Associate Professor Rowan Young
Associate Professor

Rowan Young

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 69901

Background

I obtained my BSc.(Hons) from the University of New South Wales in Australia, then went on to pursue a PhD at the Australian National University’s Research School of Chemistry under the supervision of Professor Anthony Hill. After stints at the University of Oxford and the University of Edinburgh as a research fellow in groups of Andrew Weller and Polly Arnold respectively, I began my independent career at the National University of Singapore in 2014. Since then I have focused on methodology development using pincer complexes and frustrated Lewis pairs to address challenges in small molecule activation, in particular the selective activation of carbon-halide and carbon-chalcogen bonds. My achievements have been recognized with research awards including Asian Chemistry Prizes from Japan and China (2018) and the Thieme Chemistry Journal Award in 2019. In 2022 I was awarded an ARC Future Fellowship, which I assumed at the University of Queensland in mid-2023. The theme of the research for this fellowship is the recycling and repurposing of fluorocarbons through selective activation using organometallic techniques.

Availability

Associate Professor Rowan Young is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Chemical Sciences Inorganic chemistry Inorganic green chemistry Main group metal chemistry

Research interests

  • Frustrated Lewis Pairs

    Activation chemistry based on the interaction of bulky Lewis acid and bases

  • Transition Metal Pincer Chemistry

    Chemistry concerning synthesis, reactivity and catalysis of PC(carbene)P pincer complexes that feature central alkylidene donors.

  • Carbon-Fluorine Bond Activation and Functionalisation

    The development of new methods to functionalise fluorocarbons, including the selective activation of fluorine-carbon bonds in poly fluorocarbons.

Research impacts

My research focuses on methodology development utilising base metals and frustrated Lewis pairs. I have developed unique ways to selectively activate carbon-fluorine bonds in polyfluorocarbon compounds. My group continues to explore this field allowing direct access to a wide array of second generation fluorinated molecules. We also develop new frustrated Lewis pair systems based on utilising first row transition metal that allow enhanced activation of and catalysis with otherwise inert compounds. Our last avenue of research is in the field of pincer ligand transition metals. We have developed new methods to synthesize alkylidene centred pincer ligands, and we are exploring how these can be exploited in bond activation and catalysis.

Search Professor Rowan Young’s works on UQ eSpace

49 works between 2006 and 2024
All (49) Journal Article (48) Book Chapter (1)

21 - 40 of 49 works

2020

Journal Article

C−N, C−S and S−S Bond Cleavage by Rhodium PCcarbeneP Pincer Complexes

Tinnermann, Hendrik and Young, Rowan D. (2020). C−N, C−S and S−S Bond Cleavage by Rhodium PCcarbeneP Pincer Complexes. Chemistry - An Asian Journal, 15 (18), 2873-2878. doi: 10.1002/asia.202000515

C−N, C−S and S−S Bond Cleavage by Rhodium PCcarbeneP Pincer Complexes

2020

Journal Article

A Frustrated Lewis Pair Solution to a Frustrating Problem: Mono-Selective Functionalization of C-F Bonds in Di- And Trifluoromethyl Groups

Gupta, Richa, Jaiswal, Amit K., Mandal, Dipendu and Young, Rowan D. (2020). A Frustrated Lewis Pair Solution to a Frustrating Problem: Mono-Selective Functionalization of C-F Bonds in Di- And Trifluoromethyl Groups. Synlett, 31 (10) 1690811, 933-937. doi: 10.1055/s-0039-1690811

A Frustrated Lewis Pair Solution to a Frustrating Problem: Mono-Selective Functionalization of C-F Bonds in Di- And Trifluoromethyl Groups

2020

Journal Article

Catalytic Deoxygenation of Amine and Pyridine N-Oxides Using Rhodium PCcarbeneP Pincer Complexes

Tinnermann, Hendrik, Sung, Simon, Cala, Beatrice A., Gill, Hashir J. and Young, Rowan D. (2020). Catalytic Deoxygenation of Amine and Pyridine N-Oxides Using Rhodium PCcarbeneP Pincer Complexes. Organometallics, 39 (6), 797-803. doi: 10.1021/acs.organomet.9b00778

Catalytic Deoxygenation of Amine and Pyridine N-Oxides Using Rhodium PCcarbeneP Pincer Complexes

2020

Journal Article

Frustrated Lewis-Pair-Meditated Selective Single Fluoride Substitution in Trifluoromethyl Groups

Mandal, Dipendu, Gupta, Richa, Jaiswal, Amit K. and Young, Rowan D. (2020). Frustrated Lewis-Pair-Meditated Selective Single Fluoride Substitution in Trifluoromethyl Groups. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 142 (5), 2572-2578. doi: 10.1021/jacs.9b12167

Frustrated Lewis-Pair-Meditated Selective Single Fluoride Substitution in Trifluoromethyl Groups

