Michaele Hardie

Research section: Inorganic Chemistry

KEYWORDS Supramolecular Chemistry Metallo-supramolecular assemblies Crystal Engineering Synthesis of molecular hosts X-Ray Crystallography

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Research interests are in the area of metallo-supramolecular chemistry. We are particularly interested in the self-assembly of discrete nano-scale metallo-supramolecular cages, and in coordination polymers. Discrete cages often have polyhedral or prismatic structures and tend to feature significant internal space. Hence such assemblies may have potential applications as nano-scale reaction vessels. Coordination polymers are crystalline metal-ligand systems with infinite structures such as chains, helices, grids and 3D lattices. These materials may be useful for a number of applications, including molecular separations, catalysis and molecular storage.

Many of our efforts have been based around the molecular host cyclotriveratrylene, which has a pyramidal shape and shallow molecular cavity capable of forming host-guest interactions. We have been appending N-donor ligand functionality to these pyramidal host molecules in order to incorporate them into discrete assemblies and/or coordination polymers. The discrete nano-scale metallo-supramolecular cages thus formed have unusual “star-burst” or stellated aspects to their structures. We are also developing the idea of “host-guest control”, where interactions between the host and simple guest molecules manipulate the overall self-assembly outcomes. Other crystal engineering projects are investigating the organisation discrete coordination complexes in the solid state by use of additional functionality such as hydrogen bonding groups or additional ligand sites.

All projects include synthetic organic and coordination chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, the use of standard spectroscopic techniques, and feature single crystal X-ray crystallography as a major characterisation method.

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Research (MS Word)    Full bibliography (MS Word)       

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Star-burst prisms with cyclotriveratrylene-type ligands: a [Pd₆L₈]¹²⁺ stella octangula, T.K. Ronson, J. Fisher, L. P. Harding and M. J. Hardie, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2007, 46, 9086-9088.

Coordination and hydrogen bonded network structures of Cu(II) with mixed ligands: a hybrid hydrogen bonded material, an infinite sandwich arrangement, and a 3-D net, M. D. Stephenson and M. J. Hardie, Dalton Trans., 2006, 3407 - 3417.

Capsules and star-burst polyhedra: an Ag₂L₂ capsule and tetrahedral Ag₄L₄ metallo-supramolecular prism with cyclotriveratrylene-type ligands, C. J. Sumby and M. J. Hardie, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2005, 44, 6395 - 6399.

Group-1 coordination chains and hexagonal networks of host cyclotriveratrylene with halogenated monocarbaborane anions, R. Ahmad, A. Franken, J. D. Kennedy, M. J. Hardie, Chem. Eur. J. 2004, 10, 2190-2198