Dr Andrew Wilson

Winner: 2020 Dalton Emerging Researcher Award

University of Bath

For the development of uniquely nucleophilic hydrido- and organocalcium reagents.

Celebrate Dr Andrew Wilson

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In these tumultuous times, unity is paramount to the progression of science and society.

An unexpected discovery could disprove a ‘rule’ in chemistry that opposites attract, opening the door to much more environmentally friendly product creation. Dr Andrew Wilson of the University of Bath discovered that heavy Grignard reagents react to benzene, flaunting the notion that like-repels-like. His discovery means unsustainable transition metals, such as copper, could be replaced by much more abundantly available alkaline earth alternatives, such as magnesium, calcium or strontium.

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Dr Wilson was born in Bristol and studied chemistry at the University of Bath. His personal and academic tutor in inorganic chemistry, Professor Michael Hill, inspired him to pursue a doctorate in the main group of elements. Dr Wilson was awarded a DTA studentship to investigate the “redox activity of main group compounds”. His doctoral research concentrated on the advancement of organocalcium chemistry through the isolation of prototypical species and the investigation of their unexplored reactivity. This ambitious research serendipitously culminated in the infeasible nucleophilic alkylation of benzene, a milestone in the chemical landscape.

In 2015, Dr Wilson collaborated with Professor Roland Fischer (TU Graz) on smart inorganic polymers by virtue of short-term scientific mission funded by the COST network.

Dr Wilson’s research as a postdoc in the Hill group has diversified within the discipline of main group chemistry to encompass elements beyond calcium. Nevertheless, the synthesis of incredible complexes that mediate remarkable reactions has remained his fundamental aim.