معرفی
James Walton is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Durham University, where he leads the Walton Research Group. His work bridges organometallic synthesis, catalysis, and medicinal chemistry, with a particular focus on ruthenium and other platinum-group metal complexes for cancer therapy and catalytic applications.
Education:
- BSc (First Class Honours), University of Durham
- PhD, University of Durham, “Highly Emissive Europium Complexes” (supervisor: Prof David Parker)
- Post-doctoral research, University of Bath, with Prof Jonathan M J Williams
Research Interests:
The Walton group integrates synthetic inorganic/organometallic chemistry with biological evaluation. Major themes include:
- Design and synthesis of Ru(II), Rh(III), Os(II) and Ir(III) piano-stool complexes that inhibit histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes, offering anticancer activity comparable to clinical agents like SAHA.
- Computational modelling to achieve isoform-selective HDAC inhibition, followed by multi-step organic/inorganic synthesis and biophysical evaluation (NMR, MS, fluorescence, cytotoxicity assays).
- Catalytic activation of arenes via π-coordinated Ru(η6-arene)Ln complexes, enabling SNAr, C–H functionalisation and trifluoromethylation reactions under mild conditions.
- Development of switchable fluorescent probes for bio-imaging, including Al3+ and HSO3− sensors that operate in living human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
Scientific Awards:
- 2017 Inorganic Reaction Mechanisms Young Investigator Award, Royal Society of Chemistry
Group & Funding:
The Walton group currently hosts postgraduate researchers from the UK, Europe and Asia, supported by fellowships, Durham Doctoral Training schemes, industrial partners (P&G) and international programs (Newton-Bhabha, Erasmus, GCRF-CDT). Dr Walton welcomes enquiries from prospective PhD students, post-docs and visiting researchers interested in catalysis or medicinal inorganic chemistry.
