![Benjamin Ward](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/1538?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Benjamin Ward
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Teams and roles for Benjamin Ward
Reader in Inorganic Chemistry
Overview
I am interested in all areas of research related to plastics and polymers. Specific expertise lies in polymer preparation, recycling, and analysis.
Publication
2026
- Elliott, M. C. et al. 2026. Exploring the interface of hyperconjugation and polarizability─enhancing pedagogies for charge stabilization in organic chemistry. Journal of Chemical Education (10.1021/acs.jchemed.6c00708)
- Kopp, R. O. et al., 2026. Janus-faced coordination chemistry of pyridyl-functionalized phosphinines with Cu(i) and Au(i). Dalton Transactions 55 (15), pp.5908-5919. (10.1039/d6dt00083e)
- Allison, T. et al. 2026. Degradation of cellulose-based wet wipes marketed as ‘biodegradable’ in their receiving urban rivers. Environmental Pollution 388 127376. (10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127376)
2025
- Allison, T. et al. 2025. Cellulose-based wet wipes undergo limited degradation in river environments. Environmental Pollution 384 126971. (10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126971)
- Masud, N. et al. 2025. Assessing the solubility, chemical stability and ecotoxicology of an emerging non-halogenated flame retardant, melamine cyanurate, against a prevalent halogenated congener, tetrabromophthalic anhydride. Aquatic Toxicology 287 107537. (10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107537)
- Bharti, S. K. et al., 2025. Structural and chemical investigation of a tridentate fluorescein hydrazone (LH3), a selective Cu2+ and Hg2+ chelator: detection of CN− and HSO4− by its Cu2+ complexes and effect on HeLa cell division. New Journal of Chemistry 49 (33), pp.14219-14230. (10.1039/d5nj01491c)
- Wakchaure, V. C. et al., 2025. Escape from flatland: Stereoselective synthesis of hexa‐aryl borazines and their sp²‐based 3D architectures. Angewandte Chemie 137 (29) e202416700. (10.1002/ange.202416700)
- Elliott, M. C. et al. 2025. Is there a trend in inductive effect for different alkyl groups?. RSC Advances 15 (27), pp.21780-21784. (10.1039/d5ra03716f)
- Tarring, E. C. et al. 2025. Toxicity of the water-soluble polymer PVP is dependent on molecular weight and feed concentration for a freshwater model species. Science of the Total Environment 983 179686. (10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179686)
- Ahmed, Y. et al. 2025. In situ polymerization of barium hexaferrite ferrofluids for poly(ethylene) succinate magnetic nanoparticle composites. Journal of Applied Polymer Science 142 (23) e56984. (10.1002/app.56984)
- Wakchaure, V. C. et al., 2025. Expression of hyperconjugative stereoelectronic interactions in borazines. Chemical Communications 61 (6), pp.1200-1203. (10.1039/D4CC05188B)
- Elliott, M. C. et al. 2025. Alkyl groups in organic molecules are NOT inductively electron-releasing. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry 23 (2), pp.352-359. (10.1039/D4OB01572J)
- Allison, T. et al. 2025. Predicting flushed wet wipe emissions into rivers. Water Research 268 (Part B) 122733. (10.1016/j.watres.2024.122733)
- Cheung, S. J. et al. 2025. Assessing the chemical interactions and biological effects of a petrochemical and bio-based plastic with a common plastic flame retardant and solvent. Science of the Total Environment 958 177958. (10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177958)
2024
- Vladimirov, V. Y. et al. 2024. Ringing the changes: Effects of heterocyclic ring size on stereoselectivity in [(η5-C5Me5)RhCl], [(η5-C5Me5)IrCl] and [Ru(η6-cymene)Cl] complexes of chiral 3-Amino-1-Azacycles. Molecules 29 (19) 4659. (10.3390/molecules29194659)
- Tarring, E. et al. 2024. Detection of polyvinylpyrrolidone in Daphnia magna: Development of a refractive index quantification method for water-soluble polymers in aquatic organisms. Science of the Total Environment 935 173428. (10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173428)
- Ayuso-Carrillo, J. et al., 2024. One-step catalyst-transfer macrocyclization: expanding the chemical space of azaparacyclophanes. Journal of the American Chemical Society 146 (24), pp.16440-16457. (10.1021/jacs.4c02319)
- Stewart, J. A. et al., 2024. Zinc {ONO} complexes for the chemical recycling of PET and PLA. Catalysis Today 445 115037. (10.1016/j.cattod.2024.115037)
- Robison-Smith, C. et al. 2024. A class of their own? Water-soluble polymer pollution impacting a freshwater host-pathogen system. Science of the Total Environment 907 168086. (10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168086)
