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Staff Profile

Dr Roly Armstrong

Lecturer

Background

I am a Lecturer in organic chemistry in the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University. My research programme focusses on the development of new synthetic methodologies to tackle challenging problems in catalysis, synthesis, materials science and medicine. We are particularly interested in constructing new three-dimensional molecules, using catalysis to precisely tailor their three-dimensional shape and stereochemistry.

Before taking up this post, I held a Junior Research Fellowship at University College, University of Oxford. Prior to this, I worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate with Prof. Timothy Donohoe (University of Oxford) and Prof. Varinder Aggarwal FRS (University of Bristol).

Qualifications:

2011-2015: DPhil in organic chemistry with Prof. Martin Smith (University of Oxford)

2007-2011: B.A. and MSci in Natural Sciences (University of Cambridge)

Links: 

Scopus: click here

ORCID: click here

Research

Our research programme broadly focuses on the development of new synthetic methodology to efficiently assemble organic molecules. We are particularly interested in using catalysis to control the shape and stereochemistry of these materials, enabling us to prepare a wide range of complex 3D structures that cannot be accessed using existing synthetic methods.

Current areas of interest include:

Asymmetric Catalysis

Catalysis plays a central role in society, enabling the production of important materials at low cost with minimal environmental impact. Our research is focussed on identifying new ways to control selectivity within catalytic reactions. This encompasses both the design of new ligands and catalyst systems, as well as the development of new catalytic asymmetric processes.   

Non-classical 3D Materials

Drug discovery programmes are increasingly shifting their focus from sp2 molecules towards saturated, sp3-rich molecules which allow exploration of novel, three-dimensional biological and chemical space. We are exploring a complementary approach to this challenge, which involves creating three-dimensional materials by “repackaging” traditional 2D drug-like building blocks, connecting them together in unusual ways to generate novel 3D materials. These sp2-rich materials have a variety of exciting applications in drug development, as well as catalysis, materials science and nanotechnology.

Publications