Josef Boronski

Last week: homogeneous redox-catalysis with Al(I)-Al(III) (Leo Liu Lab) Now: heterogeneous alkene hydrogenation with Al(0), earth’s most abundant metal. Observations and calculations point to reactivity at the metal surface. Preprint: shorturl.at/I9R0B Main group power 👍

Matt, Imogen and Mickey’s paper detailing the synthesis and reactivity of the first neutral Al(I) trimer is out now in @natcomms.nature.com! Check it out here along with @mattdv-t.bsky.social’s ‘behind the paper’ article!

“Disappointed“ doesn’t cut it. These are simply outrageous comments from a billionaire tax exile. The RSC should take a stronger stance.

Registration is now open for the 2026 RSC (@rsc.org) Main Group Interest Group Conference:

www.rsc.org/events/detai...

The meeting will be taking place on the 8-9th April 2026 at the University of Edinburgh, showcasing a breadth of inorganic/main group chemistry- We would love to see you there.

While traditionally used as stoichiometric reagents, #HeavierAlkaliMetalAmides have emerged as versatile #catalysts find out more in this #perspective with #DavidSancehzRoa @pubs.acs.org in collaboration with @remglasgow.bsky.social @unistrathclyde.bsky.social
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

Only two days left to apply to this PDRA position in our group @imperialchemistry.bsky.social!

A Crystalline Mono‐Coordinate Indium(I)‐Phosphaalkenyl The redox neutral carbometallation of a phospha-alkyne using the dimeric indium(I) compound (InTer)2 is reported. This reaction affords a mono-coordinate indium(I) compound that can reversibly extrud...

See below for the latest from @alvarogarciaromero.bsky.social. We describe the reversible, redox-neutral carbometallation of a phospha-alkyne to afford a mono-coordinate indium(I) compound. Indium(I) to indium(I), and back again.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Description Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities ment...

Currently advertising a three-year PDRA position in organometallic chemistry. Come and work with us @imperialchemistry.bsky.social: www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...

FINALLY a complex of type LMg-CaL! This formally Mg(0)-Ca(II) complex shows a very long Mg-Ca bond with Mg(-)/Ca(+) polarization and is quite reactive! Our first 2026 paper is "In dear memory of Herbert Roesky" shorturl.at/tvi0C

We're Hiring! If you are interested in a PDRA post with the Mehta group, please apply! @ox.ac.uk @oxfordchemistry.bsky.social

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

The group will soon be advertising a 3-year PDRA position @imperialchemistry.bsky.social. The successful candidate will research the synthesis and reactivity of complexes with alkaline earth-metal bonds. Start date: 03/26. Please get in touch for infomal inquries.

Ambiphilic Reactivity and Switchable Methyl Transfer at a T-Shaped Bi(NNN) Complex Enabled by a Redox-Active Pincer Ligand We report the transition-metal-like reactivity of a geometrically constrained, ambiphilic bismuth(III) trisamide. Planarization of the Bi(III) center unlocks Bi–C bond formation when reacted with mild...

📣Our new paper is out in @jacs.acspublications.org (our very first one)!🥳

We show how a redox-active ligand unlocks C–X bond scission at an ambiphilic T-shaped Bi(III) compound. A big collaborative effort with my brilliant colleagues from Berlin.

👉 pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

Synthesis and Characterization of Unusual S=1 Fe(0)‐Silyl Complexes Supported by Styrene Ligands Despite the long-standing importance of iron-silicon bonds as related to catalysis, high-spin Fe(0)-silyl complexes remain a historical synthetic challenge in the field. Herein, we report the first s...

Just out over the holidays. The latest from the group and first author Alexis Bauer on some fun iron-silyl chemistry. Check it out.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Here's our first preprint of 2026. Selective, catalytic hydroboration of carbon–carbon bonds of strained cyclobutanes with magnesium complexes. chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr.... Some interesting mechanistic twists in this one. Congrats to @upwinder.bsky.social Joe Parr and Esther Raga.

Professor and Head of Department of Chemistry at University of Liverpool Recruiting now: Professor and Head of Department of Chemistry on jobs.ac.uk. Click for details and explore more academic job opportunities on the top job board

Liverpool is hiring for a Professor who would also be Head of Chemistry. Application deadline Jan 4th. Interviews Feb 5th. I really like it here; maybe you would, too. www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPQ019/p...

