Research focus

Our research is concerned with the chemistry of electrophilic and/or Lewis acidic molecules with a special focus on the discovery of new structures, bonding modes and reactivites. We are currently studying the design of cationic Lewis acids as water compatible receptors for small anions. These efforts, which constitute the main thrust of our current research, have led us to design anion receptors that can selectively capture small anions, including fluoride, cyanide and azide, in water. In addition to advancing fundamental science, this project is expected to lead to the development of useful environmental and biomedical applications.  Another project in which we are currently involved concerns the synthesis and redox properties of cationic main group compounds. While we have shown that cationic boranes can be reduced to produce stable neutral radicals, we are now trying to determine if analogous ideas could be applied to the generation of organophosphorus radicals starting from cationic species.  In addition to synthesis which lies at the heart of all of our research projects, our research also involves extensive use of modern characterization techniques (UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, NMR and EPR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, electrochemistry) and computational methods (DFT calculations, AIM and NBO analysis).

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