School of Chemistry

Organic Chemistry

Organic chemistry research is primarily concerned with the development and application of new methods for making molecules and understanding their reactivity. This is reflected in the diverse interests of the sixteen members of the research section whose research includes but is not limited to the following themes.

New synthetic methodology
Developing new methods to synthesize molecules remains central to research in organic chemistry. Activities include the development of new routes for the stereoselective synthesis of small molecules, the identification of catalysts for the synthesis of small molecules through to methodology for the total synthesis of entire proteins.

Process chemistry
Organic chemistry isn't just concerned with reactions in round-bottomed flasks on milligram quantities of material. Several research groups are interested in the development and application of methods suitable for use in a more industrial setting and on larger scales.

These links with industry and with chemical engineering are fostered through the Institute of Process Research and Development (iPRD).

Medicinal chemistry
The pharmaceutical industry remains a key employer of UK chemistry graduates and research in Leeds reflects this. Research activities include the computer-aided design and subsequent synthesis of potential pharmaceutical compounds, the targeted synthesis of compounds with unusual heterocyclic cores and new methods for the rapid synthesis of structurally diverse compound libraries which more effectively chemical space.

Many of these activities and collaborations with biomedical research groups are now fostered through the Biomedical Health Research Centre (BHRC).

Chemical biology
The application of chemical methods to the study of biological problems is a key interest for many groups in the research section. Research in this area includes the development of biomimetic molecules as new inhibitors of biological reactions through to research into the fundamental chemical mechanisms of recognition and catalysis in biological systems and the directed evolution of new biological activities.

Many of these research interests are coordinated through the Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology.

The range of PhD projects available in this section is very wide and potential projects can be found in the Project opportunities page as well as from links from individual staff research pages.

In addition to this the section also offers two taught MSc programmes in Chemical Biology and Drug Design and Chemical Process Research and Development