Newcastle University

Introduction

My research interests cover all areas of catalysis with especial emphasis on asymmetric catalysis of carbon-carbon bond forming reactions (including use of sustainable organocatalysts in sustainable solvents) and developing catalysts for the conversion of waste carbon dioxide into industrially useful chemicals such as cyclic carbonates. The research of the group is underpinned by mechanistic studies and the North group is located in a modern research laboratory equipped with all the scientific and analytical equipment needed to conduct our research.

• Beattie C, North M, Villuendas P, Young C. Influence of Temperature and Pressure on Cyclic Carbonate Synthesis Catalyzed by Bimetallic Aluminum Complexes and Application to Overall syn-Bis-hydroxylation of Alkenes. Journal of Organic Chemistry 2013, 78(2), 419-426.
• North M, Stewart EL, Young C. Asymmetric cyanohydrin synthesis using an aluminium(salan) complex. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 2012, 23(15-16), 1218-1225.
• Achard TRJ, Clegg W, Harrington RW, North M. Chiral salen ligands designed to form polymetallic complexes. Tetrahedron 2012, 68(1), 133-144.
• North M, Villuendas P. Influence of Support and Linker Parameters on the Activity of Silica-Supported Catalysts for Cyclic Carbonate Synthesis. ChemCatChem 2012, 4(6), 789-794.
• North M, Villuendas P, Young C. Inter- and intramolecular phosphonium salt cocatalysis in cyclic carbonate synthesis catalysed by a bimetallic aluminium(salen) complex. Tetrahedron Letters 2012, 53(22), 2736–2740.
• North M, Omedes-Pujol M, Young C. Kinetics and mechanism of the racemic addition of trimethylsilyl cyanide to aldehydes catalysed by Lewis bases. Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry 2012, 10(21), 4289-4298.
• North M. Synthesis of cyclic carbonates from CO2 emissions. Chimica Oggi 2012, 30(3), 3-5.
• Castro-Osma JA, Lara-Sanchez A, North M, Otero A, Villuendas P. Synthesis of cyclic carbonates using monometallic, and helical bimetallic, aluminium complexes. Catalysis Science & Technology 2012, 2(5), 1021-1026.
• Meléndez J, North M, Villuendas P, Young C. One-component bimetallic aluminium(salen)-based catalysts for cyclic carbonate synthesis and their immobilization. Dalton Transactions 2011, 40(15), 3885-3902.
• Morcillo M, North M, Villuendas P. Amino Acid Catalysed Aldol Reactions in Cyclic Carbonate Solvents. Synthesis 2011, (12), 1918-1925.
• North M, Young C. Bimetallic aluminium(acen) complexes as catalysts for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from carbon dioxide and epoxides. Catalysis Science & Technology 2011, 1(1), 93-99.
• North M, Wang B, Young C. Influence of flue gas on the catalytic activity of an immobilized aluminium (salen) complex for cyclic carbonate synthesis. Energy & Environmental Science 2011, 4(10), 4163-4170.
• Beattie C, North M, Villuendas P. Proline-Catalysed Amination Reactions in Cyclic Carbonate Solvents. Molecules 2011, 16(4), 3420-3432.
• North M, Young C. Reducing the Cost of Production of Bimetallic Aluminium Catalysts for the Synthesis of Cyclic Carbonates. ChemSusChem 2011, 4(11), 1685-1693.
• North M, Villuendas P. A Chiral Solvent Effect in Asymmetric Organocatalysis. Organic Letters 2010, 12(10), 2378-2381.
• North M, Villuendas P. Aluminium(salen) and Tetrabutylammonium Bromide Catalysed Synthesis of Cyclic Di- and Trithiocarbonates from Epoxides and Carbon Disulfide. Synlett 2010, (4), 623-627.
• Metcalfe IS, North M, Pasquale R, Thursfield A. An integrated approach to energy and chemicals production. Energy & Environmental Science 2010, 3(2), 212-215.
