Dr Christopher Gabbuttc.gabbutt@hud.ac.uk | 01484 471733
I am a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences. Prior to joining Huddersfield in August 2012 I have, over the last 21 years taught and researched in organic chemistry and held numerous administrative roles at the Universities of Central Lancashire (1991-1998), Hull (1998-2001) and Leeds (2001-2012). My teaching experience ranges widely across the subject and encompasses both fundamental and applied aspects of organic chemistry. I have as a result of my PhD (1987, CNAA) a long-standing research interest in heterocyclic chemistry, in particular the chemistry of benzopyrans and fused-ring derivatives. My research has developed several new methods to synthesise or to functionalise benzopyran-containing ring systems. Work on a wide variety of other heterocycles has also been undertaken. Concomitantly, research on photochromic heterocyclic compounds, in collaboration with industry, has been actively pursued since 1986 and has also produced many ‘firsts’. These include the discovery of the most intense colouring photochromic compounds – i.e. the amino-substituted spirooxazines, the controlled thermal fading of spirooxazines, the discovery of hyperchromic naphthopyrans and, more recently, the first dichroic naphthopyrans.
Work on photochromic compounds has resulted in 16 patents. Molecules developed over the years have now been commercialised world-wide.
Other materials chemistry-based projects, funded, by industry are currently underway.
Aspects of benzopyran chemistry which have been extensively explored include: (i) Rearrangements of acylbenzopyranone derivatives initiated by acid or by addition of organolithium or organocuprate reagents. (ii) Ring and lateral directed lithiation and reductive lithiations of chromones, xanthones and xanthendiones. (iv) The synthesis and cycloadditions of benzopyrans possessing iso-condensed furan, thiophene and pyrrole rings.
Current interests centre upon:
Heterocyclic Materials Chemistry
Photochromism of aryl-linked naphthopyrans; investigation of substituent and electron transmission effects in naphthopyrans. Synthesis of optical molecular switches based on di(heteroaryl)ethene motifs. Design and synthesis of multiply switchable photochromic systems. Atropisomerism in photochromic compounds. Synthesis of novel p-deficient heterocyclic electron acceptors. Synthesis and properties of electrochromic compounds.
Synthetic Heterocyclic Chemistry
Synthesis of fused ring derivatives of 2H-pyran especially chromones, thiochromones and tetrahydroxanthendiones. Cycloaddition chemistry of furobenzopyrans. Synthesis of hetero-fused benzo[b]thiophenes and dibenzothiophenes.
New routes to and applications of transition metal-mediated transformations (Pd, Ir and Rh) for the synthesis of novel functional organic materials. Synthesis of fused-ring siloles and azaindolizines.
Blackwell, C., Gabbutt, C., Guthrie, J. and Heron, B. (2012) ‘The synthesis and properties of vinyl substituted naphthopyrans and their styrene copolymers’ Dyes and Pigments , 95 (2), pp. 408-420. ISSN 0143-7208
Crossley, D., Gabbutt, C., Heron, B., Kay, P. and Mogstad, M. (2012) ‘Synthesis and photochromic properties of spiro[naphthopyran-7?H-benzocyclohepta-5?,8?-dienes] ’ Dyes and Pigments , 95 (1), pp. 62-68. ISSN 0143-7208
