Dr. Robert James Baker
Assistant Professor, Chemistry
Biography
Dr Bob Baker was born in 1975 in Blaenavon, South Wales. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Warwick and carried out his PhD studies under the supervision of Prof. P. G. Edwards at Cardiff University (1997-2001) on early transition metal triphosphamacrocycles. He then worked as a postdoctoral research fellow with Prof. Cameron Jones (2001-2005), working on low oxidation state group 13 compounds. He was then awarded an Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship held at the Technische Universität Braunschweig, working with Prof. Dr. Matthias Tamm on substituted cyclohepatrienyl early transition metal complexes. From 2006-2008 he was a Lecturer in Inorganic Chemistry at Nottingham Trent University, before moving to Trinity College in January 2009. His research interests are in fundamental and applied actinide chemistry and the development of new transition metal complexes for catalysis
Publications and Further Research Outputs
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Samuel J Edwards, Daniel T Bowron and Robert J Baker, Insights into the solution structure of the hydrated uranyl ion from neutron scattering and EXAFS experiments, DALTON TRANSACTIONS, 51, 2022, p13631 - 1363
The Chemistry of the Actinides in, editor(s)Stephen T Liddle David P Mills Louise S. Natrajan , The Lanthanides and Actinides, London, World Scientific, 2022, pp37 - 77, [Robert J Baker]
P. M. Kowalski, S. Lange, G. Deissmann, M. Sun, K. O. Kvashnina, R. Baker, P. Kegler, G. Murphy and D. Bosbach, , Modeling of Nuclear Waste Forms: State-of-the-Art and Perspectives, MRS Advances, 5, 2020, p213 - 222
J.A> Platts and R.J Baker, A computational investigation of orbital overlap versus energy degeneracy covalency in [UE2]2+ (E = O, S, Se, Te) complexes, Dalton Transactions, 49, 2020, p1077 - 1088
Vitova, T. and Pidchenko, I. and Schild, D. and PrÃ"Ã mann, T. and Montoya, V. and Fellhauer, D. and Gaona, X. and Bohnert, E. and Rothe, J. and Baker, R.J. and Geckeis, H., Competitive Reaction of Neptunium(V) and Uranium(VI) in Potassium-Sodium Carbonate-Rich Aqueous Media: Speciation Study with a Focus on High-Resolution X-ray Spectroscopy, Inorganic Chemistry, 59, 2020, p8 - 22
I. Pidchenko, S. Bauters, I. Sinenko, S. Hempel, L. Amidani, D. Detollenaere, L. Vincze, D. Banerjee, R van Silfhout, S. Kalmykov, J. Goettlicher, R. Baker and K. Kvashnina, Uranium Speciation in Altered Cu-As bearing Granite Rock from Krunkelbach Uranium Deposit, Southern Germany. , RSC Advances, 2020, p25529 - 25539
S. Nuzzo, J. van Leusen, B. Twamley, J. A. Platts, P. Kögerler and R. J. Baker, Oxidation of Uranium(IV) Thiocyanate Complexes: Mixed Valent and Cation-Cation Interactions in Uranium Compounds., Dalton Transactions, 48, 2019, p6704 - 6708
Biswas, S. and Edwards, S.J. and Wang, Z. and Si, H. and Vintró, L.L. and Twamley, B. and Kowalski, P.M. and Baker, R.J., Americium incorporation into studtite: A theoretical and experimental study, Dalton Transactions, 48, (34), 2019, p13057-13063
Ullah, H. and Previtali, V. and Mihigo, H.B. and Twamley, B. and Rauf, M.K. and Javed, F. and Waseem, A. and Baker, R.J. and Rozas, I., Structure-activity relationships of new Organotin(IV) anticancer agents and their cytotoxicity profile on HL-60, MCF-7 and HeLa human cancer cell lines, European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 181, (111544), 2019
