tmeda solvates, the diphosphaborolediide was shown to possess aromaticity by NICS calculations and its coordination to zero-valent molybdenum. This work, which was a collaboration with our colleague Prof. John Nixon, was highlighted in ChemistryViews Magazine and is currently free to read.

 The Benzodiphosphaborolediide dilithium salt as the tmeda solvate.
   

July 2021

Congratulations Dr Kyle Pearce

Congratulations to Kyle, who passed his Ph.D. viva on July 26th 2021. His thesis, entitled "Electronically distinctive cyclic phosphanes: synthesis and structural modifications toward the control of chemical and electronic properties" details a range of new cyclic scaffolds incorporating the diketophosphanyl moiety and the study of their properteis, as detailed in recent publications (Dalton 2020, JOC 2020). More fundamental studies of phosphaalkenes and a phosphaborolide chemistry are also described, which will be the subject of an imminent publications. We wish Kyle well in his current post doc with, Prof. Mike Hill at Bath, and his future endeavours, and look forward to ebing able to celebrate in person in the not too distant future.

 Kyle celebrates passing his PhD viva
   

ICPC 2021 - Czestochowa

Ian and Kyle both attended the 23rd international conference on phosphorus chemistry, hosted in Czestochowa, Poland. The meeting was held virtually, with Ian giving an invited lecture on our recent work with cyaphides and acylphosphane ligands, while Kyle presented a poster discussing his recent work on phosphaborolide chemistry (watch this space).

 OPening slide of ian's talk for the 23rd International Conference on Phosphorus Chemistry

February 2021

Congratulations Dr Madeleine Levis

Congratulations to Maddie, who passed her Ph.D. viva on February 24th 2021.  Her thesis, entitled "Synthesis and Reactivity of Transition Metal Cyaphide Complexes" details the synthesis and fundamental study of a wide range of novel cyaphide-containing complexes, including our recently published trans-methyl and trans-halo systems, and the 5-coordinate [Ru(dppe)2(CP)]+, which has opened the door to an extensive family of complexes (watch this space!). 
We wish Maddie well for the future and look forward to being able to celebrate in person some day soon.

 Maddie celebrating after her virtual viva
News Archive 2020

October 2020

Diphosphametacyclophanes

Our latest paper, published in J. Org. Chem., represents a long over-due return to our diphosphametacyclophane chemistry. Kyle has been developing this motif - first discovered by Amy in 2012, and known to the group as 'insects' - to include substituent variation in the aromatic scaffold and at phosphorus. We thus describe a 'colony of insects' and explore them using spectroscopy, electrochemistry and DFT, to gain an understanding of the electronic character imparted by the two diketophosphanyl substituents. This paper is an invited contribution to the coming special issue of J. Org. Chem. "The New Golden Age of Organophosphorus Chemmistry".

 Contents page entry from our recent journal of organic chemistry article on diphosphametacyclophanes
   

Welcome to our MChem students

We welcome to the group our 20-21 MChem students, Matt, Fruzsina and Alex. Though not yet in the lab, Matt will be working with the cyaphides, while Fruzsina extends our work on electronically novel phosphacycles. Alex will be working on a joint project with Prof. John Spencer's group. We look forward to getting them all started in the coming weeks.

 Group photo via zoom, (L to R, T to B) Matt, Ian, Alex, Kyle, Fruzsina
   

September 2020

PhD Colloquium Prize for Kyle

Congratulations to Kyle for winning the prize for the best presentation at the Departmental 2020 PhD colloquium.  Kyle presented sone of his work on novel and electronically distinctive phosphacycles including the novel phosphaalkyldiones that we published earlier this year (Dalton Trans. April) and a range of diphosphametacyclophanes that are the subject of a coming publicaton (watch this space).

 Kyle presenting his work to the Sussex Chemistry PhD colloquium 2020
   

April 2020

Novel Phosphacycloalkyldiones

Our latest paper in Dalton Trans. describes a new class of cyclic phosphane based on the diketophosphanyl (-C(O)PR(CO)-) moiety. The work, from Kyle and our 2019 summer (JRA) student Vlad, demonstrates synthesis of a series of 6- and 7-member rings, which exhibit conformational fluxionality in solution. Though sensitive to moisture, these molecules appear resistant to controlled oxidation, but do ligate metals, albeit as relatively weak s-donors.

