Organic chemistry

We are increasingly able to manipulate and control the structure and behaviour of individual molecules and even atoms – nanotechnology. This opens up the exciting possibility of controlling the fundamental properties of materials such as colour, strength and electrical conductivity.

About

Organic substances are everywhere: they are the basis of all life forms and central to our heath and wellbeing. Organic chemistry is the study of the structure, properties and syntheses of carbon-containing compounds, and includes both compounds produced by living organisms as well as designed molecules. The range of application of organic compounds is enormous. The very foundations of biochemistry, biotechnology, and medicine are built on organic compounds and their role in life processes. Most modern, high-tech materials are at least partially composed of organic compounds. Organic chemists at all levels are employed by pharmaceutical, biotech, chemical, consumer product, food and petroleum industries.

Groups

Hill Group

Our work covers organometallic chemistry with a particular focus include unsaturated ligands involving metal–carbon multiple bonding.

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Humphrey Group

Our research uses synthesis, spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and computational chemistry to generate new molecular materials with unusual optical properties.

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Malins Group

The Malins group develops synthetic tools for small molecule, peptide and protein synthesis, including for applications in chemical biology and drug discovery.

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McLeod Group

The McLeod group employs a wide range of techniques to study drug metabolism.

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A male scientist wearing glasses, a lab coat, and protective gloves smiles at the camera in a chemical laboratory setting.

Nitsche Group

We develop chemical tools to target, manipulate and study peptides and proteins related to infectious diseases.

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Norcott Group

The Norcott group research interest centres on using organic synthesis and reactivity to design new, functional molecules with important purposes.

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Sherburn Group

Our research program involves the design of sequences of cycloaddition reactions, free radical reactions and transition metal-mediated reactions

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White Group

Our research focuses on supramolecular chemistry – the chemistry of non-covalent interactions such as hydrogen bonding, halogen bonding and coordination bonds.

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Facilities

Separation and Reaction Facility (SRF)

Providing synthetic and separative solutions to the RSC

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Projects

Spring-Loaded Electrophiles: Powerful Tools for Organic Synthesis

This project will explore designer bicyclobutanes and the strained molecule “propellane” in alkylation, radical addition and cycloaddition chemistry, including for the modification of peptides and bioactive small molecules.