Postgraduate research opportunities New Iridium Catalysts for C-O, C-N, and C-C Bond Formation
ApplyKey facts
- Opens: Tuesday 7 November 2023
- Number of places: 1
- Duration: 48 months
- Funding: Home fee, Equipment costs, Travel costs, Stipend
Overview
This collaborative project between Kerr, Lindsay, and GSK will explore new methods for C-O, C-N, and C-C bond formation using iridium-based catalyst classes developed at Strathclyde.Eligibility
Applicants must have, or expect to obtain, a strong MChem (or equivalent) degree as a requirement of the funding. Additionally, the position is well suited to students with significant experience in Synthetic Organic Chemistry obtained either through industrial placement or as part of an MChem/MSci research project.
Project Details
A fully-funded, industry-linked, PhD Studentship is available in the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry under the collaborative supervision of Professor William J. Kerr and Dr David M. Lindsay. The position is expected to commence in October 2024, and is funded in collaboration with world-leading pharmaceutical company, GSK, for a duration of 4 years.
The general interests of the Kerr and Lindsay laboratories cover a broad range of metal-mediated synthetic organic chemistry and, in particular, in the development of new preparative techniques, the creation of asymmetric processes, and the use of these emerging methods in total synthesis programmes.
The available project will explore new methods for C-X bond formation using catalyst classes developed within the Kerr laboratories, which have been specifically optimised through early C-O bond forming studies. These new methods will deliver complementary allylic substitution processes which represent flexible and powerful methods to deliver a variety of pharmaceutically desired organic products through an efficient and modular coupling reaction. Building on the previous studies related to C-O bond formation with alcohols, the initial work package for this project will focus on C-N bond formation, incorporating a range of nitrogen-based coupling partners. Further work will expand the methodology to encompass mild, carbon-based nucleophiles such as electron-rich aromatic systems, and silyl enol ethers, as well as expanding the C-O bond forming processes with alcohol substrates, as appropriate. Computational studies related to the mechanism and catalyst parametrisation will underpin these studies.
The successful applicant will join an extremely motivated and industrious research team and will receive elevated levels of training in the areas of preparative chemistry, organometallic-based synthesis, reaction mechanism, computational methods, and the associated analytical/spectroscopic requirements.
Funding details
Funding includes full tuition fees at the home fee rate plus an annual stipend as aligned with the UKRI rate. An international fee rate may be covered through an additional internal application process.
Supervisors
Primary Supervisor: Professor William J. Kerr
Additional Supervisor: Dr David M. Lindsay
Apply
Please submit your application by e-mail to Dr Laura C. Paterson (laura.c.paterson@strath.ac.uk), which should include:
- Cover letter, detailing your experience and motivation for PhD studies
- CV with two referees details included
- Full transcripts from your undergraduate degree
- Other pertinent information (e.g., publications, awards, and other distinctions)
Number of places: 1
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Contact us
For further details, contact Dr Laura Paterson (laura.c.paterson@strath.ac.uk).