- Tarring, E. C. et al. 2024. Water-soluble polymers: emerging contaminants detected, separated and quantified by a novel Gpc/Maldi-Tof method. Environmental Pollution 340 (1) 122888. (10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122888)
2023
- MacAulay, S. et al. 2023. The impacts of synthetic and cellulose-based fibres and their associated dyes on fish hosts and parasite health. Environmental Science and Pollution Research (10.1007/s11356-023-30794-0)
- Allison, T. et al. 2023. Do flushed biodegradable wet wipes really degrade?. Science of the Total Environment 894 164912. (10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164912)
- Young, T. B. et al. 2023. Chemically recyclable fluorescent polyesters via the ring-opening copolymerization of epoxides and anhydrides. Polymer Chemistry (10.1039/D3PY00209H)
2022
- Fitzgerald, S. A. et al. 2022. Organometallic platinum(ii) photosensitisers that demonstrate ligand‐modulated triplet‐triplet annihilation energy upconversion efficiencies. Chemistry - A European Journal e202203241. (10.1002/chem.202203241)
- Ward, B. D. , Guppy, O. G. and Shaw, M. S. 2022. Alkyl, carbonyl and cyanide complexes of the group 4 metals. In: Parkin, G. , Meyer, K. and O'hare, D. eds. Comprehensive Organometallic Chemistry IV (Fourth Edition). Elsevier. , pp.85-162. (10.1016/B978-0-12-820206-7.00011-1)
- Shaw, M. S. et al. 2022. Metallocene catalysts for the ring-opening co-polymerisation of epoxides and cyclic anhydrides. Polymer Chemistry 13 (22), pp.3315-3324. (10.1039/D2PY00335J)
- Stewart, J. et al., 2022. Simple Zn(ii) complexes for the production and degradation of polyesters. RSC Advances 12 (3), pp.1416-1424. (10.1039/D1RA09087A)
2021
- Kaler, S. et al., 2021. Aluminium(iii) and zinc(ii) complexes of azobenzene-containing ligands for ring-opening polymerisation of ε-caprolactone and rac-lactide. Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers 8 (3), pp.711-719. (10.1039/D0QI01303J)
2020
- Dosso, J. et al. 2020. Boron-nitrogen-doped nanographenes: a synthetic tale from borazine precursors. Chemistry - A European Journal 26 (29), pp.6608-6621. (10.1002/chem.201905794)
2019
- Stewart, J. A. et al. 2019. Tuning the thiolen: Al(III) and Fe(III) thiolen complexes for the isoselective ROP of rac-Lactide. Macromolecules 52 (15), pp.5977-5984. (10.1021/acs.macromol.9b01205)
- Bahili, M. A. et al. 2019. Aluminium-catalysed isocyanate trimerization, enhanced by exploiting a dynamic coordination sphere. Chemical Communications 55 (53), pp.7679-7682. (10.1039/C9CC03339D)
- Groves, L. M. et al. 2019. Fluorescent functionalised naphthalimides and their Au(i)–NHC complexes for potential use in cellular bioimaging. Dalton Transactions 48 (5), pp.1599-1612. (10.1039/C8DT04069A)
2018
- Groves, L. M. et al. 2018. Synthesis and characterisation of fluorescent aminophosphines and their coordination to gold(i). Dalton Transactions 47 (28), pp.9324-9333. (10.1039/C8DT02256A)
- Langdon-Jones, E. E. , Ward, B. and Pope, S. 2018. Synthesis and luminescence properties of cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes incorporating conjugated benzotriazole units. Journal of Organometallic Chemistry 861 , pp.234-243. (10.1016/j.jorganchem.2018.02.019)
2017
- Gaur, R. et al., 2017. Synthesis, structures, nuclease activity, cytotoxicity, DFT and molecular docking studies of two nitrato bridged homodinuclear (Cu-Cu, Zn-Zn) complexes containing 2,2?-bipyridine and a chalcone derivative. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology 173 , pp.650-660. (10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2017.07.005)
2016
- Amoroso, A. J. et al. 2016. Shaping and enforcing coordination spheres: probing the ability of tripodal ligands to favour trigonal prismatic geometry. Dalton Transactions 45 (26), pp.10630-10642. (10.1039/C6DT01165A)
- Stacey, O. J. et al., 2016. Chromophore-labelled, luminescent platinum complexes: syntheses, structures, and spectroscopic properties. Dalton Transactions 45 , pp.10297-10307. (10.1039/C6DT01335J)
- Bennett, S. D. et al., 2016. Scandium complexes bearing bis(oxazolinylphenyl)amide ligands: an analysis of their reactivity, solution-state structures and photophysical properties. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry 2016 (18), pp.2932-2941. (10.1002/ejic.201600223)
- Stacey, O. J. et al., 2016. Near-IR luminescent lanthanide complexes with 1,8-diaminoanthraquinone-based chromophoric ligands. Dalton Transactions 45 (15), pp.6674-6681. (10.1039/C5DT04351D)
- Hallett, A. J. et al., 2016. Copper(II) complexes of pyridine-oxazoline (Pyox) ligands: coordination chemistry, ligand stability, and catalysis. Inorganica Chimica Acta 441 , pp.86-94. (10.1016/j.ica.2015.10.032)
2014
- Bennett, S. D. et al. 2014. Chiral lanthanide complexes: coordination chemistry, spectroscopy, and catalysis. Dalton Transactions 43 (15), pp.5871-5885. (10.1039/c4dt00114a)
2013
