In addition to running the X-ray laboratory, I have interests in many areas of crystallography. Small-molecule work involves structure solution, refinement, description, collaboration and arguments with others mentioned on this page. I have a particular fondness for certain types of disorder and twinning. Large-molecule work involves analysis of biologically important molecules at resolutions typically encountered only with small-molecule crystals.

Interests include the systematics of packing in molecular crystals and the design, synthesis and characterization of solid-state molecular complexes. X-ray studies on crystals with high Z' and on co-crystals help to identify the circumstances under which fractional crystallization fails. Such information is of vital importance to chemical and pharmaceutical industries.

Several research projects make use of the X-ray laboratory. One in particular involves careful control of solid-state order within crystalline, specially substituted acenes (especially pentacene ), and has enabled us to increase the conductivity of the solid state by 8 orders of magnitude and to improve oxidative and photochemical stability.

A number of research projects address both fundamental and applied aspects of the chemistry of the main group metals.  Other projects investigate precursors to corrosion resistant alumina coatings and environmental chemistry aimed at heavy metal remediation.  Crystal structures play a central role in all these studies.

The X-ray laboratory provides structural information in the design of molecular recognition elements based on their "predictable" conformational preferences in water. Primary design parameters are hydrophobic, hydrogen bonding and coulombic interactions. We are interested in how competitive solvation affects these parameters.

Development of novel materials and synthesis of single crystals and epitaxial thin films of d- and f-electron based oxides. Experimental studies of highly correlated electron systems with an emphasis on magnetic, transport and thermal properties.

Prof. Peter Crooks (Pharmacy)

The major thrust of Dr. Crooks’ research is in the drug discovery area. Several active projects in synthetic medical chemistry and plant natural product research focus on the development of potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of central nervous system pathologies and diseases.

We investigate reactions that lead to fused bicyclic compounds via a double Michael reaction. The functionality in these double Michael adducts can be used to create additional carbocyclic or azacyclic rings. Examples include the tricyclic N,N' -diacylaminals which can self-assemble in the solid state into "supramolecular chair cyclohexanes ."

Inorganic coordination polymers exhibit unusual and interesting properties that are unlike traditional organic polymers. Some of these properties include high thermal stability, magnetism, electrochromism, piezoelectricity, ferroelectricity, and conductivity. X-ray crystal data is central to establishing the link between structure and physical properties.

Our research involves synthesis and reactivity of early and late transition metal complexes that are of interest for applications in organic synthesis, polymer chemistry, modeling of catalytic reactions, and as catalyst precursors.  The X-ray laboratory provides invaluable assistance in structure determination for many of our highly-reactive reaction products.

Prof. Anne-Frances Miller

Research addresses enzymatic Catalysis in Superoxide Dismutase, Nitroreductase and Peptide Deformylase. Although primarily NMR-based work, the Miller group makes important use of X-Ray crystallographic data.

Prof. Jack Selegue

The Selegue group investigates the synthesis, characterization and reactivity of new inorganic and organometallic molecules and materials. These new materials, their variants and intermediates are characterized by a variety of physical methods including X-ray diffraction and NMR.

Prof. Mark Watson

Work in the Watson group involves the use of pi-systems to engineer supramolecular materials including high-performance polymers (e.g. polyamides, polyesters, polyethers, etc.) and linear, 2-D and 3-D conjugated polymers. The X-Ray laboratory provides structural data for monomers and diffraction data for oligomers and polymers.