Mahmood, K. and Hashmi, W. and Ismail, H. and Mirza, B. and Twamley, B. and Akhter, Z. and Rozas, I. and Baker, R.J., Synthesis, DNA binding and antibacterial activity of metal(II) complexes of a benzimidazole Schiff base, Polyhedron, 157, 2019, p326-334
Begum, F. and Twamley, B. and Baker, R.J., The Solid State Structure of [TMEDAH
Begum, F. and Ikram, M. and Twamley, B. and Baker, R.J., Perfluorinated phosphine and hybrid P-O ligands for Pd catalysed C-C bond forming reactions in solution and on Teflon supports, RSC Advances, 9, (50), 2019, p28936-28945
F. Begum, M. A. Choudhary, M. A. Mirza, B. Twamley and R. J. Baker, Synthesis and Structure of the Cyclic Borenium Cation 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-1,34,2-diazaborolidin-1-ium chloride, J. Chem. Cryst, 48, 2018, p209 - 212
J. A. Platts and R. J. Baker, Non-Covalent Interactions of Uranyl Complexes: A Theoretical Study, Phys.chem.Chem.Phys, 20, 2018, p15380 - 15388
Tonya Vitova* , Ivan Pidchenko , Saptarshi Biswas #, George Beridze§∥, Peter W. Dunne , Dieter Schild , Zheming Wang⊥, Piotr M. Kowalski*§∥, and Robert J. Baker* , Dehydration of the Uranyl Peroxide Studtite, [UO2(η2-O2)(H2O)2]·2H2O, Affords a Drastic Change in the Electronic Structure: A Combined X-ray Spectroscopic and Theoretical Analysis, Inorganic Chemistry, 57, (4), 2018, p1735 - 1743
H. Omorodion, M. Palenzuela, B. Twamley and R. J. Baker, A rationally designed perfluorinated host for the extraction of PFOA from water utilising non-covalent interactions, New Journal of Chemistry, 42, 2018, p7956 - 7968
Stefano Nuzzo, Brendan Twamley, James A. Platts, Robert J. Baker, Pseudohalide Tectons within the Coordination Sphere of the Uranyl Ion: Experimental and Theoretical Study of C"H···O, C"H···S, and Chalcogenide Noncovalent Interactions, Inorganic Chemistry, 57, (7), 2018, p3699-3712
Vitova, T., Pidchenko, I., Biswas, S., Beridze, G., Dunne, P.W., Schild, D., Wang, Z., Kowalski, P.M., Baker, R.J., Dehydration of the Uranyl Peroxide Studtite, [UO
Aurora Walshe, Elaine Spain, Tia E. Keyes, Robert J. Forster, Robert J. Baker, Redox Processes in Solid-State Uranyl (Oxy)hydroxide Minerals, ChemElectroChem, 5, (6), 2018, p958--963
Farrell, D. and Kingston, S.J. and Tungulin, D. and Nuzzo, S. and Twamley, B. and Platts, J.A. and Baker, R.J., N-Aryl-9,10-phenanthreneimines as Scaffolds for Exploring Noncovalent Interactions: A Structural and Computational Study, European Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2017, (37), 2017, p5597-5609
Nuzzo, S. and Twamley, B. and Baker, R.J., Clâ ¯Cl and Clâ ¯H Interactions in the Chlorinated Hydocarbon 1,1,1,2,2,3,3-Heptachloropropane: A Structural Study, Journal of Chemical Crystallography, 47, (5), 2017, p182-186
Biswas, S. and Ma, S. and Nuzzo, S. and Twamley, B. and Russell, A.T. and Platts, J.A. and Hartl, F. and Baker, R.J., Structural Variability of 4f and 5f Thiocyanate Complexes and Dissociation of Uranium(III)-Thiocyanate Bonds with Increased Ionicity, Inorganic Chemistry, 56, (23), 2017, p14426-14437
Ullah, H. and Twamley, B. and Waseem, A. and Khawar Rauf, M. and Tahir, M.N. and Platts, J.A. and Baker, R.J., Tin···Oxygen Tetrel Bonding: A Combined Structural, Spectroscopic, and Computational Study, Crystal Growth and Design, 17, (7), 2017, p4021-4027
Cullen R.J, Jayasundara D.R, Baker R.J, O'Connell G, Donnelly T, Ballantine K.E, Lunney J.G, Colavita P.E, Laser-driven rapid functionalization of carbon surfaces and its application to the fabrication of fluorinated adsorbers, RSC Advances, 6, (86), 2016, p82924 - 82932
