It was a long journey but Rob's impressive work on the mechanical activation of NHC precursors is finally published in Nature Chemistry! In this paper we have found that our new mechanophore breaks at a C-C bond following 3 dissociation pathways... at the same time! In top of that, we've shown that it's possible to select the main pathway by altering the polarisation of the scissile bond. Congratulations Rob!

Read the paper here.

We said goodbye to Paramita today during our weekly Zoom meeting. Paramita managed to go back in Kolkata on time to reintegrate her position as Assistant Professor the University of Calcutta for the start of the academic year despite the lockdown.
It was a great pleasure to have Paramita in the group and we wish her all the best for the future!

Rob has been awarded one of the Spring 2020 Outstanding Achievement Awards by the Department of Chemistry for his discovery and investigation of three concomitant C-C dissociation pathways during the mechanical activation of a N-heterocyclic carbene precursor. Rob had the opportunity to present his research during the Spring Staff Symposium. Congratulations Rob!

Our recent paper describing the use of a catenane as a force-protecting group has been highlighted in Chemistry World with nice comments from Charles Diesendruck and Niamh Fox!

Min gave his final talk today after 2 years in the group. Min did an incredible job during our investigation of the mechanochemistry of the mechanical bond. We wish him all the best in his new adventures in the Leigh group.

After almost 4 years in the group, Rich has passed his viva with flying colours today! His work was thoroughly scrutinised by Profs. David Haddleton and David Procter.
Rich was the first student to join the group in 2016, when it was just him and Guillaume. Luckily from him the group has expended since! We thank Rich for his great contribution over the years: starting new research projects and  setting up/organising a new lab. 
Many congratulations Dr Stevenson and best of luck in your future adventures!

The group has been awarded a Research Grant from the Leverhulme Trust that will fund 2 PhD studentships starting in October 2020. Apply here.

Guillaume is the recipient of a Thieme Chemistry Journals Award. The award is delivered each year to promising young academics at the beginning of their independent career. 
We are very grateful to the Thieme editorial boards for this award. It’s a great recognition for the work done in the group since we've started stretching molecules in 2016!

Xmas celebrations started early this year! We had a great time bowling and ping-ponging after a nice dinner at Duke92.