- Kumari, N. et al., 2013. Reactivity of tetrabutylammonium iodide with a heteronuclear 6Copper(II)-4Na(I) complex: selective recognition of iodide ion. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 52 (43), pp.15007-15014. (10.1021/ie401373m)
- Almalioti, F. et al. 2013. Convenient syntheses of cyanuric chloride-derived NHC ligands, their Ag(i) and Au(i) complexes and antimicrobial activity. Dalton Transactions 42 (34), pp.12370-12380. (10.1039/c3dt51400e)
- Bennett, S. D. , Pope, S. J. A. and Ward, B. D. 2013. Near-IR luminescent neodymium complexes: spectroscopic probes for hydroamination catalysis. Chemical Communications 49 (54), pp.6072-6074. (10.1039/c3cc42923g)
- Carter, E. et al. 2013. Structure, EPR/ENDOR and DFT characterisation of a [CuII(en)2](OTf)2 complex. Dalton Transactions 42 (42), pp.15088-15096. (10.1039/c3dt51694f)
- Langdon-Jones, E. E. et al. 2013. Using substituted cyclometalated quinoxaline ligands to finely tune the luminescence properties of iridium(III) complexes. Inorganic Chemistr 52 (1), pp.448-456. (10.1021/ic301853t)
2012
- Kumari, N. et al., 2012. Reactivity of nitrilotriacetic acid with polypyridyl protected as well as naked copper(II) nitrate. Polyhedron 33 (1), pp.425-434. (10.1016/j.poly.2011.12.009)
- Nixon, T. D. and Ward, B. D. 2012. Calcium amido-bisoxazoline complexes in asymmetric hydroamination/cyclisation catalysis. Chemical Communications 48 (96), pp.11790-11792. (10.1039/c2cc37021b)
- Owen, M. E. et al. 2012. Influence of counterions on the structure of bis(oxazoline) copper(II) complexes; an EPR and ENDOR investigation. Dalton Transactions 41 (36), pp.11085-11092. (10.1039/C2DT31273E)
- Ward, B. D. and Gade, L. H. 2012. Rare earth metal oxazoline complexes in asymmetric catalysis. Chemical Communications 48 (86), pp.10587-10599. (10.1039/c2cc34997c)
2011
- Yasar, S. et al., 2011. Novel quasi-scorpionate ligand structures based on a bis-N-heterocyclic carbene chelate core: synthesis, complexation and catalysis. Applied Organometallic Chemistry 25 (5), pp.374-382. (10.1002/aoc.1773)
- McDyre, L. et al. 2011. Intramolecular formation of a CrI(bis-arene) species via TEA activation of [Cr(CO)4(Ph2P(C3H6)PPh2)]+: sn EPR and DFT investigation. Organometallics 30 (17), pp.4505-4508. (10.1021/om2006062)
- Hallett, A. J. et al. 2011. The co-ordination chemistry of tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl) methane manganese carbonyl complexes: Synthetic, electrochemical and DFT studies. Dalton Transactions 40 (36), pp.9276-9283. (10.1039/C1DT10828J)
- Jones, J. E. et al. 2011. Bimodal, dimetallic lanthanide complexes that bind to DNA: the nature of binding and its influence on water relaxivity. Chemical Communications 47 (12), pp.3374-3376. (10.1039/C1CC00111F)
- Jones, J. E. et al. 2011. Amino-anthraquinone chromophores functionalised with 3-picolyl units: structures, luminescence, DFT and their coordination chemistry with cationic Re(I) di-imine complexes. Dalton Transactions 40 (14), pp.3498-3509. (10.1039/C0DT01383H)
- Wixey, J. S. and Ward, B. D. 2011. Chiral calcium catalysts for asymmetric hydroamination/cyclisation. Chemical Communications 47 (19), pp.5449-5451. (10.1039/C1CC11229E)
- Wixey, J. S. and Ward, B. D. 2011. Modular ligand variation in calcium bisimidazoline complexes: effects on ligand redistribution and hydroamination catalysis. Dalton Transactions 40 (30), pp.7693-7696. (10.1039/C1DT10732A)
2010
- Hallett, A. J. et al. 2010. Neutral and cationic cyclometallated Ir(III) complexes of anthra[1,2-d]-imidazole-6,11-dione-derived ligands: Syntheses, structures and spectroscopic characterisation. Journal of Organometallic Chemistry 695 (22), pp.2401-2409. (10.1016/j.jorganchem.2010.07.017)
- Knight, J. C. et al. 2010. A facile one-pot synthesis of a new cryptand via a Pd(II)-catalysed carbonylation reaction. Dalton Transactions 39 (42), pp.10031-10033. (10.1039/C0DT01205J)
2009
- Andrews, M. B. et al. 2009. Sensitized Lanthanide-Ion Luminescence with Aryl-Substituted N-(2-Nitrophenyl)acetamide-Derived Chromophores. Helvetica Chimica Acta 92 (11), pp.2159-2172. (10.1002/hlca.200900108)
- Ward, B. D. et al. 2009. Scandium-catalyzed polymerization of CH3(CH2)nCH=CH2 (n = 0–4): remarkable activity and tacticity control. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry 2009 (7), pp.866-871. (10.1002/ejic.200801106)
- Weitershaus, K. et al., 2009. Titanium hydroamination catalysts bearing a 2-aminopyrrolinato spectator ligand: monitoring the individual reaction steps. Dalton Transactions 38 (23), pp.4586-4602. (10.1039/B902038A)
2008
- Scheuermann, C. J. and Ward, B. D. 2008. Selected recent developments in organo-cobalt chemistry. New Journal of Chemistry 32 (11), pp.1850-1880. (10.1039/b802689k)
- Vujkovic, N. et al., 2008. Insertions into azatitanacyclobutenes: new insights into three-component coupling reactions involving imidotitanium intermediates. Organometallics 27 (11), pp.2518-2528. (10.1021/om8001203)