 Synthetic scheme and variable temperature NMR plot for diacylphosphinane
   
News Archive 2019

October 2019

Controlled Reactivity in Cyaphide Complexes

Our latest cyaphide paper has been published in Inorganic Chemistry.  This work - from Maddie - achieves for the first time controlled metathesis and ligand exchange within a cyaphdie-complex, with retention of the cyaphide ligand, intact.  This finally gives us access to trans-halo cyaphide complexes that can be engaged in further reaction with nucleophiles, and also undergo halide abstraction to give an unprecedented 5-coordinate cyaphide complex.  This really opens the door to a wider range of complexes of this intriguing ligand, including some unexpected reactivity that we will be describing shortly... watch this space!

 Contents page entry from the inorganic chemistry paper, showing a series of interconversions
   

Welcome to Eli and Harry

This month we welcome to the group Elinor Canham and Harry Jackson, who both join us for their final year MChem projects. Eli joins our phosphorus ligand team and will be developing a nove hybrid P/B system and exploring its chemistry. Meanwhile Harry joins our cyapide team, seeking new synthetic routes to these intriguing coordination complexes.  

  • Eli Canham (MChem 2019-20)
  • Harry Jackson (MChem 2019-20)
   

September 2019

DYME 2019

Maddie and Kyle represented the group at the 2019 Dalton Young Members Event, held in Cardiff on September 5th and 6th.  Maddie gave a talk on her recent advances in the sythesis and chemistry of transition metal cyaphide complexes, while Kyle presented a poster on his phosphorus macrocycle work.  

  • Maddie presenting her cyaphide work at the Dalton Young Members Event, Cardiff September 2019
  • Kyle with his poster and the Dalton Young Members Event, Cadiff, Septmber 2019
   

July 2019

Welcome to Vlad, JRA 2019

This month the group welcomes Vladimir Simenok, who joins us for a summer project.  Vlad, a second year Sussex undergraduate, joins us having secured a bursary from the - very competitive - Suseex Junor Research Associate (JRA) Scheme.  This funds Vlad to spend 8 weeks of his summer working in our laboratory, focussed on developing the chemistry of of our diphosphametacyclophane ligands (see for example Chem. Commun. 2012). 

 Vlad, working in the glovebox
   

April 2019

Substituent Effects in trans Cyaphide-Alkynyl Complexes

Our latest cyaphide paper has been published in Dalton Transactons, invited as part of the web-themed collection "Challenges in Organometallic & Coordination Chemistry", celebrating our colleague Geoff Cloke's 65th birthday. In this work we describe an extended and in-depth study of trans cyaphide-alkynyl complexes, elaborating on the interaction between the remote alkynyl terminus and the cyaphide moiety, as determined spectroscopic and electrochemical studies.

 Hammett plot of electronic influence of terminal alkynyl substituents on the cyaphide chemical shift
   
News Archive 2018

December 2018

PBSi 2018, Barcelona

Sam represented the group at the Phosphorus, Boron and Silicon Conference (PBSi), held in Barcelona from December 10th - 12th 2018. Her talk discussed in detail the results summarised in her prize-winning poster and some more recent directions her work has taken. Her attendance at this meeting was enabled by the RSC Travel Bursary awarded as her prize for the Sir Geoffrey Wilkinson Dalton Poster Competition.

 Sam giving her talk at the PBSi meeting in Barcelona, December 11th 2018
   

November 2018

Congratulations Dr Matthew Leech

Congratulations to Matt, who passed his Ph.D. viva on November 20th 2018.  His thesis, entitled "Transition Metal Cyaphides: Synthesis, Reactivity and Chemistry Chemistry" details the synthesis and fundamental study of a range of transition metal cyaphide complexes, including the recently published bimetallic systems (Dalton Trans., 2018, 474428). Further developments of the work will be the subject of several coming publications - watch this space!
We wish Matt well for the future.  

 Matt
   

September 2018

Welcome to Josh

This month we welcome back Josh Tyrrell to the group. Josh previously spent a summer in our lab (2017) on an RSC Summmer Research Bursary, focussed on the coordination chemistry of our diphosphametacyclophanes. Following a sandwich year at Uppsala University (Sweeden) he now rejoins us for his final year M.Chem. resarch project as part of our cyaphide team, working to further develop the organometallic chemistry of this, still very rare, ligand.

 Photo of Josh Tyrrell

July 2018

ICOMC 2018 - Florence

Immediately following the ICPC meeting, Ian was joined in Florence by Sam and Maddie for the 28th International Conference on Organometallic Chemistry, held from July 15th – 20th. Ian gave one of the opening oral contributions of the conferences, which was followed on Thursday 19th by posters from Sam and Maddie providing more details of our most recent cyaphide work.

