About
Research in the Hicks group primarily focuses around the idea of using non-toxic, earth abundant metals in modern day organometallic chemistry. Many industrial and pharmaceutical processes still rely on the expensive, toxic and rare noble metal catalysts to perform aspects of their synthesis, whilst others use extremely energy intensive reaction conditions due to low activity catalysts. Our research aims to replace these with efficient earth-abundant equivalents.
Using highly reactive aluminum, calcium and magnesium complexes, we have started to replicate chemical processes that are typically associated with the noble transition metal catalysts. These processes include C–H activation, C–C coupling and small molecule activation (e.g. CO, CO2, N2). In the Hicks group, we are pushing the boundaries with these underrated main group metals to develop methods for more sustainable chemical synthesis for the future.
