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Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry

 

Professor of Chemistry

What we do...

We are designing hollow supramolecular capsules or ‘cages’, which can be used to transport cargoes of molecules where we need them. These cages could be used to safely deliver drug therapies, reduce the costs and environmental effects of petroleum refining, and in many other areas. 

Figuring out the rules

We are interested in discovering and developing new ways in which simple building blocks may be induced to self-assemble into complex, functional structures. Our investigations currently focus upon the self-assembly of imine bonds around metal-ion templates, bringing both covalent C=N and coordinative N→Metal bonds into being during the same overall self-assembly process. The structures thus created can rearrange in well-defined ways at both covalent and coordinative linkages. Ongoing projects include:

 

Container Molecules. The diamine and aldehyde shown above self-assemble with iron(II) in water to form a tetrahedral cage. This cage traps guest molecules within its cavity with high selectivity. The cage may be opened and the guest released using different triggers, one of which is a drop in pH. Applications in drug delivery are of interest, as are investigations of changes in the reactivity and behaviour of guest molecules upon encapsulation.

 

Functional Materials. We have recently developed means to create metal-containing conjugated polymers through self-assembly. DFT calculations carried out by Laura Gagliardi and Christopher Cramer suggest that these might conduct electricity. Studies are thus being undertaken to investigate their properties.

Watch Professor Nitschke discuss his research

Take a tour of the Nitschke Lab

 

Selected Publications

Feature Article: “Metal-organic container molecules through subcomponent self-assembly”, T.K. Ronson, S. Zarra, S.P. Black, J.R. Nitschke, Chem. Commun. 2013, 49, 2476-2490.

“Enantiopure Water-Soluble Fe4L6 Cages: Host-Guest Chemistry and Catalytic Activity”, Jeanne L. Bolliger, Ana M. Belenguer, and Jonathan R. Nitschke, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2013, 52, 7958-7962.

“Aqueous Self-assembly of an Electroluminescent Double-helical Metallo-polymer”, X. de Hatten,  D. Asil, R.H. Friend, J.R. Nitschke,  J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 135, 19170-19178.

“Anion-induced Reconstitution of a Self-assembling System to Express a Chloride-binding Co10L15 Pentagonal Prism”, I.A. Riddell, M.M.J. Smulders, J.K. Clegg, Y.R. Hristova, B. Breiner, J.D. Thoburn, J.R. Nitschke, Nature Chem. 2012, 51, 751-756.

 “White phosphorus is air-stable within a self-assembled tetrahedral capsule” P. Mal, B. Breiner, K. Rissanen and J.R. Nitschke, Science 2009, 324, 1697-1699.

“Systems chemistry: Molecular networks come of age” J.R. Nitschke, Nature 2009, 462, 736-738.

Publications

ChemInform Abstract: Stereochemistry in Subcomponent Self‐Assembly
AM Castilla, WJ Ramsay, JR Nitschke
– ChemInform
(2014)
45,
no
ChemInform Abstract: Stereochemical Communication within Tetrahedral Capsules
AM Castilla, WJ Ramsay, JR Nitschke
– ChemInform
(2014)
45,
no
Temperature‐ and Voltage‐Induced Ligand Rearrangement of a Dynamic Electroluminescent Metallopolymer
D Asil, JA Foster, A Patra, X de Hatten, J del Barrio, OA Scherman, JR Nitschke, RH Friend
– Angewandte Chemie
(2014)
126,
8528
Temperature- and Voltage-Induced Ligand Rearrangement of a Dynamic Electroluminescent Metallopolymer
D Asil, JA Foster, A Patra, X de Hatten, J del Barrio, OA Scherman, JR Nitschke, RH Friend
– Angewandte Chemie International Edition
(2014)
53,
8388
Cation- and anion-exchanges induce multiple distinct rearrangements within metallosupramolecular architectures.
IA Riddell, TK Ronson, JK Clegg, CS Wood, RA Bilbeisi, JR Nitschke
– Journal of the American Chemical Society
(2014)
136,
9491
Post-assembly Modification of Kinetically Metastable FeII 2L3 Triple Helicates
DA Roberts, AM Castilla, TK Ronson, JR Nitschke
– Journal of the American Chemical Society
(2014)
136,
8201
Two distinct allosteric active sites regulate guest binding within a Fe8Mo1216+ cubic receptor
WJ Ramsay, JR Nitschke
– Journal of the American Chemical Society
(2014)
136,
7038
Stereochemistry in Subcomponent Self-Assembly
AM Castilla, WJ Ramsay, JR Nitschke
– Accounts of Chemical Research
(2014)
47,
2063
Selective encapsulation and sequential release of guests within a self-sorting mixture of three tetrahedral cages.
A Jiménez, RA Bilbeisi, TK Ronson, S Zarra, C Woodhead, JR Nitschke
– Angewandte Chemie - International Edition
(2014)
53,
4556
Selective encapsulation and sequential release of guests within a self-sorting mixture of three tetrahedral cages
A Jiménez, RA Bilbeisi, TK Ronson, S Zarra, C Woodhead, JR Nitschke
– Angewandte Chemie International Edition
(2014)
53,
4556
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Research Group

Research Interest Groups

Telephone number

01223 336324

Email address

jrn34@cam.ac.uk