Research Fellow - Organic Synthesis in Flow Reactors

Applications are invited for two postdoctoral research fellow positions in synthetic organic electrochemistry and flow chemistry at the University of Southampton, funded through the new EPSRC Programme Grant “Photo-Electro: Transforming Chemical Synthesis, Discovery and Manufacture”

The programme will develop continuous electrochemistry, photochemistry and thermochemistry to transform the way high value chemicals are produced, and will involve chemists and engineers in the Universities of Southampton, Nottingham and Bristol together with industrial partners from more than 20 companies. The programme team will also include at least seven postdoctoral research fellows and eight associated PhD students.

Person Specification

One of the successful candidates will be responsible for development of synthetic organic processes in electrochemical flow cells, with a focus on establishing clean and scalable transformations that can be applied to high value intermediates.The other will have the same objective but with a focus on the integration of reagentless techniques. The programme will require close cooperation with team members involved in reactor design, simulation, optimization and the integration of reactors to develop continuous processes.

Applicants must have a good degree in Chemistry, a PhD or equivalent in synthetic organic chemistry, and a strong track record of academic research. Prior experience and expertise in synthetic organic chemistry, spectroscopy (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Mass Spectrometry) and chromatographic methods is required. Experience of flow chemistry, electrosynthesis and/or thermochemistry is desirable, but not essential. The applicants will also be responsible for day-to-day management of the project locally and will be required to liaise directly with the University supervisors, and work closely with Programme Grant team members based in other institutions.

Each post is funded for 24 months in the first instance, with a possibility of extension. For additional information please contact Professor Richard Brown (rcb1@soton.ac.uk) or Professor David Harrowven (dch2@soton.ac.uk)by email. For recent examples of research from the Southampton team in organic synthesis in flow see:

1. Green, R. A.; Jolley, K. E.; Al-Hadedi, A. A. M.; Pletcher, D.; Harrowven, D. C.; De Frutos, O.; Mateos, C.; Klauber, D. J.; Rincon, J. A.; Brown, R. C. D., Electrochemical Deprotection of para-Methoxybenzyl Ethers in a Flow Electrolysis Cell. Org. Lett. 2017, 19, 2050-2053.

2. Green, R. A.; Brown, R. C. D.; Pletcher, D., Electrosynthesis in Extended Channel Length Microfluidic Electrolysis Cells. J. Flow Chem. 2016, 6, 191-197.

3. Green, R. A.; Pletcher, D.; Leach, S. G.; Brown, R. C. D., N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Mediated Microfluidic Oxidative Electrosynthesis of Amides from Aldehydes. Org. Lett. 2016, 18, 1198-1201.

4. Green, R. A.; Brown, R. C. D.; Pletcher, D., A Microflow Electrolysis Cell for Laboratory Synthesis on the Multigram Scale. Org. Process Res. Dev. 2015, 19, 1424-1427.

5. Gonçalves, T. P.; Mohamed, M.; Whitby, R. J.; Sneddon, H. F.; Harrowven, D. C.,Exploring Diradical Chemistry: A Carbon-Centered Radical May Act as either an Anion or Electrophile through an Orbital Isomer. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2015, 54, 4531-4534

6. Harrowven, D. C.; Mohamed, M.; Gonçalves, T. P.; Whitby, R. J.; Bolien, D.; Sneddon, H. F. An Efficient Flow-Photochemical Synthesis of 5H-Furanones Leads to an Understanding of Torquoselectivity in Cyclobutenone Rearrangements. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2012, 51, 4405-4408.

The University of Southampton is a leading UK university, ranked 8th in the UK in REF2014. The Chemistry department was ranked 6th in the UK for research intensity in REF2014.

Applications will be considered from candidates who are nearing completion of a relevant PhD qualification or equivalent. The title of Research Fellow will be applied upon completion of PhD. Prior to the qualification being awarded the title of Senior Research Assistant will be given.

Application Procedure

You should submit your completed online application form at www.jobs.soton.ac.uk. The vacancy will close at midnight on the closing date as shown above. If you need any assistance, please contact Anastasia Shikhareva on +44 (0) 23 8059 9002. Please quote vacancy reference number 872217EB on all correspondence.