Andrew Weller

York for me. It was good to meet up again, even if briefly.

Just left the excellent CanUK inorganic symposium in beautiful Quebec City. What a privilege to be part of such collegiate scientific discussion. With thanks to @barryblight.bsky.social Fred Fontaine & @rebeccamelen.bsky.social. À la prochaine!

An epic ride in an epic location, and some (hopefully) epic data!

Always nice to add a hard copy of a thesis to the “library”. A beautifully presented one from Dr Chloe Johnson. The third one from the York-years.

A really useful and timely contribution. Well done to Aishanee (and Dave).

We're recruiting a PDRA to work with our team at Oxford Chemistry @ox.ac.uk @oxfordchemistry.bsky.social ! If you are interested in synthetic inorganic chemistry and catalysis research, Apply!

my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...

Dalby Forest looking towards the hills behind Scarborough. Earlyish morning with my gravel bike. Not a soul around apart from me. At least 10 different birds are serenading me, damsel files and bumblebees keeping me company, and in the distance the bucolic lowing of cattle.

We're hiring: TWO 3-year PhD positions to develop Bimetallic Chemistry for CO2, N2O and NH3 activation under ERC Consolidator Grant BiMetalGAS
@erc.europa.eu
. Expected start: June-September 2025. Please RT. #PhD #PhDposition #chemjob Cool bimetallics in sunny🌞Sevilla

Another great collaboration with @macgregorgroupsta.bsky.social

[B(O2C2(CF3)4)2]− ([FPB]−): Repurposing This Weakly Coordinating Anion for Solid-State Molecular Organometallic (SMOM) Chemistry The perfluoropinacol borate-based anion [B(O2C2(CF3)4)2]−, [FPB]–, is developed as a weakly coordinating anion for single-crystal to single-crystal organometallic solid/gas reactivity, resulting in the isolation and characterization (including periodic DFT and IGMH analysis) of the σ-alkane complex [Rh(Cy2PCH2CH2PCy2)(exo-η2η2-norbornane)][FPB]. The synthetically useful solvent-free Na+ salt, Na[FPB], and oxonium acid [H(OEt2)2][FPB] are also reported.

A new(ish) anion on the block for SMOM chemistry. Kris Altus’ latest on the organometallic chemistry of [B(O2C2(CF3)4)2]−. As well as showing this anion is a useful one in organometallic chemistry there is a cautionary note about the toxicity of a starting material.

pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

Gravel Riding in the Dalby Forest.

Great group, great PI and exciting chemistry.

An evening at the beach with @macgregorgroupsta.bsky.social after a productive day of science.

Breakfast. Robin Hoods Bay.

Grayson Perry's Big American Road Trip - Episode 1 In Atlanta and Washington DC Grayson explores race and 'White privilege'

I recommend this thought-provoking Grayson Perry documentary about his take on the US. Made pre-Covid. Prescient? I'll let you decide for yourself. I was reminded to watch it as we see events unfurl.

www.channel4.com/programmes/g...

Some of our poster-prize winners & talk-givers from #Dalton2025 : Frei, Lynam, Slattery, Douthwaite, Fairlamb, Parker, Willans (& Weller) Labs.

Natalia Baranska
Alex Watson
Jake Walder
Sara Bonfante
Rebecca Willans
Kris Altus
Katie Keating
Chloe van Beek
Stefan Flesch
Anson Chau
Cagri Ozsan

Australian with working visa detained and deported on returning to US from sister’s memorial Man who says he had previously left and re-entered the country multiple times alleges border officials called him ‘retarded’ and boasted ‘Trump is back in town’

More and more stories like this coming out all the time.

I cannot and will not go to the US, nor send any of my group to the US, for any reason. It's simply not safe for any foreign visitor.

No conferences, seminars, collaboration visits, vacations, nothing.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

DON’T TALK TO ME ABOUT REPRESSED RAGE. (….talk to my therapist)

CHEM 270-151 - Faculty & staff - University of Victoria Inspired by and honouring place, we are a community-minded, globally engaged university where we transform ideas into meaningful impact.

UVic Chemistry is hiring. We're looking for an Assistant Professor in experimental chemistry, particularly in one of the areas of physical and/or inorganic chemistry. More details in the ad below. Great department & part of the world to live! #facultychemjobs
www.uvic.ca/faculty-staf...

A square planar Ru(II) complex, that dehydropolymerizes amine boranes to selectively give high molecular BN-polymers at low (0.03 mol%) catalyst loadings and high ToF (250 s-1). And a hydroxy-hydride as the species formed in the induction period as a bonus! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Gravel riding North Yorkshire-style.

Wolds to the Moors. North Yorkshire in the early spring. Serenaded by Skylarks.

📣PhD available in our group focusing on Digital & Flow Chemistry for #MOF production. Based in Sch Chemistry & iPRD @UniLeeds. Start date: 1st Oct 2025. ⏰️Deadline 30th May. Please repost to spread the word 🙏 #chemsky #phdjobs eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...

Jose Goicoechea memorial pizza party. #Dalton2025

Representing at #Dalton2025. The York crew.

A Fresh Twist on the Phospha-(Aza)-Wittig Reaction The reactivity of an unsupported phosphinidene oxide, BnArNP═O (Bn = benzyl; Ar = bulky aryl group), as the electrophilic partner in Wittig reactions with ylides is described. Reactions with methylene-triphenylphosphorane (H2C═PPh3) and ethylidene-triphenyl-phosphorane (HMeC═PPh3), proceed as expected, giving rise to the phosphaalkene metathesis products and triphenylphosphine oxide. This reaction can be extended to other ylides such as N-(triphenylphosphoranylidene)methanamine (MeN═PPh3), to afford an aminoiminophosphane BnArNP═NMe. In these reactions the phosphinidene oxide plays the role of an electrophile, which would typically be the remit of an organic carbonyl in classical Wittig reactions. Further mechanistic insight into such transformations can be gained by altering the nature of the phosphorus-ylide. Upon reacting BnArNP═O with H2C═PMe3 (which possesses a smaller, more Lewis basic, phosphine) an alternative product is formed. This transformation supports the formation of a betaine intermediate that subsequently undergoes hydrogen-migration to afford an oxidized phosphorus(V) compound related to phosphorus acid.

Fresh out of the oven. Check out Chenyang’s most recent work in JACS (@jacs.acspublications.org). We explore the reactivity of a phosphinidene oxide as the electrophilic partner in Wittig transformations. Hope you enjoy.

pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....

We have an open 3rd year Research Associate position in the group to work on heterometallic complexes for C–H activation. Come join us and have fun playing with metals. Deadline to apply is 3rd of April. More details here. www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DMJ763/r...

Blackbird - Remastered 2009 The Beatles · The Beatles (Remastered) · Song · 1968

While history does not repeat itself, there is a certain cycle. This is just as relevant now as it was nearly 55+ years ago. And it is a fine song with the titular creature a beautiful, often overlooked, companion in our lives.

open.spotify.com/track/5jgFfD...

Please do read @philipcball.bsky.social ‘s opinion piece in Chemistry World. Important on so many levels (not only that it appears in an official @rsc.org publication).

Also great to see an Organometallic chemist on the front cover (Melanie Sanford).

One for my Teesside followers (all two of you)