Past Group Members

Postdoctoral Research Associates

Dr Shyam Basak (EPSRC Funded PDRA Oct 2019 – Nov 2020, Collaborative project with Dr Duncan Browne and Prof. Thomas Wirth; Leverhulme Trust Funded PDRA Sept 2018 – Sept 2019, Collaborative project with Dr Rebecca Melen)

Next position: Senior Scientist, Sygnature Discovery, Nottingham, UK

Group spatula: [link]

Publications:

  1. “Electron deficient borane-mediated hydride abstraction in amines: stoichiometric and catalytic processes”, S. Basak, L. Winfrey, B. A. Kustiana, R. L. Melen*, L. C. Morrill* and A. P. Pulis*, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2021, 50, 3720-3737. [link]
  2. “B(C6F5)3-Catalyzed Direct C3 Alkylation of Indoles and Oxindoles”, S. Basak, A. Alvarez-Montoya, L. Winfrey, R. L. Melen*, L. C. Morrill* and A. P. Pulis*, ACS Catal., 2020, 10, 4835-4840. [link]

Dr Alex Nödling (Leverhulme Trust Funded PDRA since July 2017-July 2020, Collaborative project led by Dr Louis Luk)

Next position: Senior Scientist, Agenus, Cambridge Science Park, UK

Publications:

  1. “Reactivity and Selectivity of Iminium Organocatalysis Improved by a Protein Host”, A. R. Nödling, K. Swiderek, R. Castillo, J. W. Hall, A. Angelastro, L. C. Morrill, Y. Jin, Y-H. Tsai, V. Moliner* and L. Y. P. Luk*, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2018, 57, 12478-12482. [link]

Dr Ben Allen (EPSRC Funded PDRA, Collaborative project with Dr Duncan Browne and Prof. Thomas Wirth, Nov 2017 – Nov 2019)

Next position: Senior Scientist, Pharmaron, Cardiff, UK

Group spatula: [link]

Publications:

  1. “Manganese-Catalyzed Electrochemical Deconstructive Chlorination of Cycloalkanols via Alkoxy Radicals”, B. D. W. Allen,† M. D. Hareram,† A. C. Seastram, T. McBride, T. Wirth, D. L. Browne* and L. C. Morrill*, Org. Lett., 2019, 21, 9241-9246. [link] [Associated correction to citations] [link]
  2. “Iron-Catalyzed Methylation using the Borrowing Hydrogen Approach”, K. Polidano, B. D. W. Allen, J. M. J. Williams and L. C. Morrill*, ACS Catal., 2018, 8, 6440-6445. [link]

Conference Contributions:

  1. Enabling Technologies for Synthesis Workshop, Cardiff University, 28/06/19, Presentation

Dr Imtiaz Khan (Leverhulme Trust Funded PDRA, Collaborative project with Dr Rebecca Melen, Jun 2016 – Jun 2018)

Next position: PDRA, The University of Manchester, Advisor: Prof. James Micklefield

Group spatula: [link]

Publications:

  1. “FLP-Catalyzed Transfer Hydrogenation of Silyl Enol Ethers”, I. Khan, B. G. Reed-Berendt, R. L. Melen* and L. C. Morrill*, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2018, 57, 12356-12359. [link]
  2. “Frustrated Lewis Pair (FLP)-Catalyzed Hydrogenation of Aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman Adducts and Sequential Organo-FLP Catalysis”, I. Khan, M. Manzotti, G. J. Tizzard, S. J. Coles, R. L. Melen* and L. C. Morrill*, ACS Catal., 2017, 7, 7748-7752. [link]

Conference Contributions:

  1. RSC Organic Division South-West Regional Meeting, University of Bristol, 17/01/18, Poster
  2. 254th ACS National Meeting & Exposition, Washington, DC, 20/08/17, Presentation
  3. 10th Molecular Synthesis Section Seminar, Cardiff University, 13/07/17, Presentation

PhD Students

Benjamin Reed-Berendt (Ph.D. student Oct 2016 – Mar 2020)

Ph.D. Examiners: Dr Stephen Thomas (external), Dr Ian Fallis (internal)

Next position: Process Development Chemist, CatSci, Cardiff, UK

Group spatula: [link]

