About
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Research
Research interests
- Synthesis, properties and application of atomic and molecular endofullerenes.
- The use of flow chemistry for the rapid acquisition of mechanistic and process information.
- The synthesis of polyaromatic molecules for optoelectronic applications.
- Application of organozirconium chemistry to organic synthesis.
Current research
Prof. Whitby’s research interests span a wide range from using synthetic chemistry to tackle important scientific and societal problems, to developing the technology and informatics of synthesis itself. Current research interests include:
Endohedral Fullerenes. Fullerenes such as C60 containing an endohedral species A, denoted A@C60, are of great theoretical interest, and may have useful applications. We synthesise these molecules by using chemical reactions to open a hole in the fullerene, insert the endohedral species, then use a further series of reaction to re-close (suture) the cage, the overall process being described as molecular surgery. We have developed improved routes to H2@C60, H2O@C60 and He@C60, and made HF@C60, CH4@C60, Ne@C60 and Ar@C60 for the first time. The molecules have fascinating quantum properties due to quantised translation, as well the interaction between nuclear spins and rotational states which are investigated by many national and international groups.
Flow chemistry. We are developing new synthetic methods which take advantage of flow chemistry (continuous processing) techniques. A particular interest is to use flow techniques, particularly with the use of in-line IR, UV, and HPLC-MS, to allow rapid kinetic characterisation and optimisation of reactions.
Organic optoelectronics. We are designing and synthesising molecules with useful optoelectronic properties for application in Organic Light Emitting Diodes, particularly for use in printable devices. The work is lead by high level ab-inito calculations on properties. The current focus is on polyaromatic and heteroaromatic systems.
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Research interests
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Current research
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Publications
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Supervision
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Teaching
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Biography
Professor Richard J Whitby is Professor of Organic Chemistry within Chemistry at the University of Southampton
Richard Whitby graduated with a BA in Natural Sciences from Trinity College, Cambridge University in 1982. After a PhD with Professor P. G. Sammes at the University of Leeds and a fellowship with Professor P. J. Kocienski at the University of Southampton he was appointed to a lectureship at Southampton in 1988. In 1995 he was awarded the Society of the Chemical Industry 'Young Chemists' award, the Zeneca Research Award in Organic Chemistry and the Pfizer Research Award in Chemistry. In 1996, Richard Whitby became a Reader and was also awarded the GlaxoWelcome 'Innovative Chemistry' Research Award. He was promoted to Professor of Organic Chemistry in 1999, the year in which he received the Royal Society of Chemistry Bader award. He originated and led the ‘Dial-a-Molecule’ Grand Challenge which has the 20-40 year aim of making the synthesis of new molecules as quick and easy as it currently is to order a commercial compound.
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Prizes
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