S. Nuzzo, M. P. Browne, B. Twamley, M. E. G. Lyons and R. J. Baker, A structural and spectroscopic study of the first uranyl selenocyanate, [Et4N]3[UO2(NCSe)5], Inorganics, 4, 2016, p4 - 8
Ikram M, Rehman S, Khan A, Baker R.J, Hofer T.S, Subhan F, Qayum M, Faridoo, Schulzke C, Erratum: Corrigendum to â Synthesis, characterization, antioxidant and selective xanthine oxidase inhibitory studies of transition metal complexes of novel amino acid bearing Schiff base ligandâ (Inorganica Chimica Acta (2015) 428 (117â"126) (S0020169315000249) (10.1016/j.ica.2015.01.021)), Inorganica Chimica Acta, 453, 2016, p779-
S. Biswas, R. Steudner, M. Schmidt, C. McKenna, L. L. Vintro, B. Twamley and R.J. Baker, An investigation of the interactions of Eu3+ and Am3+ with uranyl minerals: implications for the storage of spent nuclear fuel., Dalton Transactions, 45, 2016, p6383 - 6393
Nuzzo S, Twamley B, Platts J.A, Baker R.J, Characterisation of isothiocyanic acid, HNCS, in the solid state: Trapped by hydrogen bonding, Chemical Communications, 52, (90), 2016, p13296 - 13298
Dipti Patel, Ashley J. Wooles, Emtithal Hashem, Harrison Omorodion, Robert J. Baker and Stephen T. Liddle, Comments on reactions of oxide derivatives of uranium with hexachloropropene to give UCl4, New Journal of Chemistry, 2015, p7559-7562
Omorodion, Harrison; Twamley, Brendan; Platts, James; Baker, Robert, Further Evidence on the Importance of Fluorous-Fluorous Interactions in Supramolecular Chemistry: A Combined Structural and Computational Study, Crystal Growth and Design, 15, 2015, p2835 - 2841
M. Ikram, S. Rehman, A. Khan, R. J. Baker, T.S. Hofer, F. Subhan, M. Qayum, Faridoon, C. Schulzke, Synthesis, characterization, antioxidant and selective xanthine oxidase inhibitory studies of transition metal complexes of novel amino acid bearing Schiff base ligand, Inorganica Chimica Acta, 428, 2015, p117 - 126
Robert J Baker, Uranium Minerals and their Relevance to Long Term Storage of Nuclear Fuels, Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 266-267, 2014, p123-136
Emtithal Hashem, Thomas McCabe, Carola Schulzke and Robert J. Baker, Synthesis, Structure and Photophysical Properties of [UO2X2(O=PPh3)2] (X = Cl, Br, I), Dalton Transactions, 43, 2014, p1125 - 1131
Aurora Walshe, Tim Prüßmann, Tonya Vitova and Robert J. Baker, An EXAFS and HR-XANES Study of the Uranyl Peroxides [UO2(η2-O2)(H2O)2].nH2O (n = 0,2) and Uranyl (Oxy)hydroxide [(UO2)4O(OH)6].6H2O, Dalton Transactions, 43, (11), 2014, p4400-7
Emtithal Hashem, James A. Platts, Frantisek Hartl, Giulia Lorusso, Marco Evangelisti, Carola Schulzke, Robert J. Baker, , Thiocyanate complexes of uranium in multiple oxidation states: a combined structural, magnetic, spectroscopic, spectroelectrochemical and theoretical study, Inorganic Chemistry, 53, 2014, p8624 - 8637
Emtithal Hashem, Giulia Lorusso, Marco Evangelisti, Thomas McCabe, Carola Schulzke, James A. Platts and Robert J. Baker, Fingerprinting the oxidation state of U(IV) by emission spectroscopy, Dalton Transactions, 42, 2013, p14677 - 14680
S. Rehman, M. Ikram, R. J Baker, M. Zubair, E. Azad, S. Min, K. Riaz, KH Mok and S.-U. Rehman, Synthesis, characterization, in vitro antimicrobial, and U2OS tumoricidal activities of different coumarin derivatives, Chemistry Central Journal, 7, 2013, p1-12
