My research interests primarily involve the design and synthesis of molecules (ligands) which will modify the properties of metal ions to allow the stabilisation of uncommon oxidation states or coordination geometries. From an academic point of view this informs the study and computational exploration of these rare and unusual species and gives a handle for deeper understanding of structure and bonding in chemistry. Furthermore, such species often have unique reactivity and thus have application as catalysts and in the modelling of metalloenzymes. Of particular interest are nitrogenase and hydrogenase enzymes.

The first structurally characterised example of silicon in an S6 coordination sphereMarckwordt Annemarie, Rajasekharan-Nair Rajeev, Steel Graham, Kennedy Alan R., Reglinski John, Spicer Mark D.European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry Vol 2016, pp. 2552-2555, (2016)http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ejic.201501269 Observations on the steric impact of N- and S- donor scorpionate ligandsSteel Graham, Rajasekharan-Nair Rajeev, Stepek Iain A., Kennedy Alan R., Reglinski John, Spicer Mark D.European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry Vol 2016, pp. 2409-2412, (2016)http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ejic.201500924 Chemistry of the p-block elements with anionic scorpionate ligandsReglinski John, Spicer Mark D.Coordination Chemistry Reviews Vol 297-298, pp. 181-207, (2015)http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ccr.2015.02.023 The stability of mercaptobenzothiazole based soft scorpionate complexesRajasekharan Nair Rajeev, Moore Dean, Spicer Mark, Reglinski John, Kennedy AlanInorganic Chemistry Vol 53, pp. 10276–10282, (2014)http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ic5013236 The thermal stability of tris(methimazolyl)borates and their germanium complexesWallace Dawn, Chalmers Kirsten, Dodds Christopher, Stepek Iain, Armstrong David, Berlouis Leonard, Reglinski John, Spicer MarkEuropean Journal of Inorganic Chemistry Vol 2014, pp. 2569-2575, (2014)http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ejic.201301588 Soft scorpionate coordination at alkali metalsRajesekharan-Nair Rajeev, Lutta Samuel T, Kennedy Alan R, Reglinski John, Spicer Mark DActa Crystallographica Section C: Structural Chemistry Vol 70, pp. 421-427, (2014)http://dx.doi.org/10.1107/S2053229614005737