Academic Career and Research Areas
Dr. Hadlington’s (b. 1988) current research focus lies in challenging bond activation processes at the interface between low-valent main group (MG) fragments and transition metals (TM). In order to take this concept towards real-world applications in catalysis, a novel class of ligands, the single-center ambiphiles, which utilise a low-valent MG center capable of acting as a Lewis-base, are used. This leads to a unique ‘Umpoled’ bond activation mechanism in conjunction with a TM, for example generating TM-hydride complexes in the activation of protic substrates. A central goal is utilizing this mechanism in the hydroamination of alkenes with ammonia.
Dr. Hadlington received his MChem degree from the University of Bath in 2011. He then moved to Melbourne, Australia, where he conducted his PhD research with Prof. Cameron Jones at Monash University, utilizing heavier tetrylenes in catalysis. During this time, he also spent four months at the University of Oxford, working with Prof. Simon Aldridge. He then relocated to Berlin as a UniCat Postdoctoral Fellow with Prof. Matthias Driess. In late 2019, Dr. Hadlington started his independent research career at the TU Munich, supported by a Liebig Fellowship of the FCI.
Awards
- Liebig Fellowship of the FCI (2019)
- Springer Theses Award (2016)
- Monash University Vice Chancellors Commendation for Thesis Excellence (2016)
- Monash University Postgraduate Publication Award (2015)
- Monash University Deans International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (2012)
Key Publications (all publications)
- Hadlington, T. J.,* Szilvási, T., and Driess, M.,* Versatile Tautomerization of EH2-Substituted Silylenes (E = N, P, As) in the Coordination Sphere of Nickel, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2019, 141: 3304–3314.
- Hadlington, T. J.,* Driess, M., and Jones, C.,* Low-valent group 14 element hydride chemistry: towards catalysis, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2018, 47: 4176–4197.
- Hadlington, T. J., Szilvasi, T., and Driess, M., Striking transformations of the hydroborylene ligand in a HB:→NiII complex with isocyanides and CO, Chem. Sci., 2018, 9, 2595–2600.
- Hadlington, T. J., Szilvasi, T., and Driess, M., Silylene–Nickel Promoted Cleavage of B−O Bonds: From Catechol Borane to the Hydroborylene Ligand, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2017, 56, 7470–7474.
- Hadlington, T. J., Kefalidis, C. E., Maron, L., and Jones, C., Efficient Reduction of Carbon Dioxide to Methanol Equivalents Catalyzed by Two-Coordinate Amido–Germanium(II) and −Tin(II) Hydride Complexes, ACS Catal., 2017, 7: 1853–1859.