We have some more work out in @chemrxiv.org on the recycling of fluoropolymers. chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.... This one using shuttle catalysis to form acyl fluorides from PVDF, PVF, HFP-PVDF and ETFE - including post-consumer materials @shannonesf.bsky.social
**New Blog Post** Lots of students don't know what a PhD is or how to apply for one. This is my attempt to set out the key points. Very open to edits if anyone has suggestions. www.michaeloneill.org/blog-1/2026/3/27/what-is-a-phd-a-primer-for-curious-students
We have a new @chemrxiv.org preprint out describing the first silicon containing spiropentane and its rearrangement to a cyclobutane. chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10..... Congrats to @upwinder.bsky.social and @benedekstdlr.bsky.social
Some of our collaborative work with Phil Miller and @basf.bsky.social studying the mechanism of the photocatalysed aminocarbonylation of aryl halides is now out as a @chemrxiv.org preprint. Huge effort from Rowan Bailey to understand and improve this reaction. chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.....
Now online and open access:
Article by Sjoerd Harder & co-workers @harder-research.bsky.social
Molecular low-oxidation-state chemistry with tetra-anionic group 14 elements
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
#Chemsky
Last week: homogeneous redox-catalysis with Al(I)-Al(III) (Leo Liu Lab) Now: heterogeneous alkene hydrogenation with Al(0), earth’s most abundant metal. Observations and calculations point to reactivity at the metal surface. Preprint: shorturl.at/I9R0B Main group power 👍
Matt, Imogen and Mickey’s paper detailing the synthesis and reactivity of the first neutral Al(I) trimer is out now in @natcomms.nature.com! Check it out here along with @mattdv-t.bsky.social’s ‘behind the paper’ article!
“Disappointed“ doesn’t cut it. These are simply outrageous comments from a billionaire tax exile. The RSC should take a stronger stance.
Registration is now open for the 2026 RSC (@rsc.org) Main Group Interest Group Conference:
www.rsc.org/events/detai...
The meeting will be taking place on the 8-9th April 2026 at the University of Edinburgh, showcasing a breadth of inorganic/main group chemistry- We would love to see you there.
While traditionally used as stoichiometric reagents, #HeavierAlkaliMetalAmides have emerged as versatile #catalysts find out more in this #perspective with #DavidSancehzRoa @pubs.acs.org in collaboration with @remglasgow.bsky.social @unistrathclyde.bsky.social
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Only two days left to apply to this PDRA position in our group @imperialchemistry.bsky.social!
See below for the latest from @alvarogarciaromero.bsky.social. We describe the reversible, redox-neutral carbometallation of a phospha-alkyne to afford a mono-coordinate indium(I) compound. Indium(I) to indium(I), and back again.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Currently advertising a three-year PDRA position in organometallic chemistry. Come and work with us @imperialchemistry.bsky.social: www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
FINALLY a complex of type LMg-CaL! This formally Mg(0)-Ca(II) complex shows a very long Mg-Ca bond with Mg(-)/Ca(+) polarization and is quite reactive! Our first 2026 paper is "In dear memory of Herbert Roesky" shorturl.at/tvi0C
We're Hiring! If you are interested in a PDRA post with the Mehta group, please apply! @ox.ac.uk @oxfordchemistry.bsky.social
my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...
The group will soon be advertising a 3-year PDRA position @imperialchemistry.bsky.social. The successful candidate will research the synthesis and reactivity of complexes with alkaline earth-metal bonds. Start date: 03/26. Please get in touch for infomal inquries.
📣Our new paper is out in @jacs.acspublications.org (our very first one)!🥳
We show how a redox-active ligand unlocks C–X bond scission at an ambiphilic T-shaped Bi(III) compound. A big collaborative effort with my brilliant colleagues from Berlin.
👉 pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Just out over the holidays. The latest from the group and first author Alexis Bauer on some fun iron-silyl chemistry. Check it out.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Here's our first preprint of 2026. Selective, catalytic hydroboration of carbon–carbon bonds of strained cyclobutanes with magnesium complexes. chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr.... Some interesting mechanistic twists in this one. Congrats to @upwinder.bsky.social Joe Parr and Esther Raga.
Liverpool is hiring for a Professor who would also be Head of Chemistry. Application deadline Jan 4th. Interviews Feb 5th. I really like it here; maybe you would, too. www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPQ019/p...
Incredibly grateful to @royalsociety.org for the award of a URF to support our research on alkaline earth metal-metal bonding!
Graphical abstract image for the Chemical Science paper titled All-Boron Analogue of Planar Benzene on an Osmium Template. The chemical structure shows a six membered boron ring in green side-on nu-6 coordinated to a pink osmium moeity representing osmium wiht a nu-5 coordinated C-5 methyl-5 ligand to make a sandwich complex. The title of the image reads boron analogue of benzene and there is a yellow circle in the corner with the words Pick of the Week.
This week's Chemical Science Pick of the Week is "All-Boron Analogue of Planar Benzene on an Osmium Template" by Eluvathingal Jemmis and Sundargopal Ghosh et al. from IIT Madras and IISc Bangalore.
Read it for free here: doi.org/10.1039/D5SC...
We are advertising for two PhD studentships in organometallic chemistry! Come and work with us @imperialchemistry.bsky.social from October 2026:
Advert 2) www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
We are advertising for two PhD studentships in organometallic chemistry! Come and work with us @imperialchemistry.bsky.social from October 2026:
Advert 1) www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
It's been one year since my blog on the closure of Hull, which kind of blew up. A thread with some reflections on what's happened since then. 1/ www.michaeloneill.org/blog-1/2024/...
Excited to share our new preprint! 🥳
We developed a modular strategy to access small four-membered biradicaloids by trapping them in Mn and Co complexes. Many congratulations to Stefan and Michi for their successful efforts !
Thrilled to share the work of @clarencetankl.bsky.social and @antorna.bsky.social on elevating #sodium mediated deprotonative #borylation to #catalytic regimes with an insightful #mechanistic study in collaboration with Max Garcia Melchor @pubs.acs.org @unibe.ch
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
(2/2) ..I increasingly encounter faculty that will not support their own students/postdocs in fellowship applications due to perceived competition on science. Maybe I am just getting old but isn't the idea of our jobs to create great scientists that can go on and do even better science than we have?
TIRE CHANGE: First Mg(I) complex with a Cp* ligand enables facile ligand exchange. Reaction with RONa gives (BDI)Mg-MgOR and Cp*Na. This paves the way for syntheses of many new asymmetric Mg(I) complexes. @angew_chem onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
York Minster
A privilege to be back in York to deliver the McCamley Lecture. Many thanks to everyone in the Chemistry Department for their hospitality!