• Belokon YN, Gugkaeva ZT, Maleev VI, Moskalenko MA, North M, Tsaloev AT. Bis-TADDOLs as bifunctional organocatalysts for trifluoromethylation of aldehydes and ring-opening of cyclohexene oxide with p-toluidine. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 2010, 21(13-14), 1793-1796.
• Chechik V, Conte M, Dransfield T, North M, Omedes-Pujol M. Cyanogen formation during asymmetric cyanohydrin synthesis. Chemical Communications 2010, 46(19), 3372-3374.
• Clegg W, Harrington RW, North M, Pasquale R. Cyclic Carbonate Synthesis Catalysed by Bimetallic Aluminium-Salen Complexes. Chemistry: A European Journal 2010, 16(23), 6828-6843.
• Clegg W, Harrington RW, North M, Pizzato F, Villuendas P. Cyclic carbonates as sustainable solvents for proline-catalysed aldol reactions. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 2010, 21(9-10), 1262-1271.
• North M, Omedes-Pujol M, Williamson C. Determination of the relative importance of Lewis-acid and Lewis-base catalysis in asymmetric catalysis using bifunctional catalysts. In: Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society. 2010, American Chemical Society.
• North M, Villuendas P, Williamson C. Mechanistic comparison of aluminium based catalysts for asymmetric cyanohydrin synthesis. Tetrahedron 2010, 66(10), 1915-1924.
• North M, Williamson C. A bimetallic aluminium(salen) complex for asymmetric cyanohydrin synthesis. Tetrahedron Letters 2009, 50(26), 3249-3252.
• North M, Villuendas P, Young C. A Gas-Phase Flow Reactor for Ethylene Carbonate Synthesis from Waste Carbon Dioxide. Chemistry: A European Journal 2009, 15(43), 11454-11457.
• North M, Omedes Pujol M. Catalytic, asymmetric cyanohydrin synthesis in propylene carbonate. Tetrahedron Letters 2009, 50(31), 4452-4454.
• Belokon' YN, Maleev VI, Kataev DA, Saveleva TF, Skrupskaya TV, Nelyubina YV, North M. Chiral ion pairs in catalysis: lithium salts of chiral metallocomplex anions as catalysts for asymmetric C-C bond formation. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 2009, 20(15), 1746-1752.
• North M, Pizzato F. Diastereoselective Darzens Condensations of alpha-Haloamides: Influence of Aryl Substituents on Diastereoselectivity. Letters in Organic Chemistry 2009, 67(7), 552-556.
• North M, Pasquale R. Mechanism of Cyclic Carbonate Synthesis from Epoxides and CO2. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2009, 48(16), 2946-2948.
• Belokon YN, Clegg W, Harrington RW, Maleev VI, North M, Omedes Pujol M, Usanov DL, Young C. Mechanism-Guided Development of VO(salen)X Complexes as Catalysts for the Asymmetric Synthesis of Cyanohydrin Trimethylsilyl Ethers. Chemistry: A European Journal 2009, 15(9), 2148-2165.
• Melendez J, North M, Villuendas P. One-component catalysts for cyclic carbonate synthesis. Chemical Communications 2009, 2009(18), 2577-2579.
• North M, Pizzato F, Villuendas P. Organocatalytic, Asymmetric Aldol Reactions with a Sustainable Catalyst in a Green Solvent. ChemSusChem 2009, 2(9), 862-865.
• North M. Synthesis of beta, gamma-Unsaturated Acids from Allenes and Carbon Dioxide. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2009, 48(23), 4104-4105.
• Belokon Y, North M, Hunt J. Asymmetric catalysis of carbon–carbon bond forming reactions using amino acid-derived C1-symmetrical salen ligands. Tetrahedron: Assymetry 2008, 19(24), 2804-2815.