  • Ian giving his talk at ICOMC 2018
  • 28th International Conference on Organometallic Chemistry; Florence, July 15th - 20th 2018

ICPC 2018 - Budapest

The PI attended the 22nd International Conference on Phosphorus Chemistry, held in Budapest from July 8th – 13th. Ian spoke about the groups recent advances in our studies of organometallic cyaphide complexes, including our elucidation of unprecedented reactivity, and also summarised other work within the group. 

  • 22nd International Conference on Phosphorus Chemistry; Budapest, July 8th - 13th 2018
  • Ian giving his talk at ICPC 2018

April 2018

Sam Takes the Prize @ Dalton 2018

The Dalton 2018 meeting included The RSC Sir Geoffrey Wilkinson Dalton Poster Competition, an annual event supported by the Geoffrey Wilkinson foundation, which aims to celebrate the breadth and strength of inorganic chemistry as presented by talented young researchers early in their career.   

We are extremely pleased to announce that from a very strong field, the post-doctoral category of the competition was won by our very own Dr Samantha Furfari (pictured with Prof. Emma Raven, Dalton Division President) for her poster 'Investigating the substituents effects of trans alkynyl-cyaphide complexes'.  Sam's prize includes an RSC travel bursary to facilitate her attendance at a conference of her choice. Read the University news item here.

 Sam being presented with the Sir Geoffrey Wilkinson Poster Prize (Post-doc category)

Dalton 2018 @ Warwick

The group and our work were well represented at Dalton 2018 - the fourth Dalton Division joint interest group meeting - held at the University of Warwick from 3rd - 5th April.  Matt Leech gave a well-received talk summarising several aspects of his work on through-conjugated cyaphide complexes and some more recent studies centred on reactivity and more varied supporting scaffolds.  Other aspects of our work were presented as posters by Kyle (cyclophane chemistry), Maddie (novel cyaphide complexes) and Sam (substituent effects within alkynyl-cyaphide complexes), whose poster won a prize

 

  • Matt giving his talk at the Dalton 2018 meeting
  • Sam with her prize-winning poster at the Dalton 2018 meeting
  • Kyle with his poster at the Dalton 2018 meeting
  • Maddie with her poster at the Dalton 2018 meeting

February 2018

Through-conjugated cyaphides in Dalton

Some of our latest work on organometallic cyaphide complexes has been published on-line by Dalton Transactons. Our communication describes work undertaken by Matt Leech on the synthesis of a bimetallic complex featuring two terminal cyaphide ligands, which exhibit through-conjugation. This is the first time two discrete phosphaalkyne-like moieties have been incorporated within a single through-conjugated scaffold. The complex is studied by combination of theoretical and experimental methods, which includes the first investigation of the influenc of cyaphide upon the redox properties of an organometallic scaffold.

 Through-conjugated bis(ethynyl)benzene bridged biruthenium bis-cyaphide complex
   
News Archive 2017

November 2017

Sam Addresses the Stokes Society, Cambridge

Following from her session at Brighton's first Soapbox Science event (July News), Sam was invited by the Stokes Society of Pembrloke College, Cambridge to give a presentation to undergraduate students (November 15th).  The society hosts speakers from across the scientific disciplines, bringing cutting edge science to a broad undergraduate audience.  Sam's talk "Spectroscopic Fun with Carbenes and Phosphines" discussed a range of work she has undertaken focussed on synthesising and using these versatile ligands in the areas of coordination and organometallic chemistry..

Generic image of Pembroke College Cambridge
   

September 2017

Welcome to Kyle and Jennifer

This month we welcome to the group Kyle Pearce, and welcome back Jennifer Smart. Kyle joins us from the University of Kent (M.Chem. Chemistry 2017) to begin his Ph.D. research. His project will build upon our work with the diphosphametacyclophane motif (Chem. Commun. 2012), focussing on adapting and expanding the synthetic protocol to access functionalised dericatives, and exploring theic coordination chemistry. Jennifer, who previously worked with us (2016) as part of the University of Sussex JRA scheme, returns for her M.Chem. research project, which will build on our very recent discovery of a facile route to novel halohydro-organophosphine complexes (Organometallics 2017)

Kyle PearceJennifer

Life Sciences Symposium

Ian represented both the group, and chemistry department, as an invited speaker at this year's Sussex Life Sciences Symposium, held on September 15th. The annual event features presentations by PIs from across the school, highlighting the variety of research being undertaken within the different subject groups. This year's symposium also included plenary lectures from two Nobel laureates, Prof. Dr Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard and president of the Royal Soceiety, Prof Sir Venki Ramakrishnan. 

