Cardiff School of Chemistry

• Design of ligands and complexes with applications in homogeneous catalysis.
• Synthesis and characterisation of d-block complexes of functionalised multidentate phosphines and phosphorus macrocycles.
• Actinide and lanthanide organometallic and co-ordination chemistry with new multidentate ligands including complexes relevant to catalysis.
• The synthesis and applications of transition metal and lanthanide complexes in bio-medical imaging (diagnostic agents) and therapy (pharmaceutical agents).

We are interested in the synthesis and application of functionalised chelating ligands for the stabilisation of new classes of coordination and organometallic compounds and for the study of catalysis. This includes functionalised phosphine and carbene ligands. In our study of enhanced catalytic properties, we are developing new synthetic routes to previously unknown classes of phosphorus macrocycles that can form kinetically robust complexes (Figure 1) and which address key weaknesses of catalyst stability commonly encountered in homogeneous catalysis. These ligands are designed to be facially capping, leaving remaining reaction sites at the metal in a cis configuration and available for catalytic reactions. We are also investigating their potential for the stabilisation of unusual new classes of complexes that would otherwise be kinetically very labile and difficult to access or study (such as f-element derivatives, low oxidation states etc.).

We have a long-standing interest in applications of metal complexes in bio-medical imaging and were co-developers of the heart imaging agent Myoview® (Figure 2) one the most successful clinical agents for diagnosis of heart disease world-wide. We are currently exploring applications in fluorescence imaging, gamma imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) in collaboration with a number of groups in chemistry, pharmacy and biosciences and are well placed to take advantage of the new world class facilities in Cardiff.