Muhammad Ikram, Sadia Rehman, Faridoon, Robert J. Baker, Hanif Ur Rehman, Ajmal Khan, Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, Saeed-Ur -Rehman, Synthesis and distinct urease enzyme inhibitory activities of metal complexes of Schiff-base ligands: Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters evaluation from TG-DTA analysis, Thermochimica Acta, 555, 2013, p72 - 80
Muhammad Ikram, Sadia Rehman, Muhammad Ali, Faridoon, Carola Schulzke, Robert J. Baker, Alexander James Blake, Khan Malook, Henry Wong, Saeed-Ur-Rehman, Urease and α-chymotrypsin inhibitory activities of transition metal complexes of new Schiff base ligand: Kinetic and thermodynamic studies of the synthesized complexes using TG DTA pyrolysis, Thermochimica Acta, 562, 2013, p22 - 28
Walshe A, Fang J, Maron L, Baker RJ, New mechanism for the ring-opening polymerization of lactones? Uranyl aryloxide-induced intermolecular catalysis., Inorganic chemistry, 52, (15), 2013, p9077-86
E. Hashem, A.N. Swinburne, C. Schulzke, R.C. Evans, J.A. Platts, A. Kerridge, L.S. Natrajan and R.J. Baker, Emission Spectroscopy of Uranium(IV) Compounds: A Combined Synthetic, Spectroscopic and Computational Study, RSC Advances, 3, 2013, p4350 - 4361
Rehman, S, Ikram, M, Khan, A, Min, S, Azad, E, Hofer, TS, Mok, KH, Baker, RJ, Blake, AJ, Rehman, SU, New dicoumarol sodium compound: crystal structure, theoretical study and tumoricidal activity against osteoblast cancer cells, Chemistry Central Journal, 7, 2013, p110-
R.J. Baker, The Coordination and Organometallic Chemistry of UI3 and U{N(SiMe3)2}3: Synthetic Reagents par excellence, Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 256, 2012, p2843 - 2871
R. J. Baker, New reactivity of the uranyl ion, Chemistry - A European Journal, 18, 2012, p16258 - 16271
M. Ikram, S.-Ur-Rehman, S. Rehman, R. J. Baker and C. Schulzke, Synthesis, characterization and distinct butyrylcholinesterase activities of transition metal complexes of 2-[(E)-(quinolin-3-ylimino)methyl]phenol, Inorganica Chimica Acta, 390, 2012, p210 - 216
M. Ikram and R.J. Baker, Fluorous Catalyst Recycling Utilising Highly Fluorinated Zinc Compounds: Ring Opening Polymerisation of e-Caprolactone, Journal of Fluorine Chemistry, 139, 2012, p58 - 62
C. Mallon, A. Walshe, R. J. Forster, T. E. Keyes, and R. J. Baker, The Physical Characterization and Reactivity of the Uranyl Peroxide [UO2(2-O2)(H2O)2].2H2O: Implications for Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuels, Inorganic Chemistry, 51, 2012, p8509 - 8515
R.J. Baker and A Walshe, Ring Opening Polymerisation of Epoxides Catalysed by a Uranyl Aryloxide and Uranyl Chloride. , Chemical Communications, 48, 2012, p985 - 987
Jian Fang, Aurora Walshe, Laurent Maron and Robert J Baker, Ring Opening Polymerization of Epoxides Catalyzed by Uranyl Complexes: An Experimental and Theoretical Study of the Reaction Mechanism, Inorganic Chemistry, 51, 2012, p9132 - 9140
R. J. Baker, P.E. Colavita, D. Murphy, J. A. Platts and J. D. Wallace, Fluorine-Fluorine Interactions in the Solid State: An Experimental and Theoretical Study, Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 116, 2012, p1435 - 1444
R.J. Baker, J. Fuchs, A.J. Richards and H.V. Ogilvie, Perfluorinated Phosphine Oxide and Sulfide Ligands as Extractants for Heavy Metals and Radionuclides, Journal of Environmental Management, 92, 2011, p2781 - 2785
Julia Baker, Robert J Baker and Carola Schulzke, Perfluorinated Oxygen and Sulfur Containing Compounds as Extractants for Gold(III), Gold Bulletin, 44, (2), 2011, p79 - 83