 Ian presenting at the 2017 Lifecsi Research Symposium
    

Dalton Young Members' Event 2017

Matt represented the group at this year's DYME, held in Bath on September 7th - 8th. Matt's talk entitled 'Cyaphide and Acetylide: The effects of isolobal fragment exchange' described some of his recent studies concerning the differences in electronic and structural features between the cyaphide, acetylide and cyanide homologues of some ruthenium complexes. 

 
   

July 2017

Sam gets on her soapbox

Sam Furfari brought coordination chemistry to the public on Saturday July 29th, as part of Brighton's first Soapbox Science event; Sam was one of three speakers from the School of Life Sciences taking part, alongside other contributors from the university and across the region. Braving the rain on Brighton seafront, Sam introduced the subject, its breadth and importance to locals and tourists, and inspired the younger generation with a colourful demosntration. 

Soapbox Science is a world-wide outreach platform promoting women scientists and engineers working in STEMM, and some of the leading research they conduct. 

 Sam at Brighton's first Soapbox Science event, July 29th 2017
    

Graduation Celebrations

The group had several reasons for celebration at this year's summer graduation, which was held on the afternoon of Monday July 17th.  Vicki (now Dr Victoria Greenacre) received her Ph.D. for her work on ambiphilic phosphorus-based ligands and complexes, while Joe Paterson received his MChem(hons) degree, the research component of which was carried out in our lab.  Additionally, lab alumnus Melvyn Ansell (MChem 2013) was also graduating with a Ph.D., obtained for his work on N-heterocyclic carbene complexes in catalysis, carried out under the supervision of Dr Oscar Navarro and Prof. John Spencer. 

 Vicki at graduation, July 2017Melvyn at graduation, July 2017
   

June 2017

Josh Tyrrell RSC Summer Bursary

We welcome Josh Tyrrell to the group as an RSC funded summer researcher. Josh won a very competitive RSC Summer Bursary to undertake work in our laboratory focussed on developing the coordination chemistry of our diphosphametacyclophane ligand (see Chem. Commun. 2012), and investigating the thermal stability of both the ligand and its complexes.

 Josh tyrrell working at the lab bench
   
News Archive 2016

December 2016

Congratulations Dr Victoria Greenacre

Congratulations to Vicki, who passed her Ph.D. viva on December 6th 2016.  Her thesis, entitled "Synthesis and Chemistry of Novel Ambiphilic Phosphorus Based Ligands and Complexes" details the synthesis of a range of phosphane-boranes and their complexes (Eur. J. Inorg. Chem., 2014, 5053). It also describes extended investigations into the chemistry of phosphaalkenyl and η2-phosphaalkene complexes of ruthenium (Organometallics 2015, 34, 2533; Inorganics 2016 in press), building on previous work from the group.  Vicki will graduate at the Summer  ceremony (July 2017) and now leaves the Crossley lab for a post-doc at Southampton in the group of Prof. Gill Reid. We wish her every success in her new position, and for the future.  

 Vicki celebrates passing her viva
   

September 2016

Welcome to Maddie and Joe

The group welcomes two new members this month, Madeleine Levis and Joe Paterson.

Maddie, joins us for her Ph.D. studies (EPSRC) in the area of Cyaphide chemistry.  She is a recent graduate of Newcastle University (MChem. Chemistry) and as part of her degree spent a year in the research lab of Rory Waterman (Vermont).

Joe is currently in the final year of his MChem degree here at Sussex, and joins us as a project student.  He will be working in the area of phosphine-borane ligand design and synthesis.     

 

maddieJoe 

July 2016

ICOMC 2016

The PI was able to attend the 27th International Conference on Organometallic Chemistry, held in Melbourne, Australia.  Ian presented the group's recent work on Cyaphide compounds, both at the conference and a series of invited seminars (RMIT, ANU, Macquarie) alongside some of our other work on aroylphosphanes (Saunders) and P-ruthenaphosphaalkenyls (Greenacre, Trathen).   

