Research

Research interests

New methodology for spiropyran synthesis = new opportunities in applied spiropyran research

For over five decades, researchers have uncovered many fascinating spiropyrans with extensive, exciting and important applications. In recent years, however, progress has slowed, principally because synthetic methodology for spiropyran synthesis has not kept pace with the needs of spiropyran discovery. Current synthetic methods for spiropyran synthesis are frequently inefficient, and are strikingly ineffective in generating structural diversity and non-racemic products. This presents a limitation for spiropyran discovery chemistry, wherein new structures with genuinely new properties are rare, and development of spiropyran-based applications is becoming increasingly constrained.

As a synthetic organic chemist by background, my focus in spiropyran chemistry is to address the key deficiencies in current methods for spiropyran synthesis through development of new methodologies, and these then underpin our endeavours in applied spiropyran research. The approaches that we are developing include:

• Multicomponent reaction sequences for efficient synthesis of structurally-diverse spiropyrans

• Combinatorial methods for spiropyran discovery chemistry

• Desymmetrisation methodologies for asymmetric spiropyran synthesis

• New methods for ligation of spiropyrans onto biomolecules of interest

As alluded to above, our development of applied spiropyran research is intrinsically linked to our advances in methodology for spiropyran synthesis. We have previously developed a graphene-spiropyran hybrid material as a platform for sensing for Zn(II), and spiropyran-based sensors for generic M(II) cations and hydrogen sulfide. Our current interests include:

• Light-controlled enantioselective receptors for amino acids

In recent years, the biological importance of D-amino acids has been firmly established against the background of common, genetically-coded L-isomers. D-amino acids are now regarded as essential in mammalian CNS and endocrine function – dysregulation is a feature of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s and schizophrenia – and they are found in several important drugs. Consequently, we are designing enantioselective spiropyran-based tools with which to elucidate and manipulate amino acid behaviour comprehensively on a single enantiomer basis, and to facilitate straightforward synthesis of D-amino acids, which are hard to access with current methods

• Light-activated metal chelators for investigating metal dyshomeostasis

The role of metal dyshomeostasis in neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease has been the subject of considerable debate and controversy, and the involvement of metals such as zinc, copper and iron in disease progression remains unclear. To help clarify this situation, we are developing spiropyran-based metal chelators to enable quantification, imaging and transport of each specific metal cation within affected tissues.

• Photodynamic therapy through light-activated iron capture

Research grants

• 2016 MRC Proximity to Discovery
  "Maximising Novel Photodynamic Therapy Cancer Drug Development"

Publications

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Teaching

• Undergraduate lectures
• Tutorials
• Lab demonstration
• Supervision of research project students.

My teaching activities are primarily concerned with fundamental organic chemistry, from basic molecules through to complex synthesis and spectroscopy. I am involved with the delivery of modules BIO1332 (Biochemistry), BIO1345 (Structure and Reactivity of Organic Compounds 1), BIO2085 (Structure and Reactivity of Organic Compounds 2), BIO3073 (Specialist Topics in Chemistry: Transitional Metal Complexes in Organic Synthesis), BIO3090 (Secondary Metabolites) and NSCM003 (Further Advanced Topics in Chemistry: Total Synthesis of Natural Products).

Modules

2022/23

Information not currently available

Supervision / Group