R.J. Baker and E. Hashem, A Study of the Reactivity of Secondary Phosphines with Radical Sources: A New Dehydrocoupling Reaction. , Helvetica Chimica Acta, 93, 2010, p1081 - 1085
R.J. Baker, H.V. Ogilvie and A.J. Richards, Perfluorinated Phenols as Extraction Agents for Cs+ and Sr2+. , Radiochimica Acta, 98, 2010, p507 - 511
R.J. Baker, T. McCabe, J.E. O'Brien, and H.V. Ogilvie, 39. Thermomorphic Metal Scavengers: A synthetic and multinuclear NMR study of highly fluorinated ketones and their application in heavy metal removal. , Journal of Fluorine Chemistry, 131, 2010, p621 - 626
R.J. Baker, E. Hashem, M. Motevalli, H.V. Ogilvie and A. Walshe, 38. The Coupling of Pyridine and Dichloromethane Mediated by UO2Cl2, Zeitschrift fuer Anorganish und Algamaigne Chemie, 636, 2010, p443 - 445
R.J. Baker and H. V. Ogilvie, Nottingham Trent University, A New Process for Soil Remediation using a Supercritical Solvent, 2009, WO2009109754A1.
R. J. Baker, C. Jones, D. P. Mills, G. A. Pierce and M. Waugh, Investigations into the preparation of groups 13-15 N-heterocyclic carbene analogues. , Inorg. Chim. Acta, 361, 2008, p427 - 435
Molybdenum compounds containing CO and/or isocyanides in, editor(s)R.H. Crabtree and D.M.P. Mingos , Comprehensive Organometallic Chemistry III, Elsevier, 2007, pp391 - 512, [Robert J Baker and Matthias Tamm]
. R.J. Baker, T. Bannenberg, A. Kunst, S. Randoll and M. Tamm,, Adduct formation of [( Ø7-C7H7)Zr( Ø5-C5H5)] with phosphines and N-heterocyclic carbenes: A combined structural, thermodynamic and theoretical study. , Inorg. Chim. Acta, , 359, 2006, p4797 - 4801
R.J. Baker, C. Jones, D.P. Mills, D.M. Murphy E. Hey-Hawkins and R. Wolf,, The reactivity of Gallium-(I), -(II) and -(III) heterocycles towards group 15 substrates: Attempts to prepare gallium-terminal pnictinidene complexes. , Dalton Trans, 2006, p67 - 72
S. Aldridge, R.J. Baker, N.D. Coombs, C. Jones, R.P. Rose, A. Rossin and D.J. Willock, , Complexes of a gallium heterocycle with transition metal dicyclopentadienyl and cyclopentadienylcarbonyl fragments, and with a dialkylmanganese compound. , Dalton Trans., , 2006, p3313 - 3320
R.J. Baker and C. Jones, Synthesis and Characterisation of Sterically Bulky Lithium Amidinate and Bis-amidinate Complexes. , J. Organomet. Chem. , 691, 2006, p65 - 71
R.J. Baker and C. Jones, "GaI": A versatile reagent for the synthetic chemist., Dalton Transaction, 2005, p1341 - 1348
R.J Baker and C. Jones, The coordination chemistry and reactivity of group 13 metal(I) heterocycles, Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 249, 2005, p1857 - 1869
R.J. Baker, C. Jones and D.M. Murphy,, Evidence for the first oxidative addition of a transition metal into a digallane(4): Synthesis, structural characterisation and EPR studies of [Cp2ZrIII{Ga[N(Ar)C(H)]2}2][Li(THF)4], Ar = C6H3Pri2-2,6. , Chem. Commun., , 2005, p1339 - 1341
R.J. Baker, C. Jones and M. Kloth, Oxidation reactions of an anionic gallium(I) N-heterocyclic carbene analogue with group 16 compounds., Dalton Trans, 2005, p2106 - 2110
K.L. Antcliff, R.J. Baker, C. Jones, D.M. Murphy and R.P. Rose, Reactions of a gallium(II)-diazabutadiene dimer, [[(H)C(But)N]2}GaI}2], with [ME(SiMe3)2] (M = Li or Na; E = N, P or As): Structural, EPR and ENDOR characterization of paramagnetic gallium(III) pnictide complexes., Inorg. Chem, 44, 2005, p2098 - 2105
R.J. Baker, R.D. Farley, C. Jones, D.P. Mills, M. Kloth and D.M. Murphy, , An EPR and ENDOR investigation of a series of diazabutadiene-group 13 complexes., Chem. Eur. J., , 11, 2005, p2972 - 2982
