Dr Simon Doherty
Senior Lecturer

  • Email: simon.doherty@ncl.ac.uk
  • Telephone: +44 (0) 191 222 6537
  • Fax: +44 (0) 191 222 6929
  • Address: Dr Simon Doherty
    Senior Lecturer, Organometallic Chemistry & Catalysis
    School of Natural Sciences
    Bedson Building
    University of Newcastle upon Tyne
    NE1 7RU

Introduction

After completing my PhD studies at University College London under the supervision of Professor Tony Deeming I moved to Waterloo, Canada to work with Professor Arthur Carty investigating small molecule activation and skeletal transformations of phosphinidine stabilized clusters and the reactivity of hydrocarbyl ligands on bimetallic phosphido-bridged complexes. Following this, I spent 2 years as a research associate with Professor Malcolm Chisholm (FRS) preparing alkyl and alkoxide supported transition metal alkylidynes, nitrides and oxides and studying their MOCVD characteristics.

Previous Positions

1994-1995 Lecturer in Inorganic Chemistry University of Wales, Swansea
1995-2001 Senior Lecturer in Inorganic Chemistry, University of Newcastle
2001-2004 Reader in Inorganic Chemistry, Queen’s University of Belfast
2004- Senior Lecturer in Inorganic Chemistry, University of Newcastle

Research Interests

Doherty Group Research Page

Current Work

We have recently synthesised and resolved Me2-CATPHOS, a novel biaryl-like diphosphine that is constructed via Diels-Alder cycloaddition. Enantiopure rhodium complexes of this diphosphine catalyse the asymmetric hydrogenation of a range of dehydroamino acid derivatives giving ee's in excess of 99%.