2007
- Gade, L. H. et al., 2007. Shaping and Enforcing Coordination Spheres: The Implications of C3 and C1 Chirality in the Coordination Chemistry of 1,1,1-Tris(oxazolinyl)ethane (Trisox). Chemistry - A European Journal 13 (11), pp.3058-3075. (10.1002/chem.200601651)
- Lukešová, L. et al., 2007. C-3-Symmetric chiral organolanthanide complexes: Synthesis, characterization, and stereospecific polymerization of alpha-olefins. Organometallics 26 (18), pp.4652-4657. (10.1021/om700504f)
- Lukešová, L. et al., 2007. High tacticity control in organolanthanide polymerization catalysis: formation of isotactic poly(alpha-alkenes) with a chiral C-3-symmetric thulium complex. Dalton Transactions (9), pp.920-922. (10.1039/B700269F)
- Vujkovic, N. et al., 2007. Imido-alkyne coupling in titanium complexes: New insights into the alkyne hydroamination reaction. Organometallics 26 (23), pp.5522-5534. (10.1021/om700758v)
2006
- Seitz, M. et al., 2006. Bisoxazolines with one and two sidearms: stereodirecting ligands for copper-catalysed asymmetric allylic oxidations of alkenes. Dalton Transactions (1), pp.193-202. (10.1039/B512570G)
- Ward, B. D. , Gade, L. H. and Mountford, P. 2006. Lithiation of the diaminopyridine protio-ligand MeC(2-C5H4N){CH2N(H) Mes}(2) (Mes=2,4,6-C6H2Me3). Acta Crystallographica Section E 62 (3), pp.M472-M474. (10.1107/S1600536806004041)
- Ward, B. D. et al. 2006. 2-Aminopyrrolines: New chiral amidinate ligands with a rigid well-defined molecular structure and their coordination to Ti-IV. Inorganic Chemistry -American Chemical Society- 45 (19), pp.7777-7787. (10.1021/ic060809y)
2005
- Tredget, C. S. et al., 2005. A family of scandium and yttrium tris((trimethylsilyl)methyl) complexes with neutral N-3 donor ligands. Organometallics 24 (13), pp.3136-3148. (10.1021/om050209r)
- Ward, B. D. et al. 2005. Reactions of Neutral and Cationic Diamide-Supported Imido Complexes with CO2 and Other Heterocumulenes: Issues of Site Selectivity. Organometallics 24 (10), pp.2368-2385. (10.1021/om0500265)
- Ward, B. D. , Bellemin-Laponnaz, S. and Gade, L. H. 2005. C3 Chirality in Polymerization Catalysis: A Highly Active Dicationic Scandium(III) Catalyst for the Isoselective Polymerization of 1-Hexene. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 44 (11), pp.1668-1671. (10.1002/anie.200462804)
- Boyd, C. L. et al., 2005. Synthesis, structures, and reactions of titanium, scandium, and yttrium complexes of diamino-bis(phenolate) ligands: Monomeric, dimeric, neutral, cationic, and multiply bonded derivatives. Organometallics 24 (2), pp.309-330. (10.1021/om0493661)
- Lowes, T. A. et al., 2005. A new diamido-amine ligand based on three-carbon atom "arms": synthesis, structures and polymerisation capability of zirconium derivatives of MeN(CH2CH2CH2NSiMe3)(2). Chemical Communications- Royal Society of Chemistry (1), pp.113-115. (10.1039/B412381F)
2004
- Ward, B. D. et al. 2004. Synthesis and structural characterization of an azatitanacyclobutene: the key intermediate in the catalytic anti-Markovnikov addition of primary amines to α-alkynes. Chemical Communications- Royal Society of Chemistry (6), pp.704-705. (10.1039/b316383k)
- Ward, B. D. et al. 2004. Synthesis, reactivity, and computational studies of the cationic tungsten methyl complex [W(NPh)(N2Npy)Me](+) and related compounds (N2Npy = MeC(2-C5H4N)(CH2NSiMe3)(2)). Organometallics 23 (19), pp.4444-4461. (10.1021/om049701l)
2003
- Lawrence, S. C. et al., 2003. Highly efficient ethylene polymerisation by scandium alkyls supported by neutral fac-kappa(3) coordinated N-3 donor ligands. Chemical Communications (23), pp.2880-2881. (10.1039/B310867H)
- Mountford, P. and Ward, B. D. 2003. Recent developments in the non-cyclopentadienyl organometallic and related chemistry of scandium. Chemical Communications (15), pp.1797-1803. (10.1039/B212813F)
- Ward, B. D. et al. 2003. Group 6 imido complexes supported by diamido-donor ligands. Inorganic Chemistry -American Chemical Society- 42 (16), pp.4961-4969. (10.1021/ic034377s)
2002
- Skinner, M. E. G. et al., 2002. New N- and O-donor ligand environments in organoscandium chemistry. Journal of Organometallic Chemistry 647 (1-2), pp.145-150. (10.1016/S0022-328X(01)01359-6)
- Ward, B. D. et al. 2002. Synthesis and reactivity of the imidotungsten methyl cation [W(N(2)Npy)(NPh)Me](+): CO2 adds to the W=NPh bond and does not insert into the W-Me bond. Chemical Communications (22), pp.2618-2619. (10.1039/B208327B)
- Ward, B. D. et al. 2002. Scandium chloride, alkyl and phenyl complexes of diamido-donor ligands. Journal of the Chemical Society, Dalton Transactions (24), pp.4649-4657. (10.1039/B209382K)
2001
- Arnold, P. L. et al., 2001. A functional model for lanthanide doped silicate materials: synthesis of an apically substituted samarium silsesquioxane complex. Dalton Transactions (4), pp.488-491. (10.1039/B009123P)
