Evolving a Circular Plastics Economy

An overview of Cu-based heterogeneous electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction (2020)
Journal Article
Zhao, J., Xue, S., Barber, J., Zhou, Y., Meng, J., & Ke, X. (2020). An overview of Cu-based heterogeneous electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 8(9), 4700-4734. https://doi.org/10.1039/c9ta11778d

The electrochemical (EC) reduction of CO2 is a promising approach for value-added fuel or chemical production. Cu-based electrodes have been extensively used as a ‘star’ material for CO2 reduction to hydrocarbons. This review mainly focuses on the re... Read More about An overview of Cu-based heterogeneous electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction.

Complex emulsions for shape control based on mass transfer and phase separation (2020)
Journal Article
Zhang, F., Jiang, L., Zeng, C., Wang, C., Wang, J., Ke, X., & Zhang, L. (2020). Complex emulsions for shape control based on mass transfer and phase separation. Soft matter, 16(25), 5981-5989. https://doi.org/10.1039/d0sm00862a

Complex emulsions are used to fabricate new morphologies of multiple Janus droplets, evolving from non-engulfing to complete engulfing core/shell configuration. The produced droplets contain an aqueous phase of dextran (DEX) solution and an oil phase... Read More about Complex emulsions for shape control based on mass transfer and phase separation.

Ring Opening Polymerization of Lactides and Lactones by Multimetallic Titanium Complexes Derived from the Acids Ph2C(X)CO2H (X = OH, NH2) (2022)
Journal Article
Zhang, X., Prior, T. J., Chen, K., Santoro, O., & Redshaw, C. (2022). Ring Opening Polymerization of Lactides and Lactones by Multimetallic Titanium Complexes Derived from the Acids Ph2C(X)CO2H (X = OH, NH2). Catalysts, 12(9), Article 935. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal12090935

The reactions of the titanium alkoxide [Ti(OR)4] (R = Me, nPr, iPr, tBu) with the acids 2,2’-Ph2C(X)(CO2H), where X = OH and NH2, i.e., benzilic acid (2,2’-diphenylglycolic acid, L1H2), and 2,2’-diphenylglycine (L2H3), have been investigated. The var... Read More about Ring Opening Polymerization of Lactides and Lactones by Multimetallic Titanium Complexes Derived from the Acids Ph2C(X)CO2H (X = OH, NH2).

Mixed-metal calix[8]arene complexes: structure, and ring opening polymerisation studies (2022)
Journal Article
Xing, T., Derbyshire, M., Elsegood, M. R., & Redshaw, C. (2022). Mixed-metal calix[8]arene complexes: structure, and ring opening polymerisation studies. Chemical communications : Chem comm / the Royal Society of Chemistry, 58(53), 7427-7430. https://doi.org/10.1039/d2cc02236b

Reactions of différent combinations of group V alkoxides or tungsten oxyalkoxide salts with p-tert-butylcalix[8]areneH8 (L8H8) affords mixed-metal calix[8]arene systems. Intruiging molecular structures are formed and the systems are capable of the ri... Read More about Mixed-metal calix[8]arene complexes: structure, and ring opening polymerisation studies.

Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl molybdenum(V) complexes derived from iodoanilines: Synthesis, structure, and rop of ε-caprolactone (2021)
Journal Article
Xing, T., Elsegood, M. R. J., Dale, S. H., & Redshaw, C. (2021). Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl molybdenum(V) complexes derived from iodoanilines: Synthesis, structure, and rop of ε-caprolactone. Catalysts, 11(12), Article 1554. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal11121554

The reaction of [Mo(η-C5Me5 )Cl4 ] with the ortho-, meta-, or para-iodo-functionalized anilines 2-IC6H4NH2, 3-IC6H4NH2, 4-IC6H4NH2 yields imido or amine products of the type [Mo(ηC5Me5 )Cl2 (IC6H4N)] (2-I, 1, 3-I, 3, 4-I, 5) or [Mo(η-C5Me5 )Cl4 (IC6H... Read More about Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl molybdenum(V) complexes derived from iodoanilines: Synthesis, structure, and rop of ε-caprolactone.

