Rao Lab
Research
Four connected themes, from designing a ligand to catching a catalyst in the act.
01
Earth-abundant catalysis
Iron, cobalt and nickel complexes that replace platinum-group metals in industrial reactions.
Precious metals are rare, costly and often toxic. We design base-metal catalysts for hydrogenation, hydrosilylation and cross-coupling.
- Iron and cobalt pincer complexes
- Nickel photoredox catalysis
- Scale-up with industry partners
02
Ligand design
Pincer and redox-active ligands that let base metals behave like noble ones.
Ligands that store electrons or cooperate with the metal let iron and cobalt do two-electron chemistry usually reserved for palladium and platinum.
03
Mechanism and spectroscopy
Catching reactive intermediates with in-situ NMR, EPR and X-ray absorption.
Knowing how a catalyst works tells us how to improve it. We trap intermediates at low temperature and characterise them with every tool we can.
04
C–H activation
Turning the strongest bonds in organic molecules into useful functional groups.
Selective C–H functionalisation shortens syntheses of medicines and materials. We focus on cobalt catalysts that make one mirror-image form.