Gabbutt, C., Heron, B., Kilner, C. and Kolla, S. (2012) ‘The synthesis and properties of naphthopyran– boradiazaindacene conjugates ’ Dyes and Pigments , 94 (2), pp. 175-182. ISSN 0143-7208
Gabbutt, C., Gibbons, L., Heron, B. and Kolla, S. (2012) ‘The intramolecular capture of thermally generated merocyanine dyes derived from naphthopyrans: Photochromism of 5-(diarylhydroxymethyl)-2H-naphtho[1,2-b]pyrans ’ Dyes and Pigments , 92 (3), pp. 995-1004. ISSN 0143-7208
Gabbutt, C., Heron, B., Kilner, C. and Kolla, S. (2012) ‘The synthesis and photochromism of a 2,2-diaryl-6-styryl-2H-[1]benzopyran: Unexpected palladium-mediated ring-contraction of a 6-bromo-2,2-diaryl-2H-[1]benzopyran’ Dyes and Pigments , 92 (2), pp. 825-830. ISSN 0143-7208
Gabbutt, C., Heron, B., Kilner, C. and Kolla, S. (2011) ‘Hexatriene formation from the regiospecific alkene cross-metathesis of trans-1-(buta-1,3-dien-1-yl)-2-acryloyloxynaphthalene’ Journal of chemical research , 35 (9), pp. 531-535. ISSN 1747-5198
Chaitanya, K., Santhamma, C., Heron, B., Gabbutt, C. and Instone, A. (2011) ‘Vibrational assignment of the spectral data and thermodynamic properties of 2-chloro-4-fluorobenzophenone using DFT quantum chemical calculations’ Vibrational Spectroscopy , 57 (1), pp. 35-41. ISSN 0924-2031
Curtis, A., Gabbutt, C., Heron, B. and Kilner, C. (2011) ‘Direct formation of ?,?-unsaturated dithioacetals from diarylpropynols’ Tetrahedron Letters , 52 (6), pp. 708-710. ISSN 0040-4039
Gabbutt, C., Heron, B., Kilner, C. and Kolla, S. (2010) ‘Benzopentalenonaphthalenones from the intramolecular capture of a merocyanine derived from a naphthopyran’ Chemical Communications , 46 (44), pp. 8481-8483. ISSN 1359-7345
Gabbutt, C., Heron, B., Kilner, C. and Kolla, S. (2010) ‘The influence of a 1,1-diarylvinyl moiety on the photochromism of naphthopyrans’ Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry , 8 (21), pp. 4874-4883. ISSN 1477-0520
Aiken, S., Gabbutt, C., Heron, B., Kershaw, C., Smith, N. and Cano, J.(2009) Photochromic Dichroic Naphthopyrans and Optical Articles Containing them. WO/2009109546.
Aiken, S., Gabbutt, C., Heron, B., Kershaw, C., Smith, N. and Cano, J.(2009) Photochromic Dichroic Naphthopyrans and Optical Articles Containing them. EP/2098520.
Gabbutt, C., Heron, B., Kolla, S., Kilner, C., Coles, S., Horton, P. and Hursthouse, M. (2008) ‘Ring contraction during the 6?-electrocyclisation of naphthopyran valence tautomers’ Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry , 6 (17), pp. 3096-3104. ISSN 1477-0520
Gabbutt, C., Heron, B., Kolla, S. and Mcgivern, M. (2008) ‘Two Stage Colour Modulation of Triarylmethine Dyes Derived from a Photochromic Naphthopyran’ European Journal of Organic Chemistry , 2008 (12), pp. 2031-2034. ISSN 1434-193X
Aiken, S., Cano, J., Gabbutt, C. and Heron, B.(2008) 6-Biphenyl-Ester-3H-Naphtho[2,1-b]pyrans as Photochromic Dichroic Dyes and Optical Articles Containing Them. WO2008029194.
Aiken, S., Cano, J., Gabbutt, C., Heron, B., Kosa, T., Su, L., Sukhomlinova, L. and Taheri, B.(2008) 3H-Naphtho[2,1-b]pyrans as Photochromic Dichroic Dyes and Optical Articles Containing Them. WO/2008080226.
Aiken, S., Cano, J., Gabbutt, C. and Heron, B.(2008) 6-Biphenyl-Ester-3H-Naphtho[2,1-b]pyrans as Photochromic Dichroic Dyes and Optical Articles Containing Them. WO2008028930.