Publications:

  1. “Borrowing Hydrogen for Organic Synthesis”, B. G. Reed-Berendt,† D. E. Latham,† M. B. Dambatta and L. C. Morrill*, ACS Cent. Sci., 2021, DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.1c00125. [link]
  2. “Manganese-Catalyzed One-Pot Conversion of Nitroarenes into N-Methylarylamines Using Methanol“, B. G. Reed-Berendt, N. Mast and L. C. Morrill*, Eur. J. Org. Chem., 2020, 1136-1140. [link] [Invited contribution to the YourJOC Talents Special Issue] 
  3. “N-Heterocyclic Carbene Acyl Anion Organocatalysis by Ball-Milling“, W. I. Nicholson, A. C. Seastram, S. A. Iqbal, B. G. Reed-Berendt, L. C. Morrill* and D. L. Browne*, ChemSusChem, 2019, 13, 131-135. [link] [Hot Topic: Organocatalysis]
  4. “Manganese-Catalyzed N-Alkylation of Sulfonamides Using Alcohols“, B. G. Reed-Berendt and L. C. Morrill*, J. Org. Chem., 2019, 84, 3715-3724. [link] [Highlighted in Organic Chemistry Portal] [link]
  5. “Recent Advances in Homogeneous Borrowing Hydrogen Catalysis using Earth-Abundant First Row Transition Metals”, B. G. Reed-Berendt, K. Polidano and L. C. Morrill*, Org. Biomol. Chem., 2019, 17, 1595-1607. [link] [Invited contribution to the New Talent Special Issue]
  6. “FLP-Catalyzed Transfer Hydrogenation of Silyl Enol Ethers”, I. Khan, B. G. Reed-Berendt, R. L. Melen* and L. C. Morrill*, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2018, 57, 12356-12359. [link]
  7. “Exploring Tandem Ruthenium-Catalyzed Hydrogen Transfer and SNAr Chemistry”, K. Polidano, B. G. Reed-Berendt, A. Basset, A. J. A. Watson, J. M. J. Williams and L. C. Morrill*, Org. Lett., 2017, 19, 6716-6719. [link]

Conference Contributions:

  1. 18th Annual Cardiff Chemistry Conference, Cardiff University, 15/05/19, Presentation 
  2. RSC Organic Division South-West Regional Meeting, Cardiff University, 24/01/19, Poster
  3. 13th Molecular Synthesis Section Seminar, Cardiff University, 18/01/18, Presentation
  4. RSC Organic Division South-West Regional Meeting, University of Bristol, 17/01/18, Poster

Kurt Polidano (CDT Ph.D. student since Oct 2016 – Oct 2019, CDT co-advisor: Prof. Jonathan Williams)

Ph.D. Examiners: Prof Steve Marsden (external), Dr Ben Ward (internal)

Next position: Process Development Chemist, CatSci, Cardiff, UK

Group spatula: [link]

Publications:

  1. “One-Pot Conversion of Allylic Alcohols to α-Methyl Ketones via Iron-Catalyzed Isomerization-Methylation“, D. E. Latham, K. Polidano, J. M. J. Williams and L. C. Morrill*, Org. Lett., 2019, 21, 7914-7918. [link]
  2. “Iron-Catalyzed Borrowing Hydrogen β-C(sp3)-Methylation of Alcohols“, K. Polidano, J. M. J. Williams and L. C. Morrill*, ACS Catal., 2019, 9, 8575-8580. [link] [Highlighted in Synfacts, 2019, 15, 1280] [link]
  3. “Iron-Catalyzed Borrowing Hydrogen C-Alkylation of Oxindoles Using Alcohols“, M. B. Dambatta, K. Polidano, A. D. Northey, J. M. J. Williams and L. C. Morrill*, ChemSusChem, 2019, 12, 2345-2349. [link]
  4. “Recent Advances in Homogeneous Borrowing Hydrogen Catalysis using Earth-Abundant First Row Transition Metals”, B. G. Reed-Berendt, K. Polidano and L. C. Morrill*, Org. Biomol. Chem., 2019, 17, 1595-1607. [link] [Invited contribution to the New Talent Special Issue]
  5. “Iron-Catalyzed Methylation using the Borrowing Hydrogen Approach”, K. Polidano, B. D. W. Allen, J. M. J. Williams and L. C. Morrill*, ACS Catal., 2018, 8, 6440-6445. [link]
  6. “Exploring Tandem Ruthenium-Catalyzed Hydrogen Transfer and SNAr Chemistry”, K. Polidano, B. G. Reed-Berendt, A. Basset, A. J. A. Watson, J. M. J. Williams and L. C. Morrill*, Org. Lett., 2017, 19, 6716-6719. [link]

