We investigate dynamic process in organic functional materials with emphasis on exploiting stabilised, highly substituted aromatic carbocations, fluxional carbon cages, and supramolecular chemistry. Students in the group are exposed to a wide range of techniques in organic synthesis, advanced spectroscopy, organometallics, electrochemistry, and DFT modelling.
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Shapeshifting Molecules
Different sequences of atoms give molecules with distinct shapes. This shape is key to a molecule’s properties, e.g. its biological effect when binding proteins in our bodies. Conventionally, the atomic sequence of a molecule is fixed. We research fluxional carbon cages that have dynamic C–C bonding, giving them ‘shapeshifting’ properties. One advance in this area has been to develop rigid cage molecules that flip rapidly between mirror image forms (R and S stereochemistry). We are investigating how this dynamic stereochemistry interfaces with catalytically active metal as part of organometallic complexes.
Luminescent Molecules
Organic molecules that absorb and emit light are of interest for use in technologies such as organic light-emitting diodes and photovoltaics. We investigate how noncovalent bonding interactions impact on the optoelectronic properties of luminescent materials. Understanding these phenomena is an important step to explaining how individually optimised components operate when combined in devices, e.g. how the interactions between chromophores and host materials alter emission energies. We investigate overcrowded chromophores bearing multiple aromatic rings, which generally improves solid-state emission, but can also lead to unusual photochemical reactivity and photophysical processes.
Aromatic Cation Materials
Using similarly overcrowded systems, we also investigate how molecular strain, charge and noncovalent bonding interactions impact upon the electronic structure of aromatic systems and their resulting properties. Aromatic rings are arguably the most important organic building blocks for materials ranging from drugs to plastics. We have found that balancing strain and aromatic stabilisation energy can create dynamic ring systems, which opens up new possibilities. Can the bonding in aromatic systems be made and broken on demand by the application of external stimuli? We are also developing solid-state electrolyte materials whose unusual liquid-like ionic conductivities arise as a result of the especially diffuse charge distributions that can be obtained using aromatic ions.
