My group's research focuses on the synthesis and development of new homogeneous catalysts. We use skills in synthetic main group chemistry to construct new ligands that include unconventional reactivity, such as cooperative reaction sites, and study their properties as well as applications in catalysis. Synthetic organometallic chemistry is exploited to form new transition metal and f-element catalysts for testing in challenging reactions such as C-H activation and borylation.

Stephen Mansell is an Assistant Professor in the Institute of Chemical Sciences at Heriot-Watt University. The research interests of the Mansell group focus on harnessing main group and transition metal chemistry in unison in order to develop better catalysts. Specific targets include processes that involve hydrogen transfer and borrowing, as well as C-H bond activation. He obtained his MSci degree from Imperial College London in 2005 and his PhD from The University of Bristol in 2009. After post-doctoral work in boron chemistry and small molecule activation mediated by organometallic complexes of uranium, he started his current position in 2013.

Homogeneous catalysis

Cooperative reactivity

Ligand design

Main group chemistry

Phosphorus chemistry

C-H activation