Articles
- Elliott, M. C. et al. 2026. Exploring the interface of hyperconjugation and polarizability─enhancing pedagogies for charge stabilization in organic chemistry. Journal of Chemical Education (10.1021/acs.jchemed.6c00708)
- Kopp, R. O. et al., 2026. Janus-faced coordination chemistry of pyridyl-functionalized phosphinines with Cu(i) and Au(i). Dalton Transactions 55 (15), pp.5908-5919. (10.1039/d6dt00083e)
- Allison, T. et al. 2026. Degradation of cellulose-based wet wipes marketed as ‘biodegradable’ in their receiving urban rivers. Environmental Pollution 388 127376. (10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127376)
- Allison, T. et al. 2025. Cellulose-based wet wipes undergo limited degradation in river environments. Environmental Pollution 384 126971. (10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126971)
- Masud, N. et al. 2025. Assessing the solubility, chemical stability and ecotoxicology of an emerging non-halogenated flame retardant, melamine cyanurate, against a prevalent halogenated congener, tetrabromophthalic anhydride. Aquatic Toxicology 287 107537. (10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107537)
- Bharti, S. K. et al., 2025. Structural and chemical investigation of a tridentate fluorescein hydrazone (LH3), a selective Cu2+ and Hg2+ chelator: detection of CN− and HSO4− by its Cu2+ complexes and effect on HeLa cell division. New Journal of Chemistry 49 (33), pp.14219-14230. (10.1039/d5nj01491c)
- Wakchaure, V. C. et al., 2025. Escape from flatland: Stereoselective synthesis of hexa‐aryl borazines and their sp²‐based 3D architectures. Angewandte Chemie 137 (29) e202416700. (10.1002/ange.202416700)
- Elliott, M. C. et al. 2025. Is there a trend in inductive effect for different alkyl groups?. RSC Advances 15 (27), pp.21780-21784. (10.1039/d5ra03716f)
- Tarring, E. C. et al. 2025. Toxicity of the water-soluble polymer PVP is dependent on molecular weight and feed concentration for a freshwater model species. Science of the Total Environment 983 179686. (10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179686)
- Ahmed, Y. et al. 2025. In situ polymerization of barium hexaferrite ferrofluids for poly(ethylene) succinate magnetic nanoparticle composites. Journal of Applied Polymer Science 142 (23) e56984. (10.1002/app.56984)
- Wakchaure, V. C. et al., 2025. Expression of hyperconjugative stereoelectronic interactions in borazines. Chemical Communications 61 (6), pp.1200-1203. (10.1039/D4CC05188B)
- Elliott, M. C. et al. 2025. Alkyl groups in organic molecules are NOT inductively electron-releasing. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry 23 (2), pp.352-359. (10.1039/D4OB01572J)
- Allison, T. et al. 2025. Predicting flushed wet wipe emissions into rivers. Water Research 268 (Part B) 122733. (10.1016/j.watres.2024.122733)
- Cheung, S. J. et al. 2025. Assessing the chemical interactions and biological effects of a petrochemical and bio-based plastic with a common plastic flame retardant and solvent. Science of the Total Environment 958 177958. (10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177958)
- Vladimirov, V. Y. et al. 2024. Ringing the changes: Effects of heterocyclic ring size on stereoselectivity in [(η5-C5Me5)RhCl], [(η5-C5Me5)IrCl] and [Ru(η6-cymene)Cl] complexes of chiral 3-Amino-1-Azacycles. Molecules 29 (19) 4659. (10.3390/molecules29194659)
- Tarring, E. et al. 2024. Detection of polyvinylpyrrolidone in Daphnia magna: Development of a refractive index quantification method for water-soluble polymers in aquatic organisms. Science of the Total Environment 935 173428. (10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173428)
- Ayuso-Carrillo, J. et al., 2024. One-step catalyst-transfer macrocyclization: expanding the chemical space of azaparacyclophanes. Journal of the American Chemical Society 146 (24), pp.16440-16457. (10.1021/jacs.4c02319)
- Stewart, J. A. et al., 2024. Zinc {ONO} complexes for the chemical recycling of PET and PLA. Catalysis Today 445 115037. (10.1016/j.cattod.2024.115037)
- Robison-Smith, C. et al. 2024. A class of their own? Water-soluble polymer pollution impacting a freshwater host-pathogen system. Science of the Total Environment 907 168086. (10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168086)
- Tarring, E. C. et al. 2024. Water-soluble polymers: emerging contaminants detected, separated and quantified by a novel Gpc/Maldi-Tof method. Environmental Pollution 340 (1) 122888. (10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122888)
- MacAulay, S. et al. 2023. The impacts of synthetic and cellulose-based fibres and their associated dyes on fish hosts and parasite health. Environmental Science and Pollution Research (10.1007/s11356-023-30794-0)
