Publications

Enhancing the Nucleophilicity of Aluminyl Anions: Targeting Selective C–H Activation

F. Kallmeier, G. R. Nelmes, C. L. McMullin, A. J. Edwards, J. Hicks, Chem. Sci., 2025, Advance Article

Reductive Coupling of Carbon Monoxide by an Anionic Calcium Hydride: A Computational Mechanistic Study

A. Ariafard, F. Shiri, R. Stranger, L. Eickhoff, J. Hicks, Organometallics, 2025, 44, 5, 637–645

Hydride Rebound: A Frustrated Lewis Pair (FLP)-Type Cooperative Mechanism for H₂ Activation by a Potassium Aluminyl Compound

T. Kraemer, K. M. Byrne, J. Hicks, L. P. Griffin, S. Aldridge, Chem. Eur. J., 2025, e202500095

Four-Electron Reduction of Benzene by a Samarium(II)-Alkyl Without the Addition of External Reducing Agents

G. M. Richardson, T. Rajeshkumar, F. M. Burke, S. A. Cameron, B. D. Nicholls, J. E. Harvey, R. A. Keyzers, T. Butler, S. Granville, L. Liu, J. Langley, L. F. Lim, N. Cox, N. F. Chilton, J. Hicks, N. J. L. K. Davis, L. Maron, M. D. Anker, Nat. Chem., 2025, 17, 20-28

Mechanochemical Synthesis of Iron Aluminyl Complexes

F. Kallmeier, A. J. R. Matthews, G. R. Nelmes, N. R. Lawson, J. Hicks, Dalton Trans., 2024,53, 12450-12454

Stabilisation of the [SiH₆]^2- Anion within a Supramolecular Assembly

R. Huo, A. J. Armstrong, G. R. Nelmes, D. J. Lawes, A. J. Edwards, C. L. McMullin, J. Hicks, Chem. Eur. J., 2024, 30, e202400662

Intramolecular C–N Bond Activation by a Transient Boryl Anion

E. E. Nahon, G. R. Nelmes, P. J. Brothers, J. Hicks, Chem. Commun., 2023, 59, 14281-14284

One- and Two-Electron Reductions of a Bulky BODIPY Compound

L. M. Pascoe, L. F. Lim, F. Kallmeier, N. Cox, P. J. Brothers, J. Hicks, Dalton Trans., 2023, 52, 15348-15352

Ga–C and Ga–Ga Bond Formation Using a NON-Ligated Gallyl Nucleophile

M. Edwards, J. Hicks, C. McManus, J. M. Goicoechea, S. Aldridge, Polyhedron, 2023, 242, 116520-116520.

Redox Flexibility in a Germanium Hydride Manifold: Hydrogen Shuttling via Oxidative Addition and Reductive Elimination

A. Caise, J. Hicks, A. Heilmann, S. Aldridge, Chem. Commun., 2023, 59, 7251-7254.

An Acyclic Aluminyl Anion

R. A. Jackson, A. J. R. Matthews, P. Vasko, M. F. Mahon, J. Hicks, D. J. Liptrot, Chem. Commun., 2023, 59, 5277-5280.

Inducing Nucleophilic Reactivity at Beryllium with an Aluminyl Ligand

J. T. Boronski, L. R. Thomas-Hargreaves, M. A. Ellwanger, A. E. Crumpton, J. Hicks, D. F. Bekiş, S. Aldridge, M. R. Buchner, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2023, 145, 4408-4413.

An Aluminium Imide as a Transfer Agent for the [NR]^2- Function via Metathesis Chemistry

A. Heilmann, P. Vasko, J. Hicks, J. M. Goicoechea, S. Aldridge, Chem. Eur. J., 2023, 29, e202300018.

Anionic Magnesium and Calcium Hydrides: Transforming CO into Unsaturated Disilyl Ethers

J. S. McMullen, R. Huo, P. Vasko, A. J. Edwards, J. Hicks, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2023, 62, e202215218.

Coordination and Homologation of CO at Al(I): Mechanism and Chain Growth, Branching, Isomerization, and Reduction

A. Heilmann, M. M. D. Roy, A. E. Crumpton, L. P. Griffin, J. Hicks, J. M. Goicoechea, S. Aldridge, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2022, 144, 12942-12953.

