Professor Harry Anderson - 2024 Organic 91AV open Prize: Pedler Prize winner

Professor Harry Anderson FRSC

Winner: 2024 Organic 91AV open prize: Pedler Prize

University of Oxford

For work on the synthesis and investigation of pi-conjugated macrocycles and new carbon allotropes.

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Most of the problems that face society, such as climate change, shortages of resources or incurable diseases, can only be solved by chemistry in combination with other disciplines.

In organic chemistry, we can design molecules that may never have existed before and test whether they have the properties we expect. Professor Anderson’s research focuses on creating molecular compounds with unprecedented properties. This means learning how to synthesise them and how to change their molecular architectures to achieve a desired property.

Professor Anderson is particularly interested in large organic molecules that allow the flow of electrons over distances of several nanometres. His group has developed methods for creating molecular wire rings and is investigating whether these molecules behave like tiny rings of metal wire. They also work on the synthesis of new carbon allotropes, i.e. molecules such as C13, C16 and C18 that are made entirely from carbon. These small carbon molecules are too reactive to study under ambient conditions, so the group is developing strategies for making them more stable.

Read winner biography

Harry Anderson completed his PhD on ‘Model Enzymes Based on Porphyrins’ under the guidance of Jeremy Sanders at the University of Cambridge in 1990. He started his independent research on porphyrin-based molecular wires in Cambridge a few days after completing his PhD, as a research fellow at Magdalene College. He then moved to ETH Zürich, Switzerland, to carry out postdoctoral work with François Diederich on the synthesis of new carbon allotropes.

He has led an independent research group at the University of Oxford since 1995. His work includes the investigation of molecular wires, cyclodextrin-based polyrotaxanes, insulated molecular wires, encapsulated π-systems, template-directed synthesis, multivalent cooperativity, supramolecular chemistry, porphyrin nanorings, nanoscale aromaticity, polyynes, cyclocarbons, single-molecule transistors, nonlinear optical chromophores, two-photon absorption and photo-switchable fluorescent dyes. Recent highlights include the synthesis and atomic force microscopy of cyclocarbons C13, C16 and C18 in collaboration with IBM Zürich and the demonstration that large porphyrin nanorings exhibit global aromatic ring currents. He is currently a professorial research fellow at Oxford University’s Department of 91AV and Keble College. Apart from chemistry, his interests include pottery, painting and walking in the countryside.

Q&A

How did you first become interested in chemistry?

As a child, I was fascinated by how things burn or melt when you heat them. I loved playing with fire. I also wanted to be an inventor. Both these impulses directed me towards chemistry. I became obsessed with chemistry as a teenager, and I carried out many experiment in my home laboratory, most of which would now be illegal.

Tell us about somebody who has inspired or mentored you in your career.

I was lucky to have Martin Grossel as my tutor for organic chemistry. His enthusiasm inspired me to study supramolecular and physical organic chemistry. Jeremy Sanders was also an inspirational mentor. He taught me to tackle research projects by focusing on the most important questions and ‘going for the jugular’. He gave me tremendous encouragement and freedom to explore my own ideas during my PhD.

What motivates you?

I enjoy inventing new molecules and learning how we can control their properties by changing their structures.

Why is chemistry important?

Most of the problems that face society, such as climate change, shortages of resources or incurable diseases, can only be solved by chemistry in combination with other disciplines. These areas of applied chemistry are dependent on advances in fundamental understanding. Fundamental research is also important in its own right as a way of understanding the universe in which we live.

Why do you think collaboration and teamwork are important in science?

Collaborating with scientists in other disciplines is essential because it allows one to tackle problems that are beyond the grasp of a single research group. Collaboration between scientists who share the same field of expertise can also be more rewarding than working alone. Collaborations can teach you different ways of working and different approaches to solving problems.