Welcome to the website of the Mansell Research Group based at Heriot-Watt University. We develop new catalysts to make useful products more efficiently.
Our vision is to combine the best aspects of main group, transition metal chemistry and f-block chemistry in order to develop better homogeneous catalysts targeting important transformations, including acceptorless dehydrogenation and C-H functionalisation.
Boron Chemistry book available 12 October 2026:
My new popular science book Boron: In Search of the Real Fifth Element is available from 12 October 2026: https://doi.org/10.1039/9781837070008). This accessible book written for a general audience highlights boron’s role in many different fields, from rocket fuels to antibiotics; from materials almost as hard as diamond to markers for the prehistoric concentrations of carbon dioxide. Pre-order now!
There will be a webinar on 21 October 2026 at 15:00:
Link to webinar
LATEST NEWS:
Our latest publication on C-H and C-C activation / borylation is out now in Organometallics. We were also selected for the front cover:
This work also features in two Chemistry World articles
Virtual Lab tour:
The Institute of Chemical Sciences
Studying at Heriot-Watt University