Our ability to synthesise functional molecules and materials is essential for everything from new medicines to solar cells. The identification of novel methods to access these molecules in more efficient, selective and sustainable ways is a major challenge of the 21st century.

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Catalysis is the single most powerful enabling technology to improve the energy and cost efficiency of chemical synthesis, whilst also providing unrivalled control in the structure of the molecules that are created. In the Greenhalgh group, we develop new approaches for catalysis by exploiting poorly-understood chemical phenomena to provide new opportunities in reaction design. In essence, we aim to create new general platforms for future exploitation by ourselves and others.

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A major emphasis of our work will be to develop fundamental understanding through delineation of reaction mechanism, as we believe that the curiosity-driven pursuit of understanding is key for the development of new and exciting avenues for exploration and application.