2019

Journal Article

Late-Stage Generation of Bidentate η3-Benzophosphorine–Phosphino Ligands from a Rhodium PCcarbeneP Pincer Complex and Their Use in the Catalytic Hydrosilylation of Alkynes

Wang, Qingyang, Tinnermann, Hendrik, Tan, Shaun and Young, Rowan D. (2019). Late-Stage Generation of Bidentate η3-Benzophosphorine–Phosphino Ligands from a Rhodium PCcarbeneP Pincer Complex and Their Use in the Catalytic Hydrosilylation of Alkynes. Organometallics, 38 (19), 3512-3520. doi: 10.1021/acs.organomet.9b00314

Late-Stage Generation of Bidentate η3-Benzophosphorine–Phosphino Ligands from a Rhodium PCcarbeneP Pincer Complex and Their Use in the Catalytic Hydrosilylation of Alkynes

2019

Journal Article

Nucleophilic Substitution of Aliphatic Fluorides via Pseudohalide Intermediates

Jaiswal, Amit K., Prasad, Pragati K. and Young, Rowan D. (2019). Nucleophilic Substitution of Aliphatic Fluorides via Pseudohalide Intermediates. Chemistry - A European Journal, 25 (25), 6290-6294. doi: 10.1002/chem.201806272

Nucleophilic Substitution of Aliphatic Fluorides via Pseudohalide Intermediates

2019

Journal Article

Direct oxide transfer from an η2-keto ligand to generate a cobalt PCcarbeneP(O) pincer complex

Sung, Simon, Tinnermann, Hendrik, Krämer, Tobias and Young, Rowan D. (2019). Direct oxide transfer from an η2-keto ligand to generate a cobalt PCcarbeneP(O) pincer complex. Dalton Transactions, 48 (27), 9920-9924. doi: 10.1039/c9dt02313e

Direct oxide transfer from an η2-keto ligand to generate a cobalt PCcarbeneP(O) pincer complex

2019

Journal Article

Applications of boroxide ligands in supporting small molecule activation by U(iii) and U(iv) complexes

Arnold, Polly L., Puig-Urrea, Laura, Wells, Jordann A.L., Yuan, Dan, Cruickshank, Faye L. and Young, Rowan D. (2019). Applications of boroxide ligands in supporting small molecule activation by U(iii) and U(iv) complexes. Dalton Transactions, 48 (15), 4894-4905. doi: 10.1039/c8dt05051a

Applications of boroxide ligands in supporting small molecule activation by U(iii) and U(iv) complexes

2018

Journal Article

Selective Monodefluorination and Wittig Functionalization of gem-Difluoromethyl Groups to Generate Monofluoroalkenes

Mandal, Dipendu, Gupta, Richa and Young, Rowan D. (2018). Selective Monodefluorination and Wittig Functionalization of gem-Difluoromethyl Groups to Generate Monofluoroalkenes. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 140 (34), 10682-10686. doi: 10.1021/jacs.8b06770

Selective Monodefluorination and Wittig Functionalization of gem-Difluoromethyl Groups to Generate Monofluoroalkenes

2018

Journal Article

Bimetallic Complexes of Group 8, 9, and 11 Metals Bridged by RB(NCH2PPh2)2C6H4 (R = H, 4-C6H4X; X = H, Me, F) Ligands

Sung, Simon, Ang, Angelina, Hill, Anthony F., Ma, Chenxi, Kong, Richard Y., Ward, Jas S. and Young, Rowan D. (2018). Bimetallic Complexes of Group 8, 9, and 11 Metals Bridged by RB(NCH2PPh2)2C6H4 (R = H, 4-C6H4X; X = H, Me, F) Ligands. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2018 (24), 2855-2864. doi: 10.1002/ejic.201800448

Bimetallic Complexes of Group 8, 9, and 11 Metals Bridged by RB(NCH2PPh2)2C6H4 (R = H, 4-C6H4X; X = H, Me, F) Ligands

2018

Journal Article

Stable Carbocation Generated via 2,5-Cyclohexadien-1-one Protonation

Fraser, Craig and Young, Rowan D. (2018). Stable Carbocation Generated via 2,5-Cyclohexadien-1-one Protonation. Journal of Organic Chemistry, 83 (1), 505-509. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.7b02668

Stable Carbocation Generated via 2,5-Cyclohexadien-1-one Protonation

2018

Journal Article

Synthesis and reactivity of a PCcarbeneP cobalt(i) complex: the missing link in the cobalt PXP pincer series (X = B, C, N)

Sung, Simon, Wang, Qingyang, Krämer, Tobias and Young, Rowan D. (2018). Synthesis and reactivity of a PCcarbeneP cobalt(i) complex: the missing link in the cobalt PXP pincer series (X = B, C, N). Chemical Science, 9 (43), 8234-8241. doi: 10.1039/c8sc02782j

Synthesis and reactivity of a PCcarbeneP cobalt(i) complex: the missing link in the cobalt PXP pincer series (X = B, C, N)