• Belokon YN, Chusov D, Borkin DA, Yashkina LV, Bolotov P, Skrupskaya T, North M. Chiral Ti(IV) complexes of hexadentate Schiff bases as precatalysts for aldehyde allylation: unusual additive effect of trimethylsilyl chloride. Tetrahedron Asymmetry 2008, 19(4), 459-466.
• Belokon YN, Clegg W, Harrington RW, North M, Young C. In situ formation of heterobimetallic salen complexes containing titanium and/or vanadium ions. Inorganic Chemistry 2008, 47(9), 3801-3814.
• North M, Usanov DL, Young C. Lewis Acid Catalyzed Asymmetric Cyanohydrin Synthesis. Chemical Reviews 2008, 108(12), 5146-5226.
• Belokon YN, Grachev AV, Maleev VI, Khrustalev VN, Peregudov AS, North M. Novel type of trifunctional chiral N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors. Tetrahedron Asymmetry 2008, 19(6), 756-760.
• Belokon YN, Maleev VI, Kataev DA, Mal'fanov IlyaL, Bulychev AG, Moskalenko MA, Saveleva TF, Skrupskaya TV, Lyssenko KA, Godovikov IA, North M. Potassium and silver chiral cobaltate(III) complexes as precatalysts for asymmetric C-C bond formation. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 2008, 19(7), 822-831.
• Groaz E, Banti D, North M. Synthesis of N-heterocyclic compounds via ene-yne metathesis reactions. Tetrahedron 2008, 64(1), 204-218.
• Belokon YN, Chusov DA, Skrupskaya TV, Bor'kin DA, Yashkina LV, Lyssenko KA, Il'in MM, Strelkova TV, Timofeeva GI, Peregudov AS, North M. Synthesis of chiral polydentate ligands and the use of their titanium complexes as pre-catalysts for the asymmetric trimethylsilylcyanation of benzaldehyde. Russian Chemical Bulletin 2008, 57(9), 1981-1988.
• Belokon' YN, Hunt J, North M. Titanium(IV)(salen) and yanadium(V)(salen) complexes derived from C 2- and C1-symmetric diamines for asymmetric cyanohydrin synthesis. Synlett 2008, (14), 2150-2154.
• Groaz E, Banti D, North M. Alkene and enyne metathesis reactions on allylic and propargylic amines. Tetrahedron Letters 2007, 48(11), 1927-1930.
• Belokon YN, Clegg W, Harrington RW, Young C, North M. Asymmetric cyanohydrin synthesis using heterobimetallic catalysts obtained from titanium and vanadium complexes of chiral and achiral salen ligands. Tetrahedron 2007, 63(24), 5287-5299.
• Achard TJR, Belokon' YN, Hunt J, North M, Pizzato F. Diastereoselective Darzens condensations. Tetrahedron Letters 2007, 48(17), 2961-2964.
• Achard TJR, Belokon' YN, Ilyin M, Moskalenko M, North M, Pizzato F. Enantio- and diastereoselective Darzens condensations. Tetrahedron Letters 2007, 48(17), 2965-2969.
• Belokon' YN, Clegg W, Harrington RW, Ishibashi E, Nomura H, North M. Enantioselective and diastereoselective syntheses of cyanohydrin carbonates. Tetrahedron 2007, 63(39), 9724-9740.
• Groaz E, Banti D, North M. Synthesis of cyclic and macrocyclic ethers using metathesis reactions of alkenes and alkynes. European Journal of Organic Chemistry 2007, (22), 3727-3745.
• Melendez J, North M, Pasquale R. Synthesis of cyclic carbonates from atmospheric pressure carbon dioxide using exceptionally active aluminium(salen) complexes as catalysts. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry 2007, (21), 3323-3326.
• Groaz E, Bariti D, North M. Synthesis of oxygen-containing medium and large rings using one-pot combinations of sequential alkene, enyne and alkyne metathesis reactions. Advanced Synthesis and Catalysis 2007, 349(1-2), 142-146.