R.J. Baker and C. Jones, The molecular structure of ditriptycenyl ditelluride, Main Group Met. Chem. , 27, 2004, p323 - 325
R.J. Baker, H. Bettentrup and C. Jones,, The synthesis and structural characterisation of the first gallium(II) dialkylphosphide complex, Inorg. Chem. Commun, 7, 2004, p1289 - 1291
R.J. Baker, C. Jones, P.C. Junk and M. Kloth, Kinetic control over the thermal stability of the In-H bond: Synthesis and characterisation of amido indium hydride complexes. , Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 43, 2004, p3852 - 3855
R.J. Baker, M. Brym, C. Jones and M. Waugh,, 9-Triptycenyl complexes of Group 13 and 15 halides and hydrides. , J. Organomet. Chem., , 689, 2004, p781 - 790
R.J. Baker, C. Jones, M. Kloth and J. A. Platts,, Oxidative coupling of an anionic gallium(I) carbene analogue: Synthesis and structural characterisation of an unprecedented à-cyclopentadienyl-bridged digallane complex, Organometallics, 23, 2004, p4811 - 4813
R.J. Baker, C. Jones, M. Kloth and D.P. Mills, , The reactivity of Gallium(I) and Indium(I) halides towards bipyridines, terpyridines, imino-substituted pyridines and bis(imino)acenaphthenes., New J. Chem, 28, 2004, p207 - 213
R.J. Baker and C. Jones, [1,3-Di(mesityl)imidazole-2-ylidene]Gallium Iodide Dihydride, Appl. Organomet. Chem., 17, 2003, p807 - 808
R.J. Baker, H. Bettentrup and C. Jones, The synthesis of phosphorus heterocycles from tetra-tert-butyltetraphosphacubane, Acta Cryst., C59, 2003, pm339 - m341
R.J. Baker, C. Jones and J.A. Platts, Synthesis, structural and theoretical studies of an iron-gallium(I) heterocycle complex: Analogies with N-heterocyclic carbene chemistry, Dalton Trans., , 2003, p3673 - 3674
R.J. Baker and C. Jones, The molecular structure of [{ Ý-Ga(Ar-DAB)2}{ Ý-K(TMEDA)}( Ý-C5H5){ Ý-K(TMEDA)}].(C7H8)1.5, Ar-DAB = {(C6H3Pri2-2,6)NC(H)=}2. , Main Group Met. Chem., , 26, 2003, p267 - 268
R.J. Baker, C. Jones, M. Kloth and J.A. Platts, Synthesis and structural characterization of thermally stable group 13 hydride complexes derived from a gallium(I) carbene analogue., Angew. Chem. Int. Edn.,, 42, 2003, p2660 - 2663
R.J. Baker, C. Jones and J.A. Platts, Analogies between the reactivities of an anionic gallium(I) heterocycle and N-heterocyclic carbenes towards metallocenes, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 125, 2003, p10534 - 10535
R.J. Baker, H. Bettentrup and C. Jones, The reactivity of primary and secondary amines, secondary phosphanes and N-heterocyclic carbenes towards group 13 metal(I) halides., Eur. J. Inorg. Chem, 2003, p2446 - 2451
C.D. Abernathy, R.J. Baker, M.L. Cole, A.J. Davies and C. Jones,, Reactions of a carbene stabilized indium trihydride complex, [InH3{CN(Mes)C2H2N(Mes)}] Mes = mesityl, with transition metal complexes. , Transition Met. Chem, 28, 2003, p296 - 299
R.J. Baker, P.G. Edwards, R.D. Farley, D.M. Murphy, J.A. Platts and K.E. Voss, Low valent carbonylvanadium complexes of the triphosphorus macrocycle 12[ane]P3Et3. , J. Chem. Soc., Dalton. Trans., 2003, p944 - 948
R.J. Baker, H. Bettentrup and C. Jones, (2,6-Diisopropylphenyl)isopropyldeneammonium iodide, Acta Cryst., E59, 2003, po538 - o539
R.J. Baker and C. Jones, The reaction of 'GaI' with a 1,3-diyne: Synthesis, characterisation and reactivity of a novel C-C coupled ene-diyne-bis(gem-organodigallium(III)) complex. , Chem. Commun., 2003, p390 - 391
