Organic Electrochemistry as an Enabling Technology for Synthesis

This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the University of Bath URSA competition for entry in September 2025.

Overview of the Research:

Organic electrochemistry is one of the cleanest possible chemical processing technologies, which has recently undergone a renaissance due to the increasing global challenge to develop more sustainable synthetic methods to produce chemicals for society, in addition to the increasing availability of standardized batch and flow electrochemical reactors. When wielded appropriately, just a single electron transfer is all that is needed to initiate a reaction cascade that can result in the formation of complex molecules. Such cascades cannot often be accessed by other means. It is proven that electrochemistry has excellent potential to provide improved sustainability metrics and environmentally acceptable synthetic sequences, yet its adoption is far from widespread. Consequently, the breadth of its application as a technique to access useful chemical entities is yet to be fully realized. By careful tuning of electrochemical parameters, specific single electron transfers (oxidation and reduction) can be targeted, accessing powerful radical intermediates that have unique reactivity and chemoselectivity. The combination of electrochemistry and photochemistry can enable access to an additional range of synthetically useful reactive intermediates inaccessible via other means, which further expands the potential of these enabling technologies in synthesis. Flow electrochemistry further enhances the sustainability metrics associated with the developed electrosynthetic methodologies. This project will employ both batch and flow electro(photo)chemical approaches to access versatile radical intermediates and harness their reactivity to develop powerful synthetic transformations in a sustainable fashion to access useful products (e.g., building blocks to produce pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals etc.). Computational evaluation of the reaction mechanisms (in collaboration with Dr Matthew Grayson, University of Bath) will be employed to predict and rationalize observed reactivity and selectivity. This PhD studentship will provide a thorough training in synthetic organic electro(photo)chemistry via a highly stimulating project that will shape the future of this exciting new research program whilst creating a highly employable PhD graduate.

The supervisors, Dr Louis Morrill (https://lcm719.wixsite.com/morrillgroup) and Dr Matthew Grayson (https://thegraysongroup.co.uk/matthew-grayson/), have expertise in organic electrochemistry and the computational evaluation of organic reaction mechanisms, respectively.

Project keywords: organic chemistry; synthesis; electrochemistry; photochemistry; flow chemistry

Candidate Requirements:

Applicants should hold, or expect to receive, a First Class or high Upper Second Class UK Honours degree (or the equivalent) in a relevant subject. A master’s level qualification would also be advantageous. Applications are particularly welcome from students with experience in organic synthesis.

Non-UK applicants must meet the programme’s English language requirement prior to a formal offer being made.

Enquiries and Applications:

Informal enquiries are encouraged and should be directed to Dr Louis Morrill, lcm71@bath.ac.uk. 

Formal applications should be submitted via the University of Bath’s online application form for a PhD in Chemistry prior to the closing date of this advert.

IMPORTANT:

When completing the application form:

1.      In the Funding your studies section, select ‘University of Bath URSA’ as the studentship for which you are applying.

2.      In the Your PhD project section, quote the project title of this project and the name of the lead supervisor in the appropriate boxes. 

Failure to complete these two steps will cause delays in processing your application and may cause you to miss the deadline.

More information about applying for a PhD at Bath may be found on our website.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

We value a diverse research environment and aim to be an inclusive university, where difference is celebrated and respected. We welcome and encourage applications from under-represented groups.

If you have circumstances that you feel we should be aware of that have affected your educational attainment, then please feel free to tell us about it in your application form. The best way to do this is a short paragraph at the end of your personal statement.