Convenient One-Pot Synthesis and Coordination Chemistry of a Bulky Asymmetrical 9,10-Dihydroacridine-Based Ligand

G. R. Nelmes, P. J. Bothers, J. Hicks, Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem, 2022, e202200127

Reactions of a Dimethylxanthene-Derived Frustrated Lewis Pair with Silanes and Stannanes

I. Zulkifly, A. V. Protchenko, M. Á. Fuentes, J. Hicks, S. Aldridge, Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem., 2022, e202200110.

Crystalline Germanium(I) and Tin(I) Centered Radical Anions

L. F. Lim, M. Judd, P. Vasko, M. G. Gardiner, D. A. Pantazis, N. Cox, J. Hicks, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, 61, e202201248.

Controlling Oxidative Addition and Reductive Elimination at Tin(I) via Hemi-Lability

A. Caise, A. E, Crumpton, P. Vasko, J. Hicks, C. McManus, N. H Rees, S. Aldridge, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, 61, e202114926

The Aluminyl Anion: A New Generation of Aluminium Nucleophile

J. Hicks, P. Vasko, J. M. Goicoechea, S. Aldridge, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2021, 60, 1702-1713.

Probing the Extremes of Covalency in M−Al bonds: Lithium and Zinc Aluminyl Compounds

M. M. D. Roy, J. Hicks, P. Vasko, A. Heilmann, A.-M. Baston, J. M. Goicoechea, S. Aldridge, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2021, 60, 22301-22306.

N-nacnac Stabilized Tetrylenes: Access to Silicon Hydride Systems via Migration Processes

D. C. H. Do, E. L. Kolychev, J. Hicks, S. Aldridge, Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem. 2021, 647, 1679-1684.

Coinage Metal Aluminyl Complexes: Probing Regiochemistry and Mechanism in the Insertion and Reduction of Carbon Dioxide

C. McManus, J. Hicks, X. Cui, L. Zhao, G. Frenking, J. M. Goicoechea, S. Aldridge, Chem. Sci. 2021, 12, 13458-13468.

X-ray Crystal Structures of Carbonate and Hydroxide Bridged Mn^II/Mg^II Heterobimetallic Complexes Formed by Reduction of CO₂ or H₂O by a Mn⁰–Mg^II Bonded Compound

J. Hicks, M. Juckel, C. Jones, Main Group Met. Chem. 2021, 44, 250-255.

C–H and C–F Coordination of Arenes in Neutral Alkaline Earth Metal Complexes

J. S. McMullen, A. J. Edwards, J. Hicks, Dalton Trans. 2021, 50, 8685-8689.

Synthesis, Structure and Reactivity of Terphenyl-Substituted Germylium-Ylidene Cations

R. J. Mangan, A. R. Davies, J. Hicks, C. P. Sindlinger, A. L. Thompson, S. Aldridge, Polyhedron, 2021, 196, 115006.

Partnering a Three-Coordinate Gallium Cation with a Hydroborate Counter-Ion for the Catalytic Hydrosilylation of CO₂

A. Caise, J. Hicks, M. Á. Fuentes, J. M. Goicoechea, S. Aldridge, Chem. Eur. J., 2021, 27, 2138-2148.

Approaching a “Naked” Boryl Anion: Amide Metathesis as a Route to Calcium, Strontium, and Potassium Boryl Complexes

A. V. Protchenko, P. Vasko, M. Á. Fuentes, J. Hicks, D. Vidovic, S. Aldridge, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2021, 60, 2064-2068.

Reactions of a Diborylstannylene with CO₂ and N₂O: Diboration of Carbon Dioxide by a Main Group Bis(boryl) Complex

A. V. Protchenko, M. Á. Fuentes, J. Hicks, C. McManus, R. Tirfoin, S. Aldridge, Dalton Trans. 2021, 60, 2064-2068.

Arene C−H Activation at Aluminium(I): meta Selectivity Driven by the Electronics of S_NAr Chemistry

J. Hicks, P. Vasko, A. Heilmann, J. M. Goicoechea, S. Aldridge, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 59, 20376-20380.

Carbon Monoxide Activation by a Molecular Aluminium Imide: C−O Bond Cleavage and C−C Bond Formation

A. Heilmann, J. Hicks, P. Vasko, J. M. Goicoechea, S. Aldridge, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 59, 4897-4901.

