Research

My research is primarily concerned with developing catalysts for the practical, efficient and enantioselective synthesis of high value chiral organic compounds from low value achiral precursors. The products obtained are exploited for the synthesis of novel and potentially bioactive compounds. The discovery of catalysts is underpinned by the development of methodologies for the generation of planar chiral metallocenes and metallacycles, and the enantioselective functionalisation of unactivated C-H bonds. In addition I am interested in complex chemical systems, catalytic networks and their possible relevance to prebiotic chemistry.