Senior Lecturer in Inorganic Chemistry
BSc Warwick, PhD Bristol, CChem MRSC
Telephone: +44 (0)1509 222553
E-mail: m.b.smith@lboro.ac.uk

Interests and Experience

Martin Smith has nearly twenty years research expertise in organophosphorus chemistry, transition metal co-ordination chemistry and metal based homogeneous catalysis. At Loughborough, much of his recent work has focused on ligand design/synthesis of novel functionalised trivalent phosphorus compounds and their co-ordination chemistry e.g. C-H activation, self assembly and supramolecular studies using secondary interactions. He is co-author of ca. 70 publications dedicated to various aspects of phosphorus chemistry. Some current research activities presently underway in our research group (Highly Functionalised Phosphines, Nonsymmetric Ditertiary Phosphines, Multidentate Phosphorus Based Ligands, Cationic Hydrogen-Bonded Trialkylphosphines) are outlined below.

We welcome any interested PhD students or PDRA’s (with their own support) to get in contact about joining our research group.

Highly Functionalised Phosphines

A condensation reaction constitutes a simple, yet extremely efficient, method for synthesising new organophosphorus ligands. Using a phosphorus based Mannich condensation reaction we have prepared isomeric examples of highly functionalised tertiary and ditertiary phosphines. The supramolecular behaviour of these ligands can be studied upon coordination to a range of late transition metal precursors. These ligands have also enabled us to synthesis rare examples of molecular hexagons containing six metal(II) centres. For examples of our recent work see the following references.

Nonsymmetric Ditertiary Phosphines

Ditertiary phosphines with two different phosphorus based groups have recently been developed in our research laboratories. An example of one of the synthetic steps involved in this procedure is shown in the two photographs below and involves simply heating a solid mixture of AdPH (where Ad is a bulky cage group) and (CH₂O)_n. By controlling the stereoelectronic properties of the substituents on phosphorus we observe different coordination behaviour. This has allowed us to prepare homo- and heterobimetallic complexes and, more recently, heterotrimetallic complexes.

Multidentate Phosphorus Based Ligands

We have successfully synthesised a range of new tridentate and tetradentate ligands bearing different combinations of phosphorus, nitrogen and oxygen donor atoms. A new joint collaborative project, using this approach to ligand design, is currently investigating the activity and selectivity of metal catalysed olefin polymerisations.

Cationic Hydrogen-Bonded Trialkylphosphines

We have successfully synthesised new examples of cationic trialkylphosphines similar to 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA). In our ligands the phosphine framework is conformationally locked through pairs of intramolecular hydrogen bonds.

General Phosphorus Ligands

Meet the Research Group

	Martin Smith Born in Royston and grew up in the neighbouring village of Melbourn. He was awarded a BSc in Chemistry at the University of Warwick and completed his PhD at Bristol University in the group of Professor Paul Pringle. After postdoctoral positions and a Royal Society Fellowship with Professors Tony Deeming (UCL), Brian James (UBC, Canada) and Derek Woollins (Loughborough) he took up a Lectureship at Loughborough in 1997, and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2008. He is a keen supporter of Leeds United and enjoys, albeit frustrating at times, playing golf.
	Noelia Sanchez Ballester Born in Valencia in 1979. I obtained my degree in Chemistry from the Universidad de Valencia in 2005, and in the same year started a project through an Erasmus studentship at Loughborough under the supervision of Prof. Vickie McKee. I am currently pursuing my PhD studies under the joint supervision of Dr Martin Smith and Dr Mark Elsegood at Loughborough. I enjoy travelling and would especially like to visit Japan. My PhD studies are focussed on new supramolecular based compounds containing carboxylate modified ligands with Group XV donor atoms.
	Andrew Lake Originally from Leicester, I completed my degree in Chemistry with Materials at Loughborough University in 2005, after which I joined the Smith and Elsegood group. My PhD work has focused on the synthesis and applications of new phosphorus based ligands containing both fluorescent and electrochemically active groups.
	Chris Raw Originally from Banbury and graduated in 2007 with a masters degree in Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry from Loughborough. I joined the Smith group in 2007 and I am working on the new phosphorus based ligands for catalytic olefin oligomerisation reactions.
	Maria Tommasone Born in Naples, Italy in 1981. I gained my master degree in Chemistry at University "Federico II di Napoli" with a Master thesis in Professor Busico's group and was working on the synthesis of new octahedral and C2 symmetric catalysts for the polymerisation of 1-olefins. My passion, as any good Italian, is cooking, so the best fun I have is to gather all my friends at home and cook for them. I started my joint PhD in 2008 working in the Smith and Rastogi (IPTME) research groups looking at the development of novel olefin polymerisation catalysts.
	Simon Sharp Born in Melton Mowbray, I completed my master's degree at Loughborough University in 2009, and remained to do a PhD under the joint supervision of Dr Martin Smith and Dr Mark Elsegood. I enjoy listening to rock music.
	Tom Noble I came to Loughborough from the great city of Derby and achieved my undergraduate degree in 2009. I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to join the Smith group the following December. I am now undertaking my PhD developing novel fluorescence based chemical sensors for high explosives and nerve agents. When not in the lab I love to play cricket, and I am also a volunteer reservist in the Royal Air Force.
	Sasha Ostrowski I am currently working on explosive detection in my MChem research project, and hope to work in defence or the forensic field once I graduate this summer. Outside of my degree I enjoy socialising with friends, having a go at pub quizzes and travelling.