Conference Contributions:

  1. EPSRC CDT Catalysis Spring Conference, Cardiff University, 06/06/19, Presentation and Poster
  2. RSC Organic Division South-West Regional Meeting, Cardiff University, 24/01/19, Poster
  3. 14th Molecular Synthesis Section Seminar, Cardiff University, 15/03/18, Presentation
  4. RSC Organic Division South-West Regional Meeting, University of Bristol, 17/01/18, Poster
  5. EPSRC CDT Catalysis Spring Conference, Cardiff University, 06/06/17, Presentation and Poster

James Ayres (PhD student, Oct 2015 – Sept 2018)

Ph.D. Examiners: Dr Marc Kimber (external), Prof. Thomas Wirth (internal)

Next position: PDRA, The University of Leeds, Advisor: Dr Richard Foster

Group spatula: [link]

Publications:

  1. “Synthesis and Reactivity of N-Allenyl Cyanamides”, J. N. Ayres, M. T. J. Williams, G. J. Tizzard, S. J. Coles, K. B. Ling and L. C. Morrill*, Org. Lett., 2018, 20, 5282-5285. [link]
  2. “Deoxycyanamidation of Alcohols with N-Cyano-N-Phenyl-p-Methylbenzenesulfonamide (NCTS)”, J. N. Ayres, M. W. Ashford, Y. Stöckl, V. Prudhomme, K. B. Ling, J. A. Platts and L. C. Morrill*, Org. Lett., 2017, 19, 3835-3838. [link]
  3. “N-Cyanation of Secondary Amines using Trichloroacetonitrile”, J. N. Ayres, K. B. Ling* and L. C. Morrill*, Org. Lett., 2016, 18, 5528-5531. [link]

Conference Contributions:

  1. RSC Organic Division South-West Regional Meeting, University of Bristol, 17/01/18, Poster
  2. Departmental Seminar, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Hyderabad, India, 22/11/17, Presentation
  3. J-NOST-13 Conference, Banaras Hindu University, Lucknow University, India, 09/11/17, Presentation
  4. 32nd Postgraduate Symposium of the RSC Heterocyclic and Synthesis Group, London, 20/09/17, Poster and Presentation
  5. 10th Molecular Synthesis Section Seminar, Cardiff University, 13/07/17, Session Chair
  6. Bio-Techne Chemistry Poster Symposium, Bristol, 25/05/17, Poster
  7. 16th Cardiff Chemistry Conference, Cardiff University, 15/05/17, Poster
  8. 8th Molecular Synthesis Section Seminar, Cardiff University, 16/03/17, Presentation
  9. RSC Organic Division South-West Regional Meeting, University of Bath, 01/02/17, Poster

CDT Research Sabbatical Students

Taniya Shandil (Catalysis CDT research sabbatical 1 student, CDT co-advisor: Prof. Jonathan Williams, Jun-Sept 2016)

Mattia Manzotti (Catalysis CDT research sabbatical 1 student, Collaborative project led by Dr Rebecca Melen, Jan-May 2016)

Next position: PhD, Bristol University, Advisor: Prof. Robin Bedford

Publications:

  1. “Frustrated Lewis Pair (FLP)-Catalyzed Hydrogenation of Aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman Adducts and Sequential Organo-FLP Catalysis”, I. Khan, M. Manzotti, G. J. Tizzard, S. J. Coles, R. L. Melen* and L. C. Morrill*, ACS Catal., 2017, 7, 7748-7752. [link]

Jonathan Hall (Catalysis CDT research sabbatical 1 student, Collaborative project led by Dr Louis Luk, Jan-May 2016)

Next position: PhD, Bath University, Advisor: Prof. Mike Whittlesey

Publications:

