Research Interests

The Hooper group is focused on organic synthesis and catalysis, and the applications of these methods for synthesising bioactive small molecules, polymers and nanomaterials. 

Catalysis for small molecule synthesis

We are interested in developing new catalytic methods for the synthesis of important small molecules using transition metal and organocatalysis.

For representative publications see:

Palladium-Catalysed Carboborylation for the Synthesis of Borylated Indanes, Euro. J. Org. Chem., 2021, ASAP.

Phosphorus Compounds as Precursors and Catalysts for Radical C−C Bond-Forming Reactions, Adv. Synth. Catal. 2021, 363, 924.

Oxidative cross-coupling of boron and antimony nucleophiles via palladium(I), Org. Lett. 2018, 20, 5537

PhD projects currently available in catalysis:

Project 1 - Graphene catalysis 

Project 2 - Rhodium catalysed cycloadditions

New methods for polymer synthesis

Using cutting edge methods in organic chemistry and catalysis, we are developing new methods for the efficent synthesis of advanced polymers.

For representative publications see:

RAFT polymer cross-coupling with boronic acids, Chem. Sci., 2018, 9, 7370.

Polymer endgroup control through a trifunctional cobalt-mediated radical polymerization: new avenues for synthesising peptide, protein and nanomaterial conjugates, 2021, ChemRxiv. 

PhD projects currently available in polymer chemistry.

Carbon nanomaterials and materials science

Pristine Graphene as a Racemization Catalyst for Axially Chiral BINOL, ChemPhysChem, 2020, 21, 1675.

PhD projects currently available in materials science.

Our group is currently welcoming new applications for PhD projects. Full funding is available for suitable applicants.