Research Facilities

Our research falls under the umbrella description of "Fluorine Chemistry", and we deliberately deal with aspects that straddle the usual inorganic, organometallic and organic boundaries. We investigate new methods of introducing fluorine and fluorinated groups into main-group, organic and transition-metal systems. We are interested in the application of these compounds, for example as unusual solvent systems, in polymeric applications as new reagents and specialist ligands. We investigate structure/property relationships in fluorine-containing species in the solid state and make extensive use of modern spectroscopic techniques such as multinuclear NMR methods and IR & Raman spectroscopy. Below you will find brief details of the facilities we use for our research programmes.

The Group Facilities

Much of the work we carry out is cross-disciplinary and includes aspects of traditional inorganic fluorine chemistry as well as aspects of organofluorine chemistry. The lab is therefore equipped for both types of work. We have a dedicated laboratory, where each PhD and post-doc worker has a separate fumehood with double-manifold nitrogen/vacuum lines. We also have an all-metal pressure/vacuum line for handling aggressive materials, such as fluorine. Handling and storage of air-sensitive materials is achieved using an argon-filled, recirculating dry-box. Low-temperature reactions are controlled by a closed-cycle dip chiller (dial-up temperature RT to -90 C). We have good in-group computing facilities, such as networked PCs for NMR data work-up, central data storage, word processig etc. We also have a dedicated group-owned linux fileserver for data storage, computational modelling and database work.

The School of Chemistry Facilities

The School of Chemistry is very well equipped and includes the following:

  • A wide range of multinuclear NMR spectrometers, at 200, 300, 400 MHz & for liquids and solids
  • In-house elemental analysis (eg C,H,N, halogens ...)
  • Extensive mass spec. facilities (EI, FAB, Electrospray, ToF-Maldi ...)
  • Fourier Transform (FTIR) IR and Raman (FTR)
  • 3 single crystal Xray machines
  • Powder diffractometer, including environmental chamber
  • Access to extensive autoclave facilities
  • Surface methods such as SEM, TEM, SIMS ...
  • Dedicated GC, GC-MS, chiral HPLC lab
  • UV, visible & polarimetry ....

A full publication list is available, as is a list of the many students and visitors who have actually generated these interesting and exciting results.

Fluorine Events
March 2024
Su 
Mo 
Tu 
We 
Th 
Fr 
Sa 
     
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31

Days with events are highlighted, click, or hover on them for more details. Click here for the diary.

Fluorine News
The calculated mass spectrum of [Pt2(S)2(PPh3)4]

What a tool ...
Our on-line spectroscopy tools were cited in Inorg. Chim. Acta as one of two sites that stood out for free-access web-based calculation of spectroscopic properties. more...

Fluorine
A pharmaceutical capsule

Modern Drugs
Many new, modern drugs contain fluorinated groups, these include anaesthetics, antibiotics and anticancer drugs.

Fluorine Group News
ORTEP representation of a difluorocyclopropenyl compound

Ringing the changes!
A highly unusual conversion of a trifluoropropynyl group into a difluorocyclopropenyl system of ours now appears in many of the fluorine chemistry textbooks! more...

Click for other news

Fluorine@Manchester
HFC-134a cylinder, a solvent for enzyme reactions

HFCs for biological transformations
Jason Micklefield's group pioneered the use of HFCs as solvents for enzymatic reactions.

Fluorine in Society
water beads on a surface

Repelency coatings
Many water repellency treatments for clothes and equipment, such as coats, shoes and tents, are based on fluorochemicals.