Welcome to the
​De Bo group website

Our group is based in the Department of Chemistry of the University of Manchester. Our research focuses on the application of mechanical force in new synthetic process and on the creation of new mechanoresponsive molecular devices and materials.

A mechanochemical celebration of the University of Manchester bicentenary

We have a Bicentenary PhD Studentship available.
More information here.


Join us

We have several opportunities for PhD students in synthetic and synthetic/computational mechanochemistry.
Check our Vacancies here.

Highlighted Research

Force-controlled release of small molecules with a rotaxane actuator
L. Chen, R. Nixon, and G. De Bo*
Nature 2024, 628, 320-325.

Latest Research

Force-Generated N-Heterocyclic Carbene Organocatalyst
A. W. Ieong and  G. De Bo*
​ACS Catalysis 2026. DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.5c08857.
Template-Controlled Mechanochemical Dissociation of a Rotaxane
J. Ormson, T. Nicolás-García, and G. De Bo*
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2026, 65, e21995.