2017

Journal Article

Protonolysis of an α-Hydroxyl Ligand for the Generation of a PCcarbeneP Pincer Complex and Subsequent Reactivity Studies

Sung, Simon, Joachim, Timothy, Krämer, Tobias and Young, Rowan D. (2017). Protonolysis of an α-Hydroxyl Ligand for the Generation of a PCcarbeneP Pincer Complex and Subsequent Reactivity Studies. Organometallics, 36 (16), 3117-3124. doi: 10.1021/acs.organomet.7b00461

Protonolysis of an α-Hydroxyl Ligand for the Generation of a PCcarbeneP Pincer Complex and Subsequent Reactivity Studies

2017

Journal Article

Convergent (De)Hydrogenative Pathways via a Rhodium α-Hydroxylalkyl Complex

Sung, Simon, Boon, Jie Kang, Lee, Johnathan J. C., Rajabi, Nasir A., Macgregor, Stuart A., Krämer, Tobias and Young, Rowan D. (2017). Convergent (De)Hydrogenative Pathways via a Rhodium α-Hydroxylalkyl Complex. Organometallics, 36 (8), 1609-1617. doi: 10.1021/acs.organomet.7b00158

Convergent (De)Hydrogenative Pathways via a Rhodium α-Hydroxylalkyl Complex

2017

Journal Article

Aluminum-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Silylalkynes with Aliphatic C-F Bonds

Jaiswal, Amit K., Goh, Kelvin K. K., Sung, Simon and Young, Rowan D. (2017). Aluminum-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Silylalkynes with Aliphatic C-F Bonds. Organic Letters, 19 (7), 1934-1937. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.7b00712

Aluminum-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Silylalkynes with Aliphatic C-F Bonds

2017

Journal Article

Facile generation of iridium PCcarbeneP pincer complexes via water elimination from an alcohol proligand

Sung, Simon and Young, Rowan D. (2017). Facile generation of iridium PCcarbeneP pincer complexes via water elimination from an alcohol proligand. Dalton Transactions, 46 (44), 15407-15414. doi: 10.1039/c7dt03690f

Facile generation of iridium PCcarbeneP pincer complexes via water elimination from an alcohol proligand

2016

Journal Article

Sterically congested phosphonium borate acids as effective Brønsted acid catalysts

Sinha, Arup, Jaiswal, Amit K. and Young, Rowan D. (2016). Sterically congested phosphonium borate acids as effective Brønsted acid catalysts. Polyhedron, 120, 36-43. doi: 10.1016/j.poly.2016.05.049

Sterically congested phosphonium borate acids as effective Brønsted acid catalysts

2016

Journal Article

Catalytic halodefluorination of aliphatic carbon-fluorine bonds

Goh, Kelvin K.K., Sinha, Arup, Fraser, Craig and Young, Rowan D. (2016). Catalytic halodefluorination of aliphatic carbon-fluorine bonds. RSC Advances, 6 (48), 42708-42712. doi: 10.1039/c6ra09429e

Catalytic halodefluorination of aliphatic carbon-fluorine bonds

2016

Journal Article

Synthesis and reactivity of osmium and ruthenium PBP–LXL boryl pincer complexes

McQueen, Caitlin M.A., Hill, Anthony F., Sharma, Manab, Singh, Suprita K., Ward, Jas S., Willis, Anthony C. and Young, Rowan D. (2016). Synthesis and reactivity of osmium and ruthenium PBP–LXL boryl pincer complexes. Polyhedron, 120, 185-195. doi: 10.1016/j.poly.2016.05.041

Synthesis and reactivity of osmium and ruthenium PBP–LXL boryl pincer complexes

2014

Journal Article

Characterisation of alkane σ-complexes

Young, Rowan D. (2014). Characterisation of alkane σ-complexes. Chemistry - A European Journal, 20 (40), 12704-12718. doi: 10.1002/chem.201403485

Characterisation of alkane σ-complexes

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2028
    Harvesting fluorine from fluorocarbons: Developing transfer fluorination
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2027
    A top-down approach to synthesising high-value fluorocarbons
    ARC Future Fellowships
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Rowan Young is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

  • Harvesting fluorine from fluorocarbons: methods for transfer fluorination

    Fundamental challenges in transforming synthetic and energy-based materials are increasingly being met using inorganic chemical solutions.

    This project focuses on C-F bond activation and functionalization using main group organometallic catalysts. The project will involve advanced organometallic syntheses as well as organic synthesis to demonstrate catalyst competency.

    The successful candidate will also gain a thorough knowledge of fluorocarbon chemistry. Training will be extensive and cover inorganic, organometallic and organic synthetic techniques in synthesis and analytical characterisation.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Multicomponent assembly of second-generation fluorocarbons through frustrated Lewis pair catalysed selective C-F bond activation

    Principal Advisor

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