Activation of Protic, Hydridic and Apolar E−H Bonds by a Boryl-Substituted Ge^II Cation

R. J. Mangan, A. Rit, C. P. Sindlinger, R. Tirfoin, J. Campos, J. Hicks, K. E. Christensen, H. Niu, S. Aldridge, Chem. Eur. J. 2020, 26, 306-315.

Cooperative N–H Bond Activation by Amido-Ge(II) Cations

X. Zhou, P. Vasko, J. Hicks, M. Á. Fuentes, A. Heilmann, E. L. Kolychev, S. Aldridge, Dalton Trans. 2020, 49, 9495-9504.

Probing the Non-Innocent Nature of an Amino-Functionalised β-Diketiminate Ligand in Silylene/Iminosilane Systems

D. C. H. Do, P. Vasko, M. Á. Fuentes, J. Hicks, S. Aldridge, Dalton Trans. 2020, 49, 8701-8709.

N–H Cleavage vs. Werner Complex Formation: Reactivity of Cationic Group 14 Tetrelenes Towards Amines

D. C. H. Do, A. V. Protchenko, M. Á. Fuentes, J. Hicks, P. Vasko, S. Aldridge, Chem. Commun., 2020, 56, 4684-4687.

Trapping and Reactivity of a Molecular Aluminium Oxide Ion

J. Hicks, A. Heilmann, P. Vasko, J. M. Goicoechea, S. Aldridge, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2019, 131, 17425-17428.

Reversible, Room-Temperature C—C Bond Activation of Benzene by an Isolable Metal Complex

J. Hicks, P. Vasko, J. M. Goicoechea, S. Aldridge, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2019, 11000-11003.

An Acid-Free Anionic Oxoborane Isoelectronic with Carbonyl: Facile Access and Transfer of a Terminal B=O Double Bond

Y. K. Loh, K. Porteous, M. Á. Fuentes, D. C. H. Do, J. Hicks, S. Aldridge, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2019, 141, 8073-8077.

A Nucleophilic Gold Complex

J. Hicks, A. Mansikkamäki, P. Vasko, J. M. Goicoechea, S. Aldridge, Nature Chemistry, 2019, 11, 237-241.

Reversible Borohydride Formation from Aluminium Hydrides and {H(9-BBN)}₂: Structural, Thermodynamic and Reactivity Studies

A. Caise, E. L. Kolychev, J. Hicks, M. Á. Fuentes, J. M. Goicoechea, S. Aldridge, Dalton Trans., 2019, 48, 10845-10852.

Reversible O–H Bond Activation by an Intramolecular Frustrated Lewis Pair

P. Vasko, M. Á. Fuentes, J. Hicks, S. Aldridge, Dalton Trans., 2019, 48, 2896-2899.

Borylated N-Heterocyclic Carbenes: Rearrangement and Chemical Trapping

L. Kristinsdóttir, P. Vasko, H. Niu, E. L. Kolychev, J. Campos, M. Á. Fuentes, J. Hicks, A. Thompson, S. Aldridge, Chem. Eur. J., 2019, 25, 2556-2568.

Reduction of Carbon Oxides by an Acyclic Silylene: Reductive Coupling of CO

A. V. Protchenko, P. Vasko, D. C. H. Do, J. Hicks, M. Á. Fuentes, C. Jones, S. Aldridge, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2019, 58, 1808-1812.

Multigram Syntheses of Magnesium(I) Compounds Using Alkali Metal Halide Supported Alkali Metals as Dispersible Reducing Agents

J. Hicks, M. Juckel, A. Paparo, D. Dange, C. Jones, Organometallics, 2018, 37, 4810-4813.

A β-Diketiminate-Stabilized Sila-Acyl Chloride: Systematic Access to Base-Stabilized Silicon Analogues of Classical Carbonyl Compounds

D. C. H. Do, A. V. Protchenko, M. Á. Fuentes, J. Hicks, E. L. Kolychev, P. Vasko, S. Aldridge, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2018, 57, 13907-13911.

