Organic
There are a number of successful research programs in organic chemistry at Bath in the areas of synthetic methodology, catalysis, natural product synthesis, materials and chemical sensors.
Many members of staff are interested in developing modern organic chemistry techniques that provide innovative solutions to long-standing challenges in organic synthesis. These projects focus on the discovery of new reactions and novel catalytic activities that are used to develop powerful new synthetic methodology for the synthesis of natural products and molecules of biological interest. Multidisciplinary projects are often carried out in collaboration with research groups from other disciplines that require the synthesis of bespoke target molecules of use for chemical biology or materials applications.
A major research area in many research groups is the development of novel transition metal catalysts, organocatalysts and biocatalysts, with many projects focused on the development of ‘green’ synthetic protocols in collaboration with colleagues from the Centre for Sustainable Chemical Technology. There has also been a long tradition in the development of chemical sensors at Bath with research programs currently focused on the development of selective electrochemical and fluorescent sensors for the detection of sugars, alkylating agents and diagnostic proteins.
The organic section is currently comprised of seven research groups that contain around 40-50 Ph.D/PDRA researchers, who carry out their research projects in purpose built state-of-the-art facilities with excellent NMR, X-Ray, MS and library provision. This research activity provides a world-class environment for postgraduate and postdoctoral teaching as well as outstanding training in many aspects of modern organic chemistry.
Outstanding publications, substantial grant income from research councils and numerous industrial partners has resulted in a strong demand for our postgraduates and postdoctoral workers, which testifies to the thriving organic chemistry research program that exists at Bath.
Staff research interests
- Asymmetric synthesis
- Transition metals as catalysts
- Enzymes as catalysts
- Asymmetric synthesis and catalysis
- Combinatorial chemistry
- Bioorganic chemistry
- Helical organocatalysis
- Asymmetric synthesis
- Bio-active molecule synthesis
- DNA for data storage
- Molecular evolution
- Catalysis
- New Chemical Tools for Biosensing
- Sustainable Approaches to Healthcare
- Supramolecular chemistry
- Molecular recognition
- Molecular sensor design
- Total synthesis of Structurally and Biologically Interesting Molecules
- Novel Synthetic Methodology
- Microbial Arene Oxidation
- Supramolecular photosystems
- Organic materials
- Sensors