  1. “Reactivity and Selectivity of Iminium Organocatalysis Improved by a Protein Host”, A. R. Nödling, K. Swiderek, R. Castillo, J. W. Hall, A. Angelastro, L. C. Morrill, Y. Jin, Y-H. Tsai, V. Moliner* and L. Y. P. Luk*, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2018, 57, 12478-12482. [link]

Postgraduate Project Students

Seán O’Rourke (MSc medicinal chemistry postgraduate researcher, Jun – Aug 2019)

Undergraduate Project Students (MChem)

Joe Santos (MChem project student, Oct 2019 – May 2020)

Publications:

  1. “Transition Metal Free α-C-Alkylation of Ketones Using Secondary Alcohols“, M. B. Dambatta, J. Santos, R. R. A. Bolt and L. C. Morrill*, Tetrahedron, 2020, 76, 131571. [link] [Invited contribution to the Special Issue on Strategies for Efficient Organic Synthesis Dedicated to the Achievements of Prof. Jonathan Williams]

Mark Shuttleworth (MChem project student, Oct 2019 – May 2020)

Next position: PhD, University of Bath, Advisor: Dr James Taylor

Ioan Bale (MChem project student, Oct 2019 – May 2020)

Alex Bardsley (MChem project student, Oct 2018 – May 2019)

Callum Adams (MChem project student, Oct 2018 – May 2019)

Next position: PhD, University of St Andrews, Advisor: Dr Craig Johnston

Beth Grattidge (MChem project student, Oct 2018 – May 2019)

Alex Seastram (MChem project student, Oct 2017 – May 2018)

Prizes: Outstanding 4th year MChem Performance

Next position: PhD, Cardiff University, Advisor: Dr Louis C. Morrill

Publications:

  1. “N-Heterocyclic Carbene Acyl Anion Organocatalysis by Ball-Milling“, W. I. Nicholson, A. C. Seastram, S. A. Iqbal, B. G. Reed-Berendt, L. C. Morrill* and D. L. Browne*, ChemSusChem, 2019, 13, 131-135. [link] [Hot Topic: Organocatalysis]

Matthew Williams (MChem project student, Oct 2017 – May 2018)

Prizes: GSK prize for best MChem project in molecular synthesis section

Next position: PhD, Cardiff University, Advisor: Dr Louis C. Morrill, CDT co-advisors: Dr Duncan Browne and Dr Alastair Lennox

Publications:

  1. “Synthesis and Reactivity of N-Allenyl Cyanamides”, J. N. Ayres, M. T. J. Williams, G. J. Tizzard, S. J. Coles, K. B. Ling and L. C. Morrill*, Org. Lett., 2018, 20, 5282-5285. [link]

Publications:

  1. “Iron-Catalyzed Borrowing Hydrogen C-Alkylation of Oxindoles Using Alcohols“, M. B. Dambatta, K. Polidano, A. D. Northey, J. M. J. Williams and L. C. Morrill*, ChemSusChem, 2019, 12, 2345-2349. [link]

Alex Northey (MChem project student, Oct 2017 – May 2018)

Matthew Ashford (MChem project student, Oct 2016 – May 2017)

Next position: PhD, University of St Andrews, Advisor: Dr Allan Watson

Publications:

  1. “Deoxycyanamidation of Alcohols with N-Cyano-N-Phenyl-p-Methylbenzenesulfonamide (NCTS)”, J. N. Ayres, M. W. Ashford, Y. Stöckl, V. Prudhomme, K. B. Ling, J. A. Platts and L. C. Morrill*, Org. Lett., 2017, 19, 3835-3838. [link]

Daniel Moseley (MChem project student, Oct 2016 – May 2017)

Next position: PhD, Oxford Synthesis for Biology & Medicine CDT, Advisor: Prof. Michael Willis

 

Bryna Harris (MChem project student, Oct 2016 – May 2017)

 

Max Smith (MChem project student, Oct 2016 – May 2017)

Benjamin Reed- Berendt (MChem project student, Oct 2015 – May 2016)

Next position: PhD, Cardiff University, Advisor: Dr Louis C. Morrill

Matthew Jenner (MChem project student, Oct 2015 – May 2016)

