School of Chemistry staff scoop four prestigious RSC Prizes

Mike won the prize for new approaches to C–H borylation using zinc catalysts and bis-borane electrophiles. He also receives £3000 and a medal. 

The Ingleson Group focuses mainly on making molecules called organoboranes using chemical reactions that are generally termed borylations, which form boron-carbon bonds. By adding boron to molecules instead of a carbon atom, the group has achieved useful changes in multiple properties.  

When these 'borylated' molecules have boron in the 'right place', along with other elements like nitrogen or oxygen, their new properties can be harnessed to create compounds with diverse applications. For example, organoboranes are already used as safe, 'green' reagents in the production of agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals. They have also been extensively explored as emissive materials in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs, so they may end up in your phone or TV in the near future) and as active molecules in drugs (including those being used to tackle antibiotic resistance). Therefore, there is an increasing need to make new organoboranes in a sustainable way.  

To avoid using rare or toxic metals, the Ingleson Group develops new borylation reactions that use reactive compounds based only on Earth-abundant elements. 

Euan won the prize for outstanding contributions to synthetic coordination chemistry and molecular magnetism. He also receives £3000 and a medal. 

Magnets play a vital role in our society, underpinning technologies in healthcare, energy, and information technology. Professor Brechin’s research team make molecular magnets: a bottom-up approach that paves the way for future quantum technologies like quantum computing, which promises unparalleled computing speeds. It also holds potential for sustainable cryogenic refrigeration to replace helium, a finite and non-renewable resource. 

Dr Bell won the prize for innovations in high-resolution NMR spectroscopy and mass-spectrometry methods applied to the understanding of global carbon embedded in complex environmental matrices. She also receives £3000 and a medal. 

Healthy peatlands act as vital carbon stores and sinks and can store more carbon than all Earth’s forests combined. However, the majority of the world’s peatlands are damaged, resulting in the loss of carbon. Damaged peatlands are prone to wildfires and cannot act as flood barriers or valuable water filters. In order to restore and protect peatlands, we need to understand how they work.  

On a molecular level, peat is one of the most complex mixtures known, and its composition is largely uncharacterised to date. To meet this challenge, Dr Bell and her team develop and utilise the most powerful analytical tools of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry. These methods enable the team to unravel the composition of peat, identify markers of good health, inform restoration efforts and, ultimately, help us protect these precious ecosystems. 

The team is comprised of Mechanical Engineer, George Steedman, Electrical Engineer, Lloyd Mitchell & Scientific Glassblower, Stuart Johnstone.  

They won the prize for technical innovations that enable research breakthroughs across the School of Chemistry and the translation of technical expertise beyond in times of calm and crisis. They also receive £3000 and a trophy. 

The School of Chemistry’s Workshop Team brings immense technical knowledge that not only facilitates day-to-day work in the school but also leads to significant research breakthroughs. This has had many beneficial effects, including the publication of high-impact papers, securing research funding and the career development of researchers.