Catalyst design is at the heart of what the group is interested in. Whether it is designing new enzymes for incorporation into biosynthetic pathways or looking at small molecule catalysts for C-H functionalisation. Rationally designing catalysts tests the chemists knowledge of what is needed in a catalyst to get both the reactivities and selectivities desired for given reactions. Highlighted below are a number of ligands and catalysts that Amanda has worked on in the past:
1. Multidentate phosphine alkene ligands (PhD studies with Professor Ian Fairlamb)
dbaPHOS
dbaTHIOPHOS
Copper complex of dbaTHIOPHOS with a CuCl ladder core.
A. G. Jarvis et al. Chem. Eur. J. 2013, 19, 6034.
A. G. Jarvis, A. C. Whitwood and I. J. S. Fairlamb, Dalton Trans. 2011, 40, 3695-3702
2. C-H functionalisation using rhodium paddlewheel complexes
Rhodium paddlewheel complexes have been highly successful catalysts in carbene reactions such as cyclopropanation, and, more recently, in nitrene chemistry (C-H amination and aziridination). During Amanda's postdoc with Dr Philippe Dauban, she worked on the use of these complexes for C-N bond forming reactions. More recently the group has worked on developing heteroleptic rhodium paddlewheel complexes for asymmetric reactions.
B. Darses et al. Synthesis; Practical Procedures Paper, 2013, 45, 2079-2087.