R.J. Baker, P.G. Edwards J.Gracia-Moria, F. Ingold and K.M.A. Malik, Manganese and Rhenium triphosphorus macrocycle complexes and reactions with alkenes., J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans, 2002, p3985 - 3992
R.J. Baker, R.D. Farley, C. Jones, M. Kloth and D.M. Murphy, Synthesis and characterisation of the first carbene and diazabutadiene-indium(II) complexes., Chem. Commun, 2002, p1196 - 1197
R.J. Baker, M.L. Cole, C. Jones and M.F. Mahon, , Bidentate N-Heterocyclic carbene complexes of group 13 trihydrides and trihalides., J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans, 2002, p1992 - 1996
R.J. Baker, R.D. Farley, C. Jones, M. Kloth and D.M. Murphy, The reactivity of diazabutadienes towards low oxidation state group 13 iodides and the synthesis of a new gallium(I) carbene analogue, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans.,, 2002, p3844 - 3850
R.J. Baker and P.G. Edwards, Transition metal complexes of triphosphorus macrocycles: A new class of homogeneous olefin polymerisation catalysts., Journal of the Chemical Society, Dalton Transactions, 2002, p2960 - 2965
R.J. Baker, A.J. Davies, C. Jones and M. Kloth, Structural and spectroscopic studies of carbene and N-donor ligand complexes of group 13 hydrides and halides., J. Organomet. Chem, 656, 2002, p203 - 210
R.J. Baker, P.C. Davies, P.G. Edwards, R.D. Farley, S.S. Liyanage, D.M. Murphy and B. Yong, Early transition metal complexes of triphosphorus macrocycles, European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2002, p1975 - 1984
G.R. Willey, R.J. Baker, J.V. Haslop, M.P. Spry and M.G.B. Drew, Coordination studies of the ligand series RNH.C.(CH2)n.C.NHR where R = alkyl, aryl; = O,S and n = 0,1,2. Part 6. Crystal structures and bonding considerations of the ligands MeNH.CO.CH2.CO.NHMe (L1), MeNH.CO.CH2.CH2.CO.NHMe (L4), MeNH.CS.CH2.CS.NHMe (L5) and the SnIV complexes SnBr4L1.L1, SnBr4L2.2THF and SnBr4L3.MeCN where L2 = iC3H7NH.CO.CH2.CO.NHiC3H7 and iC3H7NH.CS.CH2.CS.NHiC3H7. , Polyhedron, (17), 1998, p3291 - 3303
Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications
H. Omorodion and R. J. Baker, Recent Advances in Rare Earth Extraction: Where Do WEEE Stand, Irish Chemical News, (2), 2016, p12 - 36
Research Expertise
Description
My research focusses on two themes: actinide chemistry, both fundamental and applied to the storage of Spent Nuclear Fuels; non-covalent interactions and their applications to e-waste reclaimation. In actinide chemistry I am internationally recognised and have published 29 papers and gained ca £3m of funding at synchrotrons in UK Switzerland and Germany. Synchrotron time is very competitive, highly prized and gives deeper insights into the chemistry and physics of the actinide compounds. These experiments take ca 1 year from planning to the experiment and data analysis is not trivial with an average lead time of 1.5 years to publication. We are one of a handful of groups worldwide that can do this and have conducted measurements that pushed the capabilities of the synchrotrons beyond the state of the art. We collaborate with multidisciplinary groups from US and Europe and have had several "firsts": the use of emission spectroscopy in U(IV) chemistry that has become a mainstream technique; the use of hard oxophiolic uranyl compounds to catalyse the ring opening of oxygen containing monomer a reaction that should not occur but has led to generalisable mechanistic insights. Funding for this work has been from IRCSET PhD and IRC postdoctoral