Next position: PhD, University of Southampton, Advisor: Dr Ramon Rios

Tyler Woods (MChem project student, Oct 2015 – May 2016)

Undergraduate Project Students (BSc)

Adam Gage (BSc project student, Jan-May 2020)

Sam Parker (BSc project student, Jan-May 2018)

Connor Radcliffe (BSc project student, Jan-May 2018)

Thomas Lambourn (BSc project student, Jan-May 2017)

Niall Hope (BSc project student, Jan-May 2016)

Undergraduate Project Students (Cardiff Internship)

Robert Bolt (CUROP undergraduate researcher, Jun-Aug 2019)

Next position: MChem, Cardiff University

Publications:

  1. “Transition Metal Free α-C-Alkylation of Ketones Using Secondary Alcohols“, M. B. Dambatta, J. Santos, R. R. A. Bolt and L. C. Morrill*, Tetrahedron, 2020, 76, 131571. [link] [Invited contribution to the Special Issue on Strategies for Efficient Organic Synthesis Dedicated to the Achievements of Prof. Jonathan Williams]

Joe Santos (CUROP undergraduate researcher, Aug-Sept 2018)

Next position: MChem, Cardiff University

Luke Ward (CUROP undergraduate researcher, Aug-Sept 2018)

Next position: MChem, Cardiff University

Ashley Ramdass (CUROP undergraduate researcher, Jun-Aug 2018)

Next position: MChem, Cardiff University

Thomas Knight (CUROP undergraduate researcher, Jun-Aug 2018)

Next position: MChem, Cardiff University

Alexi Sedikides (Internship student, Jun-Sept 2016)

Next position: MChem, Cardiff University

Vladimir Vladimirov (RSC undergraduate bursary scholar, Collaborative project led by Dr Rebecca Melen, Jun-Jul 2016)

Next position: MChem, Cardiff University

Undergraduate Project Students (Visiting Scholars)

Nicolas Mast (ERASMUS internship student May-Aug 2019)

Next position: MEng in Chemistry, ENSCR

Publications:

  1. “Manganese-Catalyzed One-Pot Conversion of Nitroarenes into N-Methylarylamines Using Methanol“, B. G. Reed-Berendt, N. Mast and L. C. Morrill*, Eur. J. Org. Chem., 2020, 1136-1140. [link] [Invited contribution to the YourJOC Talents Special Issue] 

Marcus Espe (ERASMUS project student, since Sept-Dec 2017)

Next position: MSc in Chemistry, Aarhus University

Anaïs Basset (ERASMUS internship student, Jan-May 2017)

Next position: MA in Chemistry, ENSCM

Publications:

  1. “Exploring Tandem Ruthenium-Catalyzed Hydrogen Transfer and SNAr Chemistry”, K. Polidano, B. G. Reed-Berendt, A. Basset, A. J. A. Watson, J. M. J. Williams and L. C. Morrill*, Org. Lett., 2017, 19, 6716-6719. [link]

Yannick Stöckl (RISE Worldwide internship student, Aug-Oct 2016)

Next position: MSc in Chemistry, University of Stuttgart

Publications:

  1. “Deoxycyanamidation of Alcohols with N-Cyano-N-Phenyl-p-Methylbenzenesulfonamide (NCTS)”, J. N. Ayres, M. W. Ashford, Y. Stöckl, V. Prudhomme, K. B. Ling, J. A. Platts and L. C. Morrill*, Org. Lett., 2017, 19, 3835-3838. [link]

Ng Yoke Yin (Internship student, Sept-Oct 2016)

Next position: Diploma in Medicinal Chemistry, Nangyang Polytechnic

Anissa Naïr (ERASMUS internship student, Jun-Aug 2016)

Next position: MA in Chemistry, ENSCCF

Vassili Prudhomme (ERASMUS internship student, Jun-Aug 2016)

Next position: MA in Chemistry, ENSCCF

Publications:

  1. “Deoxycyanamidation of Alcohols with N-Cyano-N-Phenyl-p-Methylbenzenesulfonamide (NCTS)”, J. N. Ayres, M. W. Ashford, Y. Stöckl, V. Prudhomme, K. B. Ling, J. A. Platts and L. C. Morrill*, Org. Lett., 2017, 19, 3835-3838. [link]