In the Lloyd-Jones Group we investigate reaction mechanism and reactivity relationships in the context of synthetic methodology and catalysis.

Fundamental to all of our research is a full complement of innovative instrumentation for the assembly and in situ monitoring of all manner of chemical processes, using a variety of spectroscopic detection methods. Our laboratory has particular expertise in interrogating reactions whose nature renders them technically challenging to monitor, including those that are extremely rapid, heterogeneous, or driven by light. To this end, significant efforts within the group remain dedicated towards the continued development of variable-ratio stopped-flow NMR/IR, stopped/quench-flow UV-vis, LED-NMR and STIR-NMR. Our mechanistic investigations additionally benefit from established expertise in kinetic simulation, isotopic labelling (²H, ¹⁰B, ¹¹B, ¹³C, ¹⁵N, ¹⁸O, ³⁴S, ¹⁰⁸Pd), variable-temperature NMR and computational analysis (DFT and WF-based electronic structure calculations, classical MD simulations).

We have broad interests in terms of chemical processes, with a primary emphasis on understanding catalytic transformations that are of contemporary significance to synthetic laboratories across the world. We have retained a long-standing interest in organometallic catalysis, with current research efforts focussed on alkene metathesis, photoredox cross-couplings, Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling and C-H activation. In pursuit of universal concepts of reactivity in organoboron and organosilicon chemistry, the group is also currently engaged in mechanistic studies of anionic trifluoromethylation, alkyne hydroboration and protodeboronation, extending earlier research into hydrolytic mechanisms of organotrifluoroborates and MIDA boronates. In more recent years we have also developed a keen interest phase-transfer catalysis as a means of taming troublesome nucleophiles, with applications to enantioselective fluorination and regioselective functionalisations of ambident heterocycles.

Further details of our current research can be accessed via the links below.

Current Collaborations

• Dr Andrew Leach (Manchester)
• Ted King (TgK Scientific)
• Prof Andy Weller (York)
• Dr Paul Lusby (Edinburgh)
• Dr Stephen Thomas (Edinburgh)
• Dr Allan Watson (St Andrews)

See also recent Publications and Ph.D. Theses.