Gabbutt, C., Heron, B., Instone, A., Kolla, S., Mahajan, K., Coelho, P. and Carvalho, L. (2008) ‘Synthesis and photochromic properties of symmetrical aryl ether linked bi- and tri-naphthopyrans’ Dyes and Pigments , 76 (1), pp. 24-34. ISSN 0143-7208
Sriprom, W., Néel, M., Gabbutt, C., Heron, B. and Perrier, S. (2007) ‘Tuning the color switching of naphthopyrans via the control of polymeric architectures’ Journal of Materials Chemistry , 17 (19), pp. 1885-1893. ISSN 0959-9428
Gabbutt, C., Hargrove, T., Heron, B., Jones, D., Poyner, C., Yildiz, E., Horton, P. and Hursthouse, M. (2006) ‘Oxidation and ring cleavage reactions of 3-benzhydrylchromones. Generation of triarylmethine cations from methylidenechroman-4-ones and benzopyrano[4,3-c]pyrazoles’ Tetrahedron , 62 (47), pp. 10945-10953. ISSN 0040-4020
Gabbutt, C., Heron, B. and Instone, A. (2006) ‘The synthesis and electronic absorption spectra of 3-phenyl-3(4-pyrrolidino-2-substituted phenyl)-3H-naphtho[2,1-b]pyrans: further exploration of the ortho substituent effect’ Tetrahedron , 62 (4), pp. 737-745. ISSN 0040-4020
Gabbutt, C., Heron, B., Thomas, D., Partington, S., Light, M. and Hursthouse, M. (2005) ‘Photochromic Naphthopyrans Containing a Latent Carbene Unit’ Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals , 431 (1), pp. 357-362. ISSN 1542-1406
Clarke, D., Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J. and Heron, B. (2005) ‘Synthesis of 3-alkenyl-2-arylchromones and 2,3-dialkenylchromones via acid-catalysed retro-Michael ring opening of 3-acylchroman-4-ones’ Tetrahedron Letters , 46 (33), pp. 5515-5519. ISSN 0040-4039
Gabbutt, C., Heron, B., Mars, C. and Partington, S. (2005) ‘Synthesis and Photochromic Properties of 2H,9H-Indeno[1,2-f]- and 3H,7H-Indeno[2,1-i]- naphtho[2,1-b]pyrans’ Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals , 430 (1), pp. 167-172. ISSN 1542-1406
Afrasiabi, Z., Sinn, E., Kulkarni, P., Ambike, V., Padhye, S., Deobagakar, D., Heron, B., Gabbutt, C., Anson, C. and Powell, A. (2005) ‘Synthesis and characterization of copper(II) complexes of 4-alkyl/aryl-1,2-naphthoquinones thiosemicarbazones derivatives as potent DNA cleaving agents’ Inorganica Chimica Acta , 358 (6), pp. 2023-2030. ISSN 0020-1693
Gabbutt, C., Heron, B., Instone, A., Horton, P. and Hursthouse, M. (2005) ‘Synthesis and photochromic properties of substituted 3H-naphtho[2,1-b]pyrans’ Tetrahedron , 61 (2), pp. 463-471. ISSN 0040-4020
Gabbutt, C., Heron, B., Thomas, D., Light, M. and Hursthouse, M. (2004) ‘Carbenoid induced irreversible ring opening of naphthopyrans’ Tetrahedron Letters , 45 (32), pp. 6151-6154. ISSN 0040-4039
Heron, B., Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J., Thomas, D., Kilner, C. and Partington, S. (2004) ‘Synthesis and Photochromic Properties of Methoxy Substituted 2,2-Diaryl-2H-naphtho[1,2-b]pyrans’ Heterocycles , 63 (3), pp. 567-582. ISSN 0385-5414
Aiken, S., Gabbutt, C., Heron, B., Instone, A., Horton, P. and Hursthouse, M. (2004) ‘Making light work in colour chemistry’ Advances in Colour Science & Technology , 7 (3), pp. 55-65. ISSN 1462-4761
Aiken, S., Gabbutt, C. and Heron, B. (2003) ‘Synthesis and photochromic properties of aryl-, heteroaryl- and biphenyl- linked 3H-naphtho[2,1-b]pryans’. In: 19th International Congress on Heterocyclic Chemistry: Book of Abstracts . : Elsevier. p. 102. ISBN 9780080443041
Gabbutt, C., Heron, B., Mars, C., Light, M. and Hursthouse, M. (2003) ‘Novel phosphorus ylides from ANRORC and ring cleavage reactions of 3-(aryliminomethyl)chromones’. In: 19th International Congress on Heterocyclic Chemistry: Book of Abstracts . : Elsevier. p. 234. ISBN 9780080443041
