Research

Research in the Morrill group is focused on inventing new reactions in organic chemistry and developing sustainable catalytic methodologies for synthesis. The utility and impact of our research will ultimately be exemplified through its application in the total synthesis of natural products and molecules of biological significance.

Our current core research areas include:

Synthetic organic electrochemistry
Main group catalysis (in collaboration with Dr Rebecca Melen)
Borrowing hydrogen catalysis
Cyanamide chemistry (in collaboration with Syngenta)

These projects will serve as an excellent platform for talented and highly motivated students to receive a first-class training in synthetic organic chemistry that will thoroughly prepare them for a future career in the chemical industry or in academia. We are also actively engaged in a number of collaborative research projects in the following areas:

Organic mechanochemistry (collaboration led by Dr Duncan Browne)
Organocatalytic artificial enzymes (collaboration led by Dr Louis Luk)

Funding is gratefully acknowledged from: The Newton-Mosharafa Fund, (British Council); The Schlumberger Foundation; AstraZeneca; The Royal Society; KESS 2 Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships; The EPSRC; The Leverhulme Trust; Cardiff University; The University of Bath; The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD); Fluorochem; The European Union; The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan.