Queen Mary is dedicated to producing ground-breaking research which challenges existing thought and improves lives and outcomes. The School of Chemical Sciences is no different. Our research outputs don’t sit in isolation – they are integrated into our curriculum, so students can see them brought to life through teaching.
Chemistry at Queen Mary was ranked 7th for quality of outputs in the recent REF, REF 2014. Our research strengths are materials chemistry, synthesis and catalysis, and theoretical and computational chemistry.
Our highly-regarded synthesis and catalysis programme is centred round developing new, innovative synthetic and catalytic methods which can be applied to a broad spectrum of areas.
A particular highlight from this programme is the Resmini group developing imprinted polymers which can be successfully used as synthetic antibodies and as the recognition element of a fiber optic sensor. These versatile materials have a very exciting and powerful potential use as drug delivery systems for the skin. They would allow very good uploading efficiency and enhanced drug incorporation.
Our researchers have also found a new method for metal-free C-H bond functionalisation. Led by Dr Christopher Jones and reported on in the journal Chemical Science, this discovery is vital to drug discovery and offers a number of other significant benefits; compounds can be made directly from cheap and more environmentally benign starting materials, offering direct benefits (reduced cost, waste, time) relative to traditional multi-step synthetic methods.
Dr Jones' discovery also overcomes the significant challenges associated with breaking a C-H bond with using organic molecules called arynes, rather than with expensive and toxic metals.
Learn more about our Chemistry research here