Ian Fairlamb | Professor in Chemistry, Albert CDT
University of York

Research Biography Specialism: Catalysis and Target-Oriented Synthetic Chemistry: Unlocking Reactivity and Selectivity Using Robotic Systems and Data Analysis

Our core interests are in the development and application of transition metal chemistry in mechanism-driven catalysis and synthetic chemistry. We are particularly interested in Pd, Fe and Mn catalyst design and mechanistic understanding, especially in C-H and C-X bond activation processes. Our work has strong links to the agrochemical, catalysis, life sciences and pharmaceutical sectors.

Quantitative mechanistic chemistry underpins both our fundamental and applied research. We utilise automated robotic systems to aid with reaction screening

We focus on understanding catalyst activation and deactivation pathways - the cradle to grave - which is so important to applied synthetic chemistry. The work involves principal component analysis and decision tree learning, and holistic understanding of reaction outcomes. Machine learning is a tool that we use to enhance our broader understanding of catalysis, particularly ligand effects and catalyst speciation. In recent times we have growing interests in the development of new robotic systems for chemistry laboratory environments, see ALBERT.

Specialties: Our research group are best known in the following areas:

1) Palladium catalyst design and new synthetic methodologies.
2) Understanding the behaviour of Pd (pre)catalysts, particularly how they are activated by chemical triggers to deliver their active Pd species under cross-coupling working reaction conditions.
3) Manganese catalyst design and new synthetic methodologies for cross-couplings.
4) Application of time-revolved spectroscopic methods to the study of metal catalyst systems (e.g. Mn(I) carbonyls).
5) Using automated robotic systems in high throughput catalyst reaction screening, and data analysis of the reaction outcomes (including machine learning and artificial intelligence).
6) Design of new robotic systems for chemistry experiments (see ALBERT).
7) C-H activation in biomolecules such as nucleosides, amino acids and peptides.
8) Pericyclic reactions (electrocyclisations, cycloaddition, sigmatropic rearrangement reactions, both solution and solid-state).
9) The reactions of metal-NOx species with organic compounds, understanding M-NOx redox chemistry processes. Personal biography:  I was born in 1975 in Crewe (South Cheshire), England.  I lived in Crewe until 1 years old, then moved initially to Rode Heath (South Cheshire), moving to Scholar Green (3 miles down the road) when 9 years old, attending Scholar Green  Primary School.  As a young child I was allowed to roam-free, playing in ponds (mainly with rare newts and frogs), woods and fields for most of the time.  I moved to Heathfield High School in 1986 (now Congleton High School). During year 7, I played the role of Hrothgar in Beowulf, my one and only cameo as an actor.  Later on as a teenager I was a reasonable middle distance runner for the City of Stoke Athletics Club (at Northwood Athletics Stadium) between 1987 and 1992.  At high school I won the 1991 Harold Burns Trophy for Motor Vehicle Studies.  While being close to taking-up an apprenticeship working within the motor industry (aged 16 years old), I decided to follow interests in Chemistry, inspired by my then teacher, ‘Doc’ Michael Griffiths, which was a pivotal moment in my early career.  The road to academia was both bumpy and exciting.  Over the years I have been inspired by several great people, who have acted as mentors and role models: Dr. Julia Dickinson (MMU), Dr. Ken Williamson (MMU), Dr. David Kelly (MMU), Prof. Guy Lloyd-Jones (Bristol, now Edinburgh), Prof. Richard Taylor (York) and Prof. Robin Perutz (York).  I now enjoy seeing my students flourish and them going on to greater things. In my spare time, I enjoy running with York Acorn running club, racing and parkrun (both running and volunteering). My favourite sports person of all time is Steve Cram, closely followed by Steve Ovett.  Being close to the Potteries (Stoke-on-Trent) for most of my youth, I worked for a famous pottery company during vacation breaks while studying at University. During this time, I met some truly wonderful and inspiring people working on the factory floor. The experience has never left me! As time passes by I have developing interests in gardening and cooking. Holding on to my youth, I play the guitar and make useful things with Lego Technic (mainly for scientific outreach) and am the proud owner of a complete 1970s/1980s Lego Space collection.