- Allison, T. et al. 2023. Do flushed biodegradable wet wipes really degrade?. Science of the Total Environment 894 164912. (10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164912)
- Young, T. B. et al. 2023. Chemically recyclable fluorescent polyesters via the ring-opening copolymerization of epoxides and anhydrides. Polymer Chemistry (10.1039/D3PY00209H)
- Fitzgerald, S. A. et al. 2022. Organometallic platinum(ii) photosensitisers that demonstrate ligand‐modulated triplet‐triplet annihilation energy upconversion efficiencies. Chemistry - A European Journal e202203241. (10.1002/chem.202203241)
- Shaw, M. S. et al. 2022. Metallocene catalysts for the ring-opening co-polymerisation of epoxides and cyclic anhydrides. Polymer Chemistry 13 (22), pp.3315-3324. (10.1039/D2PY00335J)
- Stewart, J. et al., 2022. Simple Zn(ii) complexes for the production and degradation of polyesters. RSC Advances 12 (3), pp.1416-1424. (10.1039/D1RA09087A)
- Kaler, S. et al., 2021. Aluminium(iii) and zinc(ii) complexes of azobenzene-containing ligands for ring-opening polymerisation of ε-caprolactone and rac-lactide. Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers 8 (3), pp.711-719. (10.1039/D0QI01303J)
- Dosso, J. et al. 2020. Boron-nitrogen-doped nanographenes: a synthetic tale from borazine precursors. Chemistry - A European Journal 26 (29), pp.6608-6621. (10.1002/chem.201905794)
- Stewart, J. A. et al. 2019. Tuning the thiolen: Al(III) and Fe(III) thiolen complexes for the isoselective ROP of rac-Lactide. Macromolecules 52 (15), pp.5977-5984. (10.1021/acs.macromol.9b01205)
- Bahili, M. A. et al. 2019. Aluminium-catalysed isocyanate trimerization, enhanced by exploiting a dynamic coordination sphere. Chemical Communications 55 (53), pp.7679-7682. (10.1039/C9CC03339D)
- Groves, L. M. et al. 2019. Fluorescent functionalised naphthalimides and their Au(i)–NHC complexes for potential use in cellular bioimaging. Dalton Transactions 48 (5), pp.1599-1612. (10.1039/C8DT04069A)
- Groves, L. M. et al. 2018. Synthesis and characterisation of fluorescent aminophosphines and their coordination to gold(i). Dalton Transactions 47 (28), pp.9324-9333. (10.1039/C8DT02256A)
- Langdon-Jones, E. E. , Ward, B. and Pope, S. 2018. Synthesis and luminescence properties of cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes incorporating conjugated benzotriazole units. Journal of Organometallic Chemistry 861 , pp.234-243. (10.1016/j.jorganchem.2018.02.019)
- Gaur, R. et al., 2017. Synthesis, structures, nuclease activity, cytotoxicity, DFT and molecular docking studies of two nitrato bridged homodinuclear (Cu-Cu, Zn-Zn) complexes containing 2,2?-bipyridine and a chalcone derivative. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology 173 , pp.650-660. (10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2017.07.005)
- Amoroso, A. J. et al. 2016. Shaping and enforcing coordination spheres: probing the ability of tripodal ligands to favour trigonal prismatic geometry. Dalton Transactions 45 (26), pp.10630-10642. (10.1039/C6DT01165A)
- Stacey, O. J. et al., 2016. Chromophore-labelled, luminescent platinum complexes: syntheses, structures, and spectroscopic properties. Dalton Transactions 45 , pp.10297-10307. (10.1039/C6DT01335J)
- Bennett, S. D. et al., 2016. Scandium complexes bearing bis(oxazolinylphenyl)amide ligands: an analysis of their reactivity, solution-state structures and photophysical properties. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry 2016 (18), pp.2932-2941. (10.1002/ejic.201600223)
- Stacey, O. J. et al., 2016. Near-IR luminescent lanthanide complexes with 1,8-diaminoanthraquinone-based chromophoric ligands. Dalton Transactions 45 (15), pp.6674-6681. (10.1039/C5DT04351D)
- Hallett, A. J. et al., 2016. Copper(II) complexes of pyridine-oxazoline (Pyox) ligands: coordination chemistry, ligand stability, and catalysis. Inorganica Chimica Acta 441 , pp.86-94. (10.1016/j.ica.2015.10.032)
- Bennett, S. D. et al. 2014. Chiral lanthanide complexes: coordination chemistry, spectroscopy, and catalysis. Dalton Transactions 43 (15), pp.5871-5885. (10.1039/c4dt00114a)
- Kumari, N. et al., 2013. Reactivity of tetrabutylammonium iodide with a heteronuclear 6Copper(II)-4Na(I) complex: selective recognition of iodide ion. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 52 (43), pp.15007-15014. (10.1021/ie401373m)
- Almalioti, F. et al. 2013. Convenient syntheses of cyanuric chloride-derived NHC ligands, their Ag(i) and Au(i) complexes and antimicrobial activity. Dalton Transactions 42 (34), pp.12370-12380. (10.1039/c3dt51400e)
- Bennett, S. D. , Pope, S. J. A. and Ward, B. D. 2013. Near-IR luminescent neodymium complexes: spectroscopic probes for hydroamination catalysis. Chemical Communications 49 (54), pp.6072-6074. (10.1039/c3cc42923g)
