Current members:

Casey Dixon: Casey is continuing our investigations into the coordination chemistry of phosphine-borane-stabilised carbanions, with particular focus on the stabilisation of low oxidation state metal centres by agostic-type B-H...E interactions.

Peter Evans: Peter has just joined the group and is beginning to explore the possibility of stabilising low oxidation state group 14 centres through pi interactions with planar phosphorus centres.

 

Past members:

Ewan Clark: Ewan's postdoc project centred on the synthesis and properties of diphosphatetrylenes (R2P)2E [E = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb]. Alongside this major strand, Ewan was involved in some computational work, looking at the inversion pathways of trigonal pyramidal P(III) and Ge(II)/Sn(II) centres, and a separate project involving a novel, light induced rearrangement of thioether-substituted phosphide ligands. Ewan left the MgC labs to undertake a postdoc with Mike Ingleson at the University of Manchester and was recently appointed as a lecturer in the University of Kent's reborn Chemistry department.

Corinne Wills:  Corinne was awarded her PhD in 2007, having worked on a project in the MgC labs investigating the coordination behaviour of phosphine-borane-stabilised carbanions with group 1 and 2 metal centres. Corinne subsequently worked as a postdoc in the MgC labs, looking into the stabilisation of dialkyltetrylene compounds R2E [E = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb] by weak, agostic-type interactions. She is now employed as the School of Chemistry NMR officer at Newcastle and is currently overseeing the commissioning of £1.3 million pounds worth of new NMR kit.

James Watson: James' PhD project centred on the synthesis of phosphido-borane and phosphidobis(borane) ligands and their applications in coordination chemistry. James obtained his PhD in 2011 and subsequently took up a post at Aesica Pharmaceuticals in Cramlington.

John Stewart:  John obtained his PhD in 2009. During his time in the MgC labs, he worked on the synthesis and dynamic behaviour of functionalised diphosphatetrylenes (R2P)2E [E = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb], including some detailed theoretical studies. He subsequently took up a postdoc position with MgC alumnus Steve Liddle at Nottingham.

Lyndsey Bowman: Lyndsey obtained her PhD in 2006.  Her project involved the synthesis of organolanthanide complexes with donor-functionalised, sterically demanding silicon-stabilised carbanions.  Lyndsey now has an R&D position at International Paints in Newcastle.

Jonathan Young:  Jon obtained his PhD in 2005.  He worked on the synthesis and coordination behaviour of functionalised phosphinomethanide and arsinomethanide ligands.  After obtaining his PhD Jon moved to a postdoctoral position in organic chemistry with Dr George Weaver at the University of Loughborough.

Brent Tyson:  Brent was jointly supervised by Dr Keith Izod and Prof William McFarlane and obtained his PhD in 2004.  His project involved the development of the Schlenk dimerisation of vinylidene phosphines for the synthesis of novel 1,4-dicarbanions and polyphosphine ligands.  After completing his PhD Brent spent a brief spell in Australia as a postdoc with Prof. Barbara Messerle at the University of New South Wales, before returning to the North East of England to take up an R&D position at International Paints.

Steven Liddle:  Steve obtained his BSc and PhD from Newcastle, before undertaking a postdoc at Edinburgh University.  Subsequently Steve returned to Newcastle and joined the MgC labs as a Wilfred Hall Research Fellow.  In addition to pursuing his own research project on diphosphaallyl ligands, Steve worked on the synthesis of organolanthanide complexes supported by our functionalised phosphide ligands.  Subsequently Steve took up a postdoc position in the group of Dr Polly Arnold at Nottingham University where he is now a Royal Society University Research Fellow and Professor of Inorganic Chemistry.

Stuart Blair: Stuart obtained his PhD in 2003.  He investigated the coordination chemistry of functionalised, sterically demanding phosphide ligands with a range of main group and lanthanide metal centres.  Stuart is now working with DunnHumby analysis in London.

Joanne Sheffield:  Joanne spent 18 months in the MgC labs as an EPSRC-funded postdoc.  She was instrumental in the development of our functionalised phosphide ligands and their lanthanide complexes.  Joanne left the group to work at Great Lakes Chemicals, and now works on veterinary pharmaceuticals at VetPlus in Lytham.

Paul O'Shaughnessy: Paul was the first student to work in the MgC labs.  His project began with the development of functionalised phosphide ligands and grew to include our first foray into the chemistry of functionalised phosphinomethanide ligands.  Paul obtained his PhD in 2001.  After a spell as a postdoc with Prof. Peter Scott at the University of Warwick, Paul is now working for Johnson Matthey.