Professor Guy Lloyd-Jones (FRS)

Forbes Chair of Organic Chemistry

Research summary

Mechanism, Organometallics and Catalysis, Synthesis, Physical Organic Chemistry

Research Overview

The major activity of my research group is in the area of the elucidation of the mechanisms of organic and organometallic reactions.

We develop and apply modern physical-organic/inorganic methods, including new approaches to classic techniques such as stopped-flow, kinetics, isotopic labelling, and IR/NMR spectroscopy. We have made a number of fundamental contributions to the understanding of the mechanism by which main group reagents (In, B, Si, P etc.) and homogeneous catalysts (Rh, Pd, Cu, Au, H, OH, etc.) function, frequently resulting in the replacement of deep-seated mechanistic or structural dogma with simpler and more coherent explanations. Examples include TMS-diazomethane activation, protodeboronation and solvolysis of organoboron reagents, transboronation, asymmetric induction by chiral ligands, alkene and alkyne metathesis, and stereochemical pathways in metal allyl chemistry, organocatalysis.

In parallel with this work we develop, frequently via academic/industrial collaboration, reactions and processes of utility to the synthetic chemist. Prime examples include gold-catalysed direct arylations, acceleration of amide solvolysis, chiral ligand design, alkene hydroamination and diamination, and Ar-X to Ar-Y type rearrangements.

This article was published on