 

ICOMC logo

April 2016

Welcome to Dr Samantha Furfari

We welcome Dr Samantha Furfari to the group as Research Fellow.  Sam will be working on our recent EPSRC funded project concerning the development of cyaphide complexes and other linearly conjugated phosphacarbons.  She joins us from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) where she most recently undertook post-doctoral research in the group of Prof. Les Field, following her PhD with Assoc. Prof. Marcus Cole.

 

Dr Samantha Furfari

March 2016

Dalton 2016 @ Warwick

The group recently attended Dalton 2016 - the third Dalton Division joint interest group meeting - at Warwick from 29th - 31st March.  Our work was presented by Vicki, who gave an oral presentation on her work with metallaphosphaalkenyl complexes, and Matt, whose poster described some of our recent (soon to be published) work with cyaphide complexes.

 

Vicki giving her talk at the Dalton 2016 meeting in WarwickMatt presenting his poster at the Dalton 2016 meeting in Warwick
News Archive 2015

November 2015

EPSRC support cyaphide development

The Crossley lab has received a grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to support our continuing work on the development of linearly conjugated complexes featuring the cyaphide ligand, building on our recent report of the first such compounds (Dalton Trans., 2014, 43, 9004).  The project will further develop synthetic methodology and explore and optimise electronic and redox properties of a wide range of these, and related, complexes.

 Engineering and Physical Science Research Council
   

April 2015

Southern Regional Dalton Meeting

The group was well represented at the recent Southern Regional Dalton meeting of the RSC, held at Sussex April 20th - 21st. Vicki presented a poster detailing our recent work on Ruthenaphosphaalkenyl complexes (Organometallics 2013, 32, 2501 & 2015 in press), while Matt's poster outlined his recent work with Cyaphide complexes, building on our 2014 communication (Dalton Trans., 2014, 43, 9004).  The PI's (Ian) presentation gave a broader discussion of these and related works. 
 

 
   
News Archive 2014

December 2014

Congratulations Dr Nicola Trathen

Congratulations to Nikki, who passed her Ph.D. viva on December 11th 2014.  Her thesis, entitled "The Organometallic Chemistry of Conjugated Phosphacarbon Compounds" details the synthesis of a range of ruthenium phosphaalkenyl (Organometallics, 2013, 32, 2501) and η2-phosphaalkene complexes.  It also describes the first examples of conjugated Cyaphide-alknyl complexes, which were featured the cover of Dalton Transactions.  Nikki will graduate at the Summer  ceremony (July 2015) and has now left the Crossley lab to become a publishing editor with the RSC.  We wish her every success for the future.  

 Dr Nicola Trathen
   

August 2014

Congratulations Dr Amy Saunders

Congratulations to Amy, who passed her Ph.D. viva on August 21st 2014.  Her thesis, entitled   "The development and chemistry of novel phosphacarbons and their derivatives" details the synthesis of a range of phosphomide-type ligands, including the first diphospha-metacyclophane (Chem. Commun. 2012, 48, 5766), and more unusual propargyl phosphanes.  It also describes the synthesis, and subsequent reactivity of a range of extremely reactive phosphaalkenes.  Amy will graduate at the Winter ceremony (January 2015) and has now left the Crossley lab to become a deputy editor with Pro Global Media.  We wish her every success for the future.  

Amy celebrates passing her viva
   

July 2014

Our work on the cover of Dalton

Our recent paper concerning conjugated cyaphide-alkynyl complexes of ruthenium was recently featured on the inside cover of Dalton Transactions (28 June 2014). This paper describes work undertaken by Nikki Trathen and Matt Leech on the synthesis of ruthenium(II) alkynyl complexes that incorporate the elusive cyaphide ligand trans to the alkynyl.  This is only the second report of terminal cyaphide complexes (only one existed previously) and the first time the electronic structure of such compounds has been studied.  The cover image, showing the molecular structure of the complexes, was designed by Vicki Greenacre, from the X-ray structure she obtained.

Inside Cover of Dalton Transactions; June 28th 2014
   

Vicki takes the prize...

Vicki Greenacre recently represented the group at the 3rd RSC Younger Members Symposium (Birmingham, June 24th) and received an award for her poster presentation.  The prize, awarded by the EuCheMS European Young Chemists' Network (EYCN), recognised her 'distinctive and innovative presentation of research work'.

Vicki's poster detailed part of her recent Ph.D. work, focussed on the synthesis, characterisation and study of some novel, singly-bridged phosphine-borane ligands and their coordination complexes with the platium group metals.  This work has since been published in the European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry. 

Vicki with her poster at the RSC Young Members' Symposium