- Carter, E. et al. 2013. Structure, EPR/ENDOR and DFT characterisation of a [CuII(en)2](OTf)2 complex. Dalton Transactions 42 (42), pp.15088-15096. (10.1039/c3dt51694f)
- Langdon-Jones, E. E. et al. 2013. Using substituted cyclometalated quinoxaline ligands to finely tune the luminescence properties of iridium(III) complexes. Inorganic Chemistr 52 (1), pp.448-456. (10.1021/ic301853t)
- Kumari, N. et al., 2012. Reactivity of nitrilotriacetic acid with polypyridyl protected as well as naked copper(II) nitrate. Polyhedron 33 (1), pp.425-434. (10.1016/j.poly.2011.12.009)
- Nixon, T. D. and Ward, B. D. 2012. Calcium amido-bisoxazoline complexes in asymmetric hydroamination/cyclisation catalysis. Chemical Communications 48 (96), pp.11790-11792. (10.1039/c2cc37021b)
- Owen, M. E. et al. 2012. Influence of counterions on the structure of bis(oxazoline) copper(II) complexes; an EPR and ENDOR investigation. Dalton Transactions 41 (36), pp.11085-11092. (10.1039/C2DT31273E)
- Ward, B. D. and Gade, L. H. 2012. Rare earth metal oxazoline complexes in asymmetric catalysis. Chemical Communications 48 (86), pp.10587-10599. (10.1039/c2cc34997c)
- Yasar, S. et al., 2011. Novel quasi-scorpionate ligand structures based on a bis-N-heterocyclic carbene chelate core: synthesis, complexation and catalysis. Applied Organometallic Chemistry 25 (5), pp.374-382. (10.1002/aoc.1773)
- McDyre, L. et al. 2011. Intramolecular formation of a CrI(bis-arene) species via TEA activation of [Cr(CO)4(Ph2P(C3H6)PPh2)]+: sn EPR and DFT investigation. Organometallics 30 (17), pp.4505-4508. (10.1021/om2006062)
- Hallett, A. J. et al. 2011. The co-ordination chemistry of tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl) methane manganese carbonyl complexes: Synthetic, electrochemical and DFT studies. Dalton Transactions 40 (36), pp.9276-9283. (10.1039/C1DT10828J)
- Jones, J. E. et al. 2011. Bimodal, dimetallic lanthanide complexes that bind to DNA: the nature of binding and its influence on water relaxivity. Chemical Communications 47 (12), pp.3374-3376. (10.1039/C1CC00111F)
- Jones, J. E. et al. 2011. Amino-anthraquinone chromophores functionalised with 3-picolyl units: structures, luminescence, DFT and their coordination chemistry with cationic Re(I) di-imine complexes. Dalton Transactions 40 (14), pp.3498-3509. (10.1039/C0DT01383H)
- Wixey, J. S. and Ward, B. D. 2011. Chiral calcium catalysts for asymmetric hydroamination/cyclisation. Chemical Communications 47 (19), pp.5449-5451. (10.1039/C1CC11229E)
- Wixey, J. S. and Ward, B. D. 2011. Modular ligand variation in calcium bisimidazoline complexes: effects on ligand redistribution and hydroamination catalysis. Dalton Transactions 40 (30), pp.7693-7696. (10.1039/C1DT10732A)
- Hallett, A. J. et al. 2010. Neutral and cationic cyclometallated Ir(III) complexes of anthra[1,2-d]-imidazole-6,11-dione-derived ligands: Syntheses, structures and spectroscopic characterisation. Journal of Organometallic Chemistry 695 (22), pp.2401-2409. (10.1016/j.jorganchem.2010.07.017)
- Knight, J. C. et al. 2010. A facile one-pot synthesis of a new cryptand via a Pd(II)-catalysed carbonylation reaction. Dalton Transactions 39 (42), pp.10031-10033. (10.1039/C0DT01205J)
- Andrews, M. B. et al. 2009. Sensitized Lanthanide-Ion Luminescence with Aryl-Substituted N-(2-Nitrophenyl)acetamide-Derived Chromophores. Helvetica Chimica Acta 92 (11), pp.2159-2172. (10.1002/hlca.200900108)
- Ward, B. D. et al. 2009. Scandium-catalyzed polymerization of CH3(CH2)nCH=CH2 (n = 0–4): remarkable activity and tacticity control. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry 2009 (7), pp.866-871. (10.1002/ejic.200801106)
- Weitershaus, K. et al., 2009. Titanium hydroamination catalysts bearing a 2-aminopyrrolinato spectator ligand: monitoring the individual reaction steps. Dalton Transactions 38 (23), pp.4586-4602. (10.1039/B902038A)
- Scheuermann, C. J. and Ward, B. D. 2008. Selected recent developments in organo-cobalt chemistry. New Journal of Chemistry 32 (11), pp.1850-1880. (10.1039/b802689k)
- Vujkovic, N. et al., 2008. Insertions into azatitanacyclobutenes: new insights into three-component coupling reactions involving imidotitanium intermediates. Organometallics 27 (11), pp.2518-2528. (10.1021/om8001203)
- Gade, L. H. et al., 2007. Shaping and Enforcing Coordination Spheres: The Implications of C3 and C1 Chirality in the Coordination Chemistry of 1,1,1-Tris(oxazolinyl)ethane (Trisox). Chemistry - A European Journal 13 (11), pp.3058-3075. (10.1002/chem.200601651)
- Lukešová, L. et al., 2007. C-3-Symmetric chiral organolanthanide complexes: Synthesis, characterization, and stereospecific polymerization of alpha-olefins. Organometallics 26 (18), pp.4652-4657. (10.1021/om700504f)
- Lukešová, L. et al., 2007. High tacticity control in organolanthanide polymerization catalysis: formation of isotactic poly(alpha-alkenes) with a chiral C-3-symmetric thulium complex. Dalton Transactions (9), pp.920-922. (10.1039/B700269F)
