Postgraduate research opportunities Rational Development of Organocaesium Chemistry
ApplyKey facts
- Opens: Monday 18 December 2023
- Number of places: 1
- Duration: 42 months
- Funding: Home fee, Stipend
Overview
Synthesis and catalysis are essential tools for chemical manufacture. Currently, organolithium reagents are ubiquitous in both academia and industry for breaking and making chemical bonds. With demands for lithium soaring due to its use in energy technology, new alternative organometallic reagents are required to ensure continuity and new innovations in the chemical industry. This project envisions the development of organocaesium chemistry will fill this need.Eligibility
A first-class or upper second-class UK Honours degree is required.

Project Details
Numerous chemicals including manufactured agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals and natural products are made using organolithium reagents. In 2020 the European Commission added Li to the Critical Raw Materials list for low-carbon technologies. With increasing exploitation of low-carbon technologies for a net zero emission society, demands for Li are increasing rapidly and will continue to do so, hence the availability of organolithium reagents may become more limited in the future. For assured greater sustainability, a new supply of polar organometallic reagents is essential. The vision is to develop fundamental organocaesium chemistry making uni-metallic and hetero-bi-metallic compounds via rational synthetic design, rather than empiricism, bringing it into the mainstream of organometallic chemistry, in both stoichiometric and catalytic applications. Underpinned by preliminary proof of concept results, this project will open the minds and laboratories of the chemistry community to the vast, untapped potential of organocaesium compounds.
Funding details
Full tuition fees at the home fee rate plus an annual stipend at the EPSRC rate.
While there is no funding in place for opportunities marked "unfunded", there are lots of different options to help you fund postgraduate research. Visit funding your postgraduate research for links to government grants, research councils funding and more, that could be available.
Apply
Number of places: 1
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Contact us
For further details, contact r.e.mulvey@strath.ac.uk.