Daia, D., Clarke, D., Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J. and Heron, B. (2003) ‘Transformations of 3-acylchromones into alkenyl and allenyl chromones’. In: 19th International Congress on Heterocyclic Chemistry: Book of Abstracts . : Elsevier. p. 156. ISBN 9780080443041
Gabbutt, C., Heron, B. and Thomas, D. (2003) ‘Observations on the synthesis and reactivity of photochromic naphthopyrans’. In: 19th International Congress on Heterocyclic Chemistry: Book of Abstracts . : Elsevier. p. 171. ISBN 9780080443041
Gabbutt, C., Heron, B., Instone, A., Thomas, D., Partington, S., Hursthouse, M. and Gelbrich, T. (2003) ‘Observations on the Synthesis of Photochromic Naphthopyrans’ European Journal of Organic Chemistry , 2003 (7), pp. 1220-1230. ISSN 1434-193X
Heron, B., Gabbutt, C. and Instone, A. (2003) ‘Control of the Fading Properties of Photochromic 3,3-Diaryl-3H-naphtho- [2,1-b]pyrans’ Heterocycles , 60 (4), pp. 843-855. ISSN 0385-5414
Daia, D., Gabbutt, C., Heron, B., Hepworth, J., Hursthouse, M. and Malik, K. (2003) ‘Conjugate additions of lithium dialkynylcuprates [(RC?C)2CuLi] to activated chromones. Unexpected formation of the 6H-bis[1]benzopyrano[2,3-b:3?,4?-e]pyridine system’ Tetrahedron Letters , 44 (7), pp. 1461-1464. ISSN 0040-4039
Gabbutt, C., Heron, B. and Instone, A. (2003) ‘Control of the fading properties of photochromic 3,3-diaryl-3H-naphtho[2,1-b] pryans’ Advances in Colour Science & Technology , 6 (4), pp. 116-118. ISSN 1462-4761
Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J., Heron, B. and Pugh, S. (2002) ‘A facile route to pyrroles, isoindoles and hetero fused analogues’ Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1 (24), pp. 2799-2808. ISSN 1472-7781
Gabbutt, C., Gelbrich, T., Hepworth, J., Heron, B., Hursthouse, M. and Partington, S. (2002) ‘Synthesis and photochromic properties of some fluorine-containing naphthopyrans’ Dyes and Pigments , 54 (1), pp. 79-93. ISSN 0143-7208
Daia, G., Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J., Heron, B., Hibbs, D. and Hursthouse, M. (2002) ‘Synthesis and cycloadditions of 9H-furo[3,4-b][1]benzo(thio)pyran-9-ones: furan ring formation by a novel hydrolytically induced cycloreversion’ Tetrahedron Letters , 43 (25), pp. 4507-4510. ISSN 0040-4039
Gabbutt, C., Heron, B., McCreary, J. and Thomas, D. (2002) ‘Unusual aminations with tetramethylguanidine’ Journal of chemical research , 2002 (2), pp. 69-71. ISSN 1747-5198
Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J., Heron, B., Partington, S. and Thomas, D. (2001) ‘Synthesis and spectroscopic properties of some merocyanine dyes’ Dyes and Pigments , 49 (1), pp. 65-74. ISSN 0143-7208
Clarke , D., Heron, B., Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J., Partington, S. and Corns, S.(2001) Rapid Fading Photo-Responsive Materials. WO/2001/012619.
Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J., Heron, B. and Partington, S. (2000) ‘Photochromism of some thienobenzopyrans’ Dyes and Pigments , 47 (1-2), pp. 73-77. ISSN 0143-7208
Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J., Heron, B., Coles, S. and Hursthouse, M. (2000) ‘Synthesis of some thiochromeno[4,3-c]- and [3,4-c]-pyrazoles’ Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1 (17), pp. 2930-2938. ISSN 1470-4358
Gabbutt, C., Heron, B., Hursthouse, M. and Abdul Malik, K. (2000) ‘Conjugate addition of a phosphorus ylide to 3-cyanochromone’ Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon and the Related Elements , 166 (1), pp. 99-109. ISSN 1042-6507
Clarke , D., Heron, B., Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J., Partington, S. and Corns, S.(2000) Photochromic Substituted 2H-Naphtho[1,2-b]pyrans. WO/2000/035902 .
Clarke , D., Heron, B., Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J., Partington, S. and Corns, S.(2000) Grey Colouring Photochromic Fused Pyrans. WO/2000/018755.
Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J., Heron, B. and Partington, S. (2000) ‘Protolysis of Spironaphtho(aza)pyranoindoles’ Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals Science and Technology. Section A. Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals , 345 (1), pp. 323-328. ISSN 1058-725X
Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J., Heron, B. and Partington, S. (2000) ‘Photochromism of Some Heterobenzopyrans’ Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals Science and Technology. Section A. Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals , 344 (1), pp. 229-234. ISSN 1058-725X
Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J., Heron, B., Rahman, M., Coles, S. and Hursthouse, M. (1999) ‘Synthesis and reactivity of some 3,4-dibromo-2H-[1]benzopyrans: The generation and reactions of 3,4-didehydro-2H-[1]benzopyran’ Tetrahedron , 55 (34), pp. 10467-10480. ISSN 0040-4020
Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J., Heron, B. and Thomas, J. (1999) ‘A novel acylative ring cleavage of benzothieno[3,2-b]pyran-4-ols: application to the synthesis of dibenzothiophenes and fused-ring derivatives’ Chemical Communications (6), pp. 541-542. ISSN 1359-7345
Clarke , D., Heron, B., Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J., Partington, S. and Corns, S.(1999) Naphthopyran Photochromic Dyes Sensitive to pH. WO/1999/031081 .
Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J. and Heron, B. (1999) ‘An NMR investigation of the merocyanine dyes generated by protolysis of some novel spironaphthopyranoindoles’ Dyes and Pigments , 42 (1), pp. 35-43. ISSN 0143-7208
Clarke , D., Heron, B., Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J., Partington, S. and Corns, S.(1999) Photochromic Compounds. WO/1999/020630 .
Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J., Heron, B., Elsegood, M. and Clegg, W. (1999) ‘An unusual ring expansion from the Zav’yalov pyrrole synthesis: formation of oxacino[2,3-c]pyrroles’ Chemical Communications (3), pp. 289-290. ISSN 1359-7345
Hepworth, J., Gabbutt, C. and Heron, B. (1999) ‘Photochromism of naphthopyrans’. In: Dye & pigment chemistry (Colour science '98 : Proceedings of the international conference & exhibition. : University of Leeds . pp. 161-173. ISBN 9780853161967
Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J., Heron, B., Jones, A., Raper, E. and Clegg, W. (1998) ‘Structural studies of a novel heterocyclic phosphorane’ Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon and the Related Elements , 143 (1), pp. 221-230. ISSN 1042-6507
Clarke , D., Heron, B., Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J., Partington, S. and Corns, S.(1998) Red Colouring Hyperchromic 3H-Naphtho[2,1-b]pyrans. WO/1998/045281.
Clarke , D., Heron, B., Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J., Partington, S. and Corns, S.(1998) Neutral Colouring Photochromic 2H-Naphtho[1,2-b]pyrans and Heterocyclic Pyrans and Their Use. WO/1998/042693.
Clarke , D., Heron, B., Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J., Partington, S. and Corns, S.(1998) Intense Colouring Photochromic 2H-Naphtho[1,2-b]pyrans and Heterocyclic Pyrans . WO/1998/042695 .
Daia, G., Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J., Heron, B., Hibbs, D. and Hursthouse, M. (1998) ‘The directed lithiation of some 3-acylchromone acetals’ Tetrahedron Letters , 39 (10), pp. 1215-1218. ISSN 0040-4039
Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J., Heron, B. and Thomas, J. (1998) ‘The oxidative ring expansion of spiro-annulated chroman-4-ones: Syntheses of the rotenoid core and related benzoxanthones’ Tetrahedron Letters , 39 (8), pp. 881-884. ISSN 0040-4039
Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J. and Heron, B. (1997) ‘A facile synthesis of some benzothiopyrano [4,3-b] pyrroles’ Journal of Chemical Research , pp. 102-103. ISSN 0308-2342
Hepworth, J., Gabbutt, C. and Heron, B. (1996) ‘Pyrans and their Benzo Derivatives - Structure’. In: Comprehensive Heterocyclic Chemistry II. : Pergamon. pp. 301-350. ISBN 9780080420721
Hepworth, J., Gabbutt, C. and Heron, B. (1996) ‘Pyrans and their Benzo Derivatives - Synthesis’. In: Comprehensive Heterocyclic Chemistry II. : Pergamon. pp. 351-468. ISBN 9780080420721
Gabbutt, C., Heron, B., Hepworth, J. and Rahman, M. (1996) ‘The generation and reactions of 3,4-didehydro-2H-[1]benzopyran, a highly strained heterocycle’ Tetrahedron Letters , 37 (8), pp. 1313-1316. ISSN 0040-4039
Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J. and Heron, B. (1995) ‘Reactions of some 2H-Chromenes and 2H-Thiochromenes with triazolinediones’ Tetrahedron , 51 (48), pp. 13277-13290. ISSN 0040-4020
Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J. and Heron, B. (1995) ‘The reaction of methylenetriphenylphosphorane with aromatic heterocyclic 1,2-diketones’ Journal of Chemical Research (miniprint) , p. M0805-M0819. ISSN 0308-2350
Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J. and Heron, B. (1995) ‘The reaction of methylenetriphenylphosphorane with aromatic and heterocyclic 1,2-diketones’ Journal of Chemical Research , pp. 118-119. ISSN 0308-2342
Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J. and Heron, B. (1994) ‘Synthesis and reactivity of some thiochroman-3,4-diones.’ Tetrahedron , 50 (26), pp. 7865-7878. ISSN 0040-4020
Gabbutt, C., D. Hepworth, J. and Heron, B. (1994) ‘A new reaction of ?-chloro-?-chlorosulfenyl ketones: facile syntheses of 3,3-dichloro- and 3-chloro-chroman-4-ones and thiochroman-4-ones’ Tetrahedron , 50 (17), pp. 5245-5254. ISSN 0040-4020
Gabbutt, C., Hartley, D., Hepworth, J., Heron, B., Kanjia, M. and Rahman, M. (1994) ‘Synthesis and reactivity of some 4-bromo- 2H-chromenes and 2H-thiochromenes’ Tetrahedron , 50 (8), pp. 2507-2522. ISSN 0040-4020
Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J. and Heron, B. (1994) ‘Expedient syntheses of the rotenoid and thiorotenoid systems’ Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1 (6), pp. 653-657. ISSN 0300-922X
Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J., Heron, B. and Rahman, M. (1994) ‘Allenes from 3-bromo-2H-1-benzopyrans’ Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1 (13), pp. 1733-1737. ISSN 0300-922X
Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J., Heron, B. and Kanjia, M. (1994) ‘Ring contraction of sulfenamides derived from thiochroman-4-ones’ Tetrahedron , 50 (3), pp. 827-834. ISSN 0040-4020
Bethune, R., Gabbutt, C., Guinot, S., Hepworth, J. and Heron, B. (1994) ‘Directed lithiation of some chroman-4-ols’ Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1 (14), pp. 1925-1933. ISSN 0300-922X
Clayton, S., Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J. and Heron, B. (1993) ‘Direct aromatic tert-butylation during the synthesis of thiochroman-4-ones’ Tetrahedron , 49 (4), pp. 939-946. ISSN 0040-4020
Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J. and Heron, B. (1992) ‘Synthesis of the 5-thiorotenoid system from thiochroman-3-one’ Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1 (22), pp. 3015-3018. ISSN 0300-922X
Gabbutt, C., Hepworth, J. and Heron, B. (1992) ‘Enamino ketones as precursors of functionalised 2H-thiopyrans and thiopyrano[2,3-c]- and [3,2-b]-benzothiopyrans’ Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1 (20), pp. 2603-2608. ISSN 0300-922X
Editor: Journal of Chemical Research (since 2010)
Regular reviewer for: Journal of Organic Chemistry, Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, European Journal of Organic Chemistry, Tetrahedron, Chemical Society Reviews, Chemistry, A European Journal, Angewandte Chemie International Edition.
Research has contributed to industrial sponsors gaining:
PhD Examiner
Various UK and overseas (India, Pakistan) universities
Invited review chapters
Collaborations
Numerous industrial collaborations. Academic collaborations include the Universities of Bordeaux and Lille.
New approaches for the synthesis and functionalistion of chromones and 4-quinolones
A novel approach to generate ortho-substituted arylpropynones, precursors to these important heterocycles will be explored. New metal-mediated C-H bond functionalistion protocols will be investigated.
Synthesis and spectroscopic investigation of photochromic systems.
The synthesis of bi-photochromic systems in which a naphthopyran possessing an embedded di(heteroaryl)ethene be explored – these systems offer the potential for multiply addressable systems for optical data storage.
Synthesis of pseudoazulenes.
Pseudoazulenes represent an interesting and diverse class of heterocycle. Many have emerging applications in advanced materials, for example as electrochromes or in dye-sensitised solar cells. New approaches to a variety of pseudoazulenes via electrocyclisation reactions of heteroaryl-linked Schiff bases and azobenzenes and also via metal-meditated C-H functionalisation reactions of arylazoles will be explored.
