Research Guides

Our group has a wide range of interests in organic chemistry and we have several ambitious projects underway. We are developing new methods for catalytic asymmetric C-C bond forming reactions with organometallic reagents. Other projects involve understanding the structural prerequisites for efficient and fast photochemical cis-trans isomerisations and the design of self-replicating systems and autocatalytic reaction networks that may be related to prebiotic chemistry.

Additional information

We are currently advertising a position for a postdoctoral research associate, see http://www.chem.ox.ac.uk/jobs.asp

Catalytic asymmetric carbon-carbon bond formation using alkenes as alkylmetal equivalents. R. M. Maksymowic, P. M. C. Roth and S. P. Fletcher. Nature Chem. accepted for publication.

Backbone modification of retinal induces protein-like excited state dynamics in solution. T. Sovdat, G. Bassolino, M. Liebel, C.Schnedermann, S. P. Fletcher and P. Kukura. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, in press. 

Current methods for asymmetric halogenation of olefins. A. Castellanos and S. P. Fletcher. Chem.–Eur. J. 2011, 17, 5766-5776.  

Nanometre-range communication of stereochemical information by reversible switching of molecular helicity. J. Solà, S. P. Fletcher, A. Castellanos and J. Clayden. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010, 49, 6836–6829.

Growing the seeds of homochirality.  S. P. Fletcher.  Nature Chem. 2009, 1, 692–693.  

Controlling axial conformation in 2-arylpyridines and 1-arylisoquinolines:  Application to the asymmetric synthesis of QUINAP by dynamic thermodynamic resolution.  J. Clayden, S. P. Fletcher, J. J. W. McDouall and S. J. M. Rowbottom.  J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 110, 5331–5343.  

An astrophysically-relevant mechanism for amino acid enantiomer enrichment.  S. P. Fletcher, R. B. C. Jagt and B. L. Feringa. Chem. Commun. 2007, 2578–2580. 

Cu–catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of chiral allylic esters.  K. Geurts, S. P. Fletcher and B. L. Feringa. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128, 15572–15573. 

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of acyclic arrays by tandem 1,4–addition–aldol reactions.  G. P. Howell, S. P. Fletcher, K. Geurts, B. ter Horst and B. L. Feringa.  J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128, 14977–14985. 

A reversible, unidirectional molecular rotary motor driven by chemical energy. S. P. Fletcher, F. Dumur, M. M. Pollard and B. L. Feringa. Science, 2005, 310, 80–82.