Organic Chemistry

Despite many changes in the perceived significance and direction of research in chemistry as we now face a new millennium, synthesis - the making and breaking of chemical bonds - in a controlled fashion remains at the heart of the subject. Synthesis also requires special creativity in the design and assembly of totally new materials and hence is both highly intellectually demanding and rewarding. The increasing demands for new compounds in today's society, such as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals etc., requires that organic synthesis and its exponents, the synthetic organic chemist will continue to be of paramount importance. I have focused my research career upon organic synthesis. After graduating from Imperial College, London in 1980 [PhD supervisor Professor A G M Barrett, FRS], I joined the Dyson Perrins Laboratory to work as a postdoctoral research associate of Professor Sir Jack Baldwin, FRS. In 1990 I became a full University Lecturer and Collegiate Fellow of Lady Margaret Hall. Over the years I have formed a productive partnership with Sir Jack (over 200 co-authored publications), especially in the areas of synthesis and mechanistic evaluation.