Metallocalix[n]arenes in catalysis: A 13-year update (2021)
Journal Article
Santoro, O., & Redshaw, C. (2021). Metallocalix[n]arenes in catalysis: A 13-year update. Coordination chemistry reviews, 448, Article 214173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccr.2021.214173

Aside from their applications in the fields of ion extraction, gas storage and molecular sensors, calixarenes have been extensively employed as ligands for metal complexation. Moreover, metallocalix[n]arenes have shown interesting catalytic activity... Read More about Metallocalix[n]arenes in catalysis: A 13-year update.

Lithiated Calix[ n]arenes (n = 6 or 8): Synthesis, Structures, and Use in the Ring-Opening Polymerization of Cyclic Esters (2021)
Journal Article
Xing, T., Jiang, C., Elsegood, M. R. J., & Redshaw, C. (2021). Lithiated Calix[ n]arenes (n = 6 or 8): Synthesis, Structures, and Use in the Ring-Opening Polymerization of Cyclic Esters. Inorganic chemistry, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.1c02192

A variety of lithiated calix[n]arenes, for which n = 6 or 8, have been isolated, structurally characterized, and evaluated as catalysts for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of the cyclic esters ϵ-caprolactone (ϵ-CL), δ-valerolactone (δ-VL), and... Read More about Lithiated Calix[ n]arenes (n = 6 or 8): Synthesis, Structures, and Use in the Ring-Opening Polymerization of Cyclic Esters.

Titanium complexes bearing oxa- and azacalix[4, 6]arenes: structural studies and use in the ring opening homo-/co-polymerization of cyclic esters. (2021)
Journal Article
Xing, T., Prior, T. J., Chen, K., & Redshaw, C. (2021). Titanium complexes bearing oxa- and azacalix[4, 6]arenes: structural studies and use in the ring opening homo-/co-polymerization of cyclic esters. Dalton Transactions : an international journal of inorganic chemistry, 50(12), 4396-4407. https://doi.org/10.1039/d1dt00189b

Reaction of excess [Ti(OiPr)4] with p-tert-butyltetrahomodioxacalix[6]areneH6 (L1H6) afforded, after work-up (MeCN), the complex [Ti2(OiPr)2(MeCN)L1]∙3.5MeCN (1∙3.5MeCN), whilst the oxo complex [Ti4(3-O)2(H2O)(L1)2]∙MeCN (2∙MeCN) was isolated via a... Read More about Titanium complexes bearing oxa- and azacalix[4, 6]arenes: structural studies and use in the ring opening homo-/co-polymerization of cyclic esters..

Lithium calix[4]arenes: structural studies and use in the ring opening polymerization of cyclic esters (2021)
Journal Article
Redshaw, C., Yamato, T., Teat, S. J., Elsegood, M. R. J., & Santoro, O. (2021). Lithium calix[4]arenes: structural studies and use in the ring opening polymerization of cyclic esters. RSC advances, 11(19), 11304-11317. https://doi.org/10.1039/d1ra00175b

We have structurally characterized a number of lithiated calix[4]arenes, where the bridge in the calix[4]arene is thia (–S–, LS H4), sulfinyl (–SO–, LSOH4), sulfonyl (–SO2–, LSO2H4), dimethyleneoxa (–CH2OCH2–, LCOCH4) or methylene (–CH2–, LH4). In th... Read More about Lithium calix[4]arenes: structural studies and use in the ring opening polymerization of cyclic esters.

Co-polymerization of propylene oxide and CO2 using early transition metal (groups IV and V) metallocalix[n]arenes (n = 4, 6, 8) (2021)
Journal Article
Sun, Y. C., He, Z. H., Wang, Z. Y., Xing, T., Wang, Z., Sun, Y., …Redshaw, C. (in press). Co-polymerization of propylene oxide and CO2 using early transition metal (groups IV and V) metallocalix[n]arenes (n = 4, 6, 8). Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Article 50513. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.50513

A number of metallocalix[n]arenes, where n = 4, 6, or 8, of titanium and vanadium have been screened for their ability to act as catalysts for the co‐polymerization of propylene oxide and CO2 to form cyclic/polycarbonates. The vanadium‐containing cat... Read More about Co-polymerization of propylene oxide and CO2 using early transition metal (groups IV and V) metallocalix[n]arenes (n = 4, 6, 8).