schemes and I have won EU funding (TALISMAN) and DAAD funding to visit large scale facilities in Germany to conduct transuranium research. Our endeavours in non-covalent interactions has generated 15 papers, two of which were selected to be on the front cover of the Journal. Notably we have explored the weak C-F F-C interactions that have recently become a hot topic in the literature, spurred on by our results, and we have utilised these to extract the Persistent Organic Pollutant Perflourooctanoic acid from water for the first time, and extended to the extraction of important elements from waste electronics. This work has been funded by a PhD studentship from the Environment Protection Agency. In the period 2009-2021 I published 58 peer reviewed paper, averaging 1 publication every 10 weeks.Projects
- Title
- Unusual Oxidation State Uranium Chemistry
- Summary
- We are exploring the chemistry of high oxidation state uranium chemistry. The elucidation of new reactivity pathyways that shed light on the 5f-orbital interaction will be explored. Furthermore, reduction to the Uranyl(V) ion will be explored.
- Funding Agency
- IRCSET
- Date From
- sept 2009
- Date To
- sept 2012
- Title
- TOMEX - TOxic Metal EXtraction
- Summary
- The contamination of the environment by toxic metals is a major problem that can require expensive clean-up procedures. This project aims to develop an ex-situ soil re-mediation for a number of toxic metals using supercritical CO2 as a solvent. These can be broadly classed as actinide elements and heavy metal waste from industry and mining applications.
- Funding Agency
- The Lachesis Fund
- Date From
- August 2008
- Date To
- February 2009
- Title
- Actinide Chemistry at ISIS
- Summary
- This project involved three measuremnt periods at the Nuetron and Muon Spallation source (ISIS) in UK. We measured uranium and thorium compounds using 6 different beamlines in 13 blocks. Experiments are ca. 30,000EUR per day of in kind funding.
- Funding Agency
- ISIS
- Date From
- 2017
- Date To
- 2021
- Title
- Actinide Chemistry at Diamond
- Summary
- This project consists of measurements of uranium compounds at the Diamond synchrotron in the UK. We measured on three different beamlines in three measurement sessions. Beamtime is very competetiive and highly prized. The beamlines are costed at ca 30000EUR per day of in kind funding.
- Funding Agency
- Diamond and CALYPSO
- Date From
- 2017
- Date To
- 2021
- Title
- Actinide Chemistry at BESSY II
- Summary
- This project consists of measurements of uranium compounds at the BESSY II synchrotron in Berlin. We had two measurement sessions, and were able to change the policy of the synchrotron to allow uranium compounds on site. Beamtime is very competetive and highly prized. The beamlines are costed at ca 35000EUR per day of in kind funding.
- Funding Agency
- BESSY and CALYPSO
- Date From
- 2018
- Date To
- 2019
Recognition
Representations
Member of the editorial board for RSC Advances
Member of the Editorial Board of RSC Advances
Associate Editor for RSC Advances, the flagship multidisciplinary journal for the Royal Society of Chemistry
External PhD examiner for numerous universities including Cardiff, Cambridge, Copenhagen, Galway, Islamabad, Monash and Sydney
Awards and Honours
Alexander von Humboldt Research Scholarship
Memberships
Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry
Member of the RSC
Member of the ACS
Fellow of Institute of Chemistry Ireland