The University of Sheffield
Department of Chemistry

Nathan PatmoreDr. Nathan J. Patmore

Royal Society University Research Fellow

Room: E83

Tel: +44-(0)114-22-29418

Fax: +44-(0)114-22-29436

email:

 


 

General Research Teaching

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Patmore obtained a BSc in Chemistry from the University of Bath in 1999, which was followed by a PhD from the same institution in 2002 under the supervision of Dr. Andrew Weller. Following his PhD, he did post-doctoral research with Prof. Malcolm Chisholm at The Ohio State University, USA. In 2005, he was awarded a Ramsay Memorial Research Fellowship which was hosted by the University of Sheffield, and in 2006 he became a Royal Society University Research Fellow.

Research Keywords

Metal-Metal multiple bonds, Coordination chemistry, Electrochemistry, Spectroscopy, Magnetic and electronic materials, theoretical calculations.

Teaching Keywords

Inorganic chemistry, solar cells, electron transfer, mixed-valency

Selected Publications:

  • Unexpected structural and electronic effects of internal rotation in diruthenium paddlewheel complexes containing bulky carboxylate ligands, R. Gracia, H. Adams and N. J. Patmore, Inorg. Chim. Acta 2010, 363, 3856-3864.
  • Oxalate Bridged Triangles Incorporating Mo-2(4+) Units. Electronic Structure and Bonding, M. H. Chisholm, N. J. Patmore, C. R. Reed and N. Singh, Inorg. Chem. 2010, 49, 7116-7122.
  • Synthesis and Characterisation of Diruthenium Paddlewheel Compounds Bearing 2,6-Di(p-tolyl)benzoate Ligands, R. Gracia and N. J. Patmore, J. Cluster Sci. 2010, 21, 339-350.
  • Intramolecular electron transfer in cyanide bridged adducts comprising Ru-II/Ru-III tetracarboxylate and [Mn-I(CO)(CN)((BuNC)-Bu-t)(4)] units, W. Imhof, A. Sterzik, S. Krieck, M. Schwierz, T. Hoffeld, E. T. Spielberg, W. Plass and N. Patmore, Dalton T 2010, 39, 6249-6254.
  • Molecular, electronic structure and spectroscopic properties of MM quadruply bonded units supported by trans-6-carboethoxy-2-carboxylatoazulene ligands, B. G. Alberding, M. V. Barybin, M. H. Chisholm, T. L. Gustafson, C. R. Reed, R. E. Robinson, N. J. Patmore, N. Singh and C. Turro, Dalton T 2010, 39, 1979-1984.
  • Quadruply Bonded Dimetal Units Supported by 2,4,6-Triisopropylbenzoates MM(TiPB)(4) (MM = Mo-2, MoW, and W-2): Preparation and Photophysical Properties, B. G. Alberding, M. H. Chisholm, Y. H. Chou, J. C. Gallucci, Y. Ghosh, T. L. Gustafson, N. J. Patmore, C. R. Reed and C. Turro, Inorg. Chem. 2009, 48, 4394-4399.
  • Relationship between metal-metal bond length and internal rotation in diruthenium tetracarboxylate paddlewheel complexes, R. Gracia, H. Adams and N. J. Patmore, Dalton T 2009, 259-261.
  • Dimolybdenum Bis-2,4,6-triisopropyl-benzoate Bis-4-isonicotinate: A Redox Active Analogue of 4,4 '-Bipyridine with Ambivalent Properties, M. H. Chisholm, A. S. Dann, F. Dielmann, J. C. Gallucci, N. J. Patmore, R. Ramnauth and M. Scheer, Inorg. Chem. 2008, 47, 9248-9255. 

 

Research Interests

My research interests are based upon the chemistry of metal-metal multiply bonded compounds, typically incorporating metals from groups 6, 7 or 8, containing a dimetal core supported by four bidentate three-atom ligands, such as a carboxylate.

The metal-metal bond in these systems can have a formal bond order of up to four, which make these species particularly suited for fundamental studies of chemical bonding. For example, we observed an unusual reduction in metal-metal bond length despite an increase in the formal bond order for a series of diruthenium complexes. With the aid of theoretical calculations, we demonstrated this unusual phenomenon was related to distortion of the ligand environment due to changes in the electronic structure.

We have a number of projects that aim to utilize the redox active nature and interesting photophysical properties of the dimetal core. These includes the incorporation of the dimetal core into materials with interesting optoelectronic and magnetic properties, and their use in the study of mixed-valency and electron transfer processes in multinuclear systems generated using bridging ligands or hydrogen bonding interactions. Inspired by the diiron active site in a variety of non-haem enzymes, we are also exploring the application of diiron and diruthenium compounds as catalysts in aerobic oxidation reactions.

Our research employs Schlenk-line and glovebox techniques for the synthesis of our compounds which are often air-sensitive. The department has excellent facilities for characterization and evaluation of these compounds, which includes MALDI-TOF, mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy, electrochemistry, UV/vis and IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. During their projects researchers get training and ‘hands-on’ experience in all these techniques.

Teaching Section

Inorganic Chemistry

Undergraduate Courses Taught

  • Energy Generation and Storage (Year 1)
    The aim of this segment is to understand how batteries, fuel cells and solar cells are used in electrochemical storage and energy generation.
  • Molecular Electronics and Photonics (Year 4)
    This course describes basic theoretical considerations, experimental methods, and applications of one of the key fundamental processes - electron transfer - in chemistry, photochemistry, biochemistry and related disciplines.

Tutorial & Workshop Support

  • First Year Workshops.
  • Second Year Inorganic Chemistry Tutorials
  • Third Year Literature Review
  • Fourth year Workshops.

Laboratory Teaching

  • Third Year Advanced Practical Chemistry Techniques
  • Fourth Year Research Project