Incredibly grateful to @royalsociety.org for the award of a URF to support our research on alkaline earth metal-metal bonding!

Graphical abstract image for the Chemical Science paper titled All-Boron Analogue of Planar Benzene on an Osmium Template. The chemical structure shows a six membered boron ring in green side-on nu-6 coordinated to a pink osmium moeity representing osmium wiht a nu-5 coordinated C-5 methyl-5 ligand to make a sandwich complex. The title of the image reads boron analogue of benzene and there is a yellow circle in the corner with the words Pick of the Week.

This week's Chemical Science Pick of the Week is "All-Boron Analogue of Planar Benzene on an Osmium Template" by Eluvathingal Jemmis and Sundargopal Ghosh et al. from IIT Madras and IISc Bangalore.

Read it for free here: doi.org/10.1039/D5SC...

PhD Studentship in C–H Functionalisation Using Polymetallic Complexes at Imperial College London on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - PhD Studentship in C–H Functionalisation Using Polymetallic Complexes at Imperial College London, listed on FindAPhD.com

We are advertising for two PhD studentships in organometallic chemistry! Come and work with us @imperialchemistry.bsky.social from October 2026:
Advert 2) www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

PhD Studentship in Organometallic Beryllium Chemistry at Imperial College London on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - PhD Studentship in Organometallic Beryllium Chemistry at Imperial College London, listed on FindAPhD.com

We are advertising for two PhD studentships in organometallic chemistry! Come and work with us @imperialchemistry.bsky.social from October 2026:
Advert 1) www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

On Hull — Michael O'Neill A personal reflection on the closure of Hull’s Chemistry Department, where I held my first academic post.

It's been one year since my blog on the closure of Hull, which kind of blew up. A thread with some reflections on what's happened since then. 1/ www.michaeloneill.org/blog-1/2024/...

Excited to share our new preprint! 🥳
We developed a modular strategy to access small four-membered biradicaloids by trapping them in Mn and Co complexes. Many congratulations to Stefan and Michi for their successful efforts !

Thrilled to share the work of @clarencetankl.bsky.social and @antorna.bsky.social on elevating #sodium mediated deprotonative #borylation to #catalytic regimes with an insightful #mechanistic study in collaboration with Max Garcia Melchor @pubs.acs.org @unibe.ch

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

(2/2) ..I increasingly encounter faculty that will not support their own students/postdocs in fellowship applications due to perceived competition on science. Maybe I am just getting old but isn't the idea of our jobs to create great scientists that can go on and do even better science than we have?

TIRE CHANGE: First Mg(I) complex with a Cp* ligand enables facile ligand exchange. Reaction with RONa gives (BDI)Mg-MgOR and Cp*Na. This paves the way for syntheses of many new asymmetric Mg(I) complexes. @angew_chem onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....

York Minster

A privilege to be back in York to deliver the McCamley Lecture. Many thanks to everyone in the Chemistry Department for their hospitality!

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/anie.202515545#

Our group's very first ACIE paper is out!🥳

Awesome work by Soti and a great cooperation with the Bittl group and @franemmerling.bsky.social.

Dedicated to @christianlimberg.bsky.social and Franc Meyer

@humboldtuni.bsky.social @manchester.ac.uk

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

First post, first publication!
I’m over the moon to share the first publication from our small research group! 🚀 pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a... @chemcomm.rsc.org
Jan explored a funky P=P-containing heterocycle and its reversible! bond activation chemistry, with DFT insights from Francesco. #newPI

20 years of FLPs! Check out this article published together with the pioneer of FLPs himself (Prof. Douglas Stephan) covering some of the highlights of FLP chemistry over the last two decades. pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...

Alkaline earth metals: heterometallic bonding The alkaline earth metals are notorious for their tendency to form ionic compounds of their dications. In recent years, however, chemists have found ways to kinetically skirt around the edges of…

🔓Don't miss this #OpenAccess Frontier article by Liam P. Griffin and @josefboronski.bsky.social outlining recent advances in heterometallic alkaline earth metals and pathways to future breakthroughs⬇️

pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...

📍 @manchester.ac.uk, @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social 🧪

Ending the week on a high! Check out our comparison of manganate and magnesiate now published in ChemComm! Great team effort @bathchem.bsky.social with @tobiaskramer.bsky.social in understanding these elusive bimetallics!