• Belokon YN, Blacker AJ, Clutterbuck LA, Hogg D, North M, Reeve C. An asymmetric, chemo-enzymatic synthesis of O-acetylcyanohydrins. European Journal of Organic Chemistry 2006, (20), 4609-4617.
• Belokon YuN, Maleev VI, Mal'Fanov IL, Savel'Eva TF, Ikonnikov NS, Bulychev AG, Usanov DL, Kataev DA, North M. Anionic chiral cobalt(III) complexes as catalysts of asymmetric synthesis of cyanohydrins. Russian Chemical Bulletin 2006, 55(5), 821-827.
• Blacker J, Clutterbuck LA, Crampton MR, Grosjean C, North M. Catalytic, asymmetric Strecker reactions catalysed by titanium^IV and vanadium^V(salen) complexes. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 2006, 17(9), 1449-1456.
• Belokon YN, Chusov D, Borkin DA, Yashkina LV, Dmitriev AV, Katayev D, North M. Chiral Ti(IV) complexes of hexadentate Schiff bases as precatalysts for the asymmetric addition of TMSCN to aldehydes and the ring opening of cyclohexene oxide. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 2006, 17(16), 2328-2333.
• Belokon YN, Ishibashi E, Nomura H, North M. Cyanide ion cocatalysis in Ti(salen) catalysed asymmetric cyanohydrin carbonate synthesis. Chemical Communications 2006, (16), 1775-1777.
• Belokon YN, Maleev VI, North M, Usanov DL. VO(salen)(X) catalysed asymmetric cyanohydrin synthesis: An unexpected influence of the nature of anion X on the catalytic activity. Chemical Communications 2006, (44), 4614-4616.
• Achard TRJ, Clutterbuck LA, North M. Asymmetric catalysis of carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions using metal(salen) complexes. Synlett 2005, (12), 1828-1847.
• Belokon' YN, Carta P, North M. Asymmetric synthesis of polymer-supported cyanohydrin acetates. Tetrahedron Letters 2005, 46(26), 4483-4486.
• Banti D, Belokon YN, Fu W-L, Groaz E, North M. Mechanistic studies on the asymmetric alkylation of amino ester enolates using a copper(II)salen catalyst. Chemical Communications 2005, (21), 2707-2709.
• Banti D, Groaz E, North M. Ene-yne metathesis of polyunsaturated norbornene derivatives. Tetrahedron 2004, 60(37), 8043-8052.
• Belokon YN, North M, Maleev VI, Voskoboev NV, Moskalenko MA, Peregudov AS, Dmitriev AV, Ikonnikov NS, Kagan HB. In situ formation of a heterobimetallic chiral [(Salen)TiIV]/[(Salen)VV] catalyst for the asymmetric addition of TMSCN to benzaldehyde. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2004, 43(31), 4085-4089.
• North M. Synthesis and applications of non-racemic cyanohydrins and α-amino nitriles. Tetrahedron 2004, 60(46), 10383-10384.
• Belokon YN, Blacker AJ, Carta P, Clutterbuck LA, North M. Synthetic and mechanistic studies on asymmetric cyanohydrin synthesis using a titanium(salen) bimetallic catalyst. Tetrahedron 2004, 60(46), 10433-10447.
• Belokon YN, Bespalova N, Churkina TD, Cisarova I, Ezernitskaya MG, Harutyunyan SR, Hrdina R, Kagan HB, Kocovsky P, Kochetkov KK, Larionov OV, Lyssenko KA, North M, Polasek M, Peregudov AS, Prisyazhnyuk VV, Vyskocil S. Synthesis of a-Amino Acids via Asymmetric Phase Transfer-Catalyzed Alkylation of Achiral Nickel(II) Complexes of Glycine-Derived Schiff Bases. Journal American Chemical Society 2003, 125(42), 12860-12871.
• Banti D, North M. Enyne metathesis of norbornene derivatives: A facile appraoch to polycyclic heterocycles. Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis 2002, 344(6-7), 694-704.