On the Viability of Catalytic Turnover via Al−O/B−H Metathesis: The Reactivity of β-Diketiminate Aluminium Hydrides towards CO₂ and Boranes

A. Caise, D. Jones, E. L. Kolychev, J. Hicks, J. M. Goicoechea, S. Aldridge, Chem. Eur. J., 2018, 24, 13624-13635.

Reversible C−H Activation, Facile C−B/B−H Metathesis and Apparent Hydroboration Catalysis by a Dimethylxanthene-Based Frustrated Lewis Pair

P. Vasko, I. A. Zulkifly, M. Á. Fuentes, Z. Mo, J. Hicks, P. C. J. Kämer, S. Aldridge, Chem. Eur. J., 2018, 24, 10531-10540.

Experimental and Quantum Chemical Studies of Anionic Analogues of N-heterocyclic Carbenes

H. Niu, R. J. Mangan, A. V. Protchenko, N. Phillips, W. Unkrig, C. Friedmann, E. L. Kolychev, R. Tirfoin, J. Hicks, S. Aldridge, Dalton Trans., 2018, 47, 7445-7455.

Synthesis, Structure and Reaction Chemistry of a Nucleophilic Aluminyl Anion

J. Hicks, P. Vasko, J. M. Goicoechea, S. Aldridge, Nature, 2018, 557, 92-95.

An Acyclic Zincagermylene: Rapid Activation of Dihydrogen at Sub-Ambient Temperature

M. M. Juckel, J. Hicks, D. Jiang, L. Zhao, G. Frenking, C. Jones, Chem. Commun., 2017, 53, 12692-12695.

Binding of Mono- and Dianions within Silver Thiazolylurea Tweezers and Capsules

N. T. X. Lee, J. Hicks, K. J. Wallace, D. R. Turner, Inorg. Chem., 2017, 56, 12535-12541.

Controlled Growth of Monocrystalline Organo-Lead Halide Perovskite and Its Application in Photonic Devices

W, Mao, J. Zheng, Y. Zhang, A. S. R. Chesman, Q. Ou, J. Hicks, F. Li, Z. Wang, B. Graystone, T. D. M. Bell, M. U. Rothmann, N. W. Duffy, L. Spiccia, Y.-B. Cheng, Q. Bao, U. Bach, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2017, 56, 12375-12375.

Centric and Acentric Networks Using Low-Symmetry Heterotopic Carboxylate/Pyridyl Ligands

G. S. Hall, M. J. Angeles, J. Hicks, D. R. Turner, CrystEngComm, 2016, 18, 6614-6623.

Coordination Chemistry and Structural Dynamics of a Long and Flexible Piperazine-Derived Ligand

C. S. Hawes, S. Hamilton, J. Hicks, G. Knowles, A. Chaffee, D. R. Turner, S. R. Batten, Inorg. Chem., 2016, 55, 6692-6702.

A Mixed-Valence Tri-Zinc Complex, [LZnZnZnL] (L=Bulky Amide), Bearing a Linear Chain of Two-Coordinate Zinc Atoms

J. Hicks, E. J. Underhill, C. E. Kefalidis, L. Maron, C. Jones, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2015, 54, 10000-10004.

Low-Coordinate Cobalt(I) Complexes Stabilized by an Extremely Bulky Amide Ligand

J. Hicks, C. Jones, Organometallics, 2015, 34, 2118-2121.

A Two-Coordinate Manganese(0) Complex with an Unsupported Mn–Mg Bond: Allowing Access to Low Coordinate Homo- and Heterobimetallic Compounds

J. Hicks, C. E. Hoyer, B. Moubaraki, G. L. Manni, E. Carter, D. M. Murphy, K. Murray, L. Gagliardi, C. Jones, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2014, 136, 5283-5286.

Extremely Bulky Amido First Row Transition Metal(II) Halide Complexes: Potential Precursors to Low Coordinate Metal–Metal Bonded Systems

J. Hicks, C. Jones, Inorg. Chem., 2013, 52, 3900-3907.

Utilizing Steric Bulk to Stabilize Molybdenum Aminogermylyne and Aminogermylene Complexes

J. Hicks, T. J. Hadlington, C. Schenk, J. Li, C. Jones, Organometallics, 2013, 32, 323-329.

Tuning the Electronic Structure of Mo–Mo Quadruple Bonds by N for O for S Substitution

J. Hicks, S. Ring, N. Patmore, Dalton Trans., 2012, 41, 6641-6650.