Organometallic chemistry of rhodium(II) pincer complexes
Not stated
- Funding
- Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)
- Application deadline
- 12 November 2026
About the project
About the Project The organometallic chemistry of the precious metals is well established and underpins important contemporary applications in synthetic organic chemistry and the chemical industry. This chemistry is dominated by complexes with closed shell electronic configurations, which are characterised by predictable coordination environments and two-electron redox behaviour that can be interrogated using routine spectroscopic techniques. While open-shell variants are more challenging to study and their chemistry less well understood, they have the potential to offer unique and complementary reactivity patterns. Building upon breakthrough findings in the Chaplin group, this project will harness the thermal stability conferred by rigid mer -tridentate “pincer” ligands to systematically investigate the organometallic chemistry of rhodium(II) complexes. Practical work will involve ligand orientated organic synthesis and the manipulation of late transition metal complexes in solution and the solid state under an inert atmosphere. Collection and analysis of EPR and crystallographic data will be key component of the project and full training will be provided. Representative group publications: Solid-state hydrogenation of nitrous oxide: Inorg. Chem. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.6c04272 2026 , in press Hydrogen atom abstraction reactions: Organometallics https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.organomet.6c00053 2026 , 45 , 892–901 and J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023 , 145 , 14087–14100 Radical oxidative addition: Organometallics http://doi.org/10.1021/acs.organomet.2c00400 2022 , 41 , 3557–3567 Bespoke pincer ligand design: Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202009546 2020 , 59 , 23500–23504 Further information about the Chaplin group: http://go.warwick.ac.uk/chaplingroup How to apply: Enquires should be directed in the first instance to Prof Adrian Chaplin ( a.b.chaplin@warwick.ac.uk ). Please include a current CV that details any past research work. Applications must have excellent synthetic chemistry and analytical skills. Competitive applicants will hold or be expected to receive a first-class honours degree in Chemistry. Previous experience working with open-shell transition metal complexes is desirable, but not essential.