- Vujkovic, N. et al., 2007. Imido-alkyne coupling in titanium complexes: New insights into the alkyne hydroamination reaction. Organometallics 26 (23), pp.5522-5534. (10.1021/om700758v)
- Seitz, M. et al., 2006. Bisoxazolines with one and two sidearms: stereodirecting ligands for copper-catalysed asymmetric allylic oxidations of alkenes. Dalton Transactions (1), pp.193-202. (10.1039/B512570G)
- Ward, B. D. , Gade, L. H. and Mountford, P. 2006. Lithiation of the diaminopyridine protio-ligand MeC(2-C5H4N){CH2N(H) Mes}(2) (Mes=2,4,6-C6H2Me3). Acta Crystallographica Section E 62 (3), pp.M472-M474. (10.1107/S1600536806004041)
- Ward, B. D. et al. 2006. 2-Aminopyrrolines: New chiral amidinate ligands with a rigid well-defined molecular structure and their coordination to Ti-IV. Inorganic Chemistry -American Chemical Society- 45 (19), pp.7777-7787. (10.1021/ic060809y)
- Tredget, C. S. et al., 2005. A family of scandium and yttrium tris((trimethylsilyl)methyl) complexes with neutral N-3 donor ligands. Organometallics 24 (13), pp.3136-3148. (10.1021/om050209r)
- Ward, B. D. et al. 2005. Reactions of Neutral and Cationic Diamide-Supported Imido Complexes with CO2 and Other Heterocumulenes: Issues of Site Selectivity. Organometallics 24 (10), pp.2368-2385. (10.1021/om0500265)
- Ward, B. D. , Bellemin-Laponnaz, S. and Gade, L. H. 2005. C3 Chirality in Polymerization Catalysis: A Highly Active Dicationic Scandium(III) Catalyst for the Isoselective Polymerization of 1-Hexene. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 44 (11), pp.1668-1671. (10.1002/anie.200462804)
- Boyd, C. L. et al., 2005. Synthesis, structures, and reactions of titanium, scandium, and yttrium complexes of diamino-bis(phenolate) ligands: Monomeric, dimeric, neutral, cationic, and multiply bonded derivatives. Organometallics 24 (2), pp.309-330. (10.1021/om0493661)
- Lowes, T. A. et al., 2005. A new diamido-amine ligand based on three-carbon atom "arms": synthesis, structures and polymerisation capability of zirconium derivatives of MeN(CH2CH2CH2NSiMe3)(2). Chemical Communications- Royal Society of Chemistry (1), pp.113-115. (10.1039/B412381F)
- Ward, B. D. et al. 2004. Synthesis and structural characterization of an azatitanacyclobutene: the key intermediate in the catalytic anti-Markovnikov addition of primary amines to α-alkynes. Chemical Communications- Royal Society of Chemistry (6), pp.704-705. (10.1039/b316383k)
- Ward, B. D. et al. 2004. Synthesis, reactivity, and computational studies of the cationic tungsten methyl complex [W(NPh)(N2Npy)Me](+) and related compounds (N2Npy = MeC(2-C5H4N)(CH2NSiMe3)(2)). Organometallics 23 (19), pp.4444-4461. (10.1021/om049701l)
- Lawrence, S. C. et al., 2003. Highly efficient ethylene polymerisation by scandium alkyls supported by neutral fac-kappa(3) coordinated N-3 donor ligands. Chemical Communications (23), pp.2880-2881. (10.1039/B310867H)
- Mountford, P. and Ward, B. D. 2003. Recent developments in the non-cyclopentadienyl organometallic and related chemistry of scandium. Chemical Communications (15), pp.1797-1803. (10.1039/B212813F)
- Ward, B. D. et al. 2003. Group 6 imido complexes supported by diamido-donor ligands. Inorganic Chemistry -American Chemical Society- 42 (16), pp.4961-4969. (10.1021/ic034377s)
- Skinner, M. E. G. et al., 2002. New N- and O-donor ligand environments in organoscandium chemistry. Journal of Organometallic Chemistry 647 (1-2), pp.145-150. (10.1016/S0022-328X(01)01359-6)
- Ward, B. D. et al. 2002. Synthesis and reactivity of the imidotungsten methyl cation [W(N(2)Npy)(NPh)Me](+): CO2 adds to the W=NPh bond and does not insert into the W-Me bond. Chemical Communications (22), pp.2618-2619. (10.1039/B208327B)
- Ward, B. D. et al. 2002. Scandium chloride, alkyl and phenyl complexes of diamido-donor ligands. Journal of the Chemical Society, Dalton Transactions (24), pp.4649-4657. (10.1039/B209382K)
- Arnold, P. L. et al., 2001. A functional model for lanthanide doped silicate materials: synthesis of an apically substituted samarium silsesquioxane complex. Dalton Transactions (4), pp.488-491. (10.1039/B009123P)
Book sections
- Ward, B. D. , Guppy, O. G. and Shaw, M. S. 2022. Alkyl, carbonyl and cyanide complexes of the group 4 metals. In: Parkin, G. , Meyer, K. and O'hare, D. eds. Comprehensive Organometallic Chemistry IV (Fourth Edition). Elsevier. , pp.85-162. (10.1016/B978-0-12-820206-7.00011-1)
Research
In my research group we work on plastics and polymers. Our research can be divided into environmental analysis of polymers and plastics, and the development of next-generation recyclable polymers.
Environmental analyis: We are developing methods for monitoring and understanding the fate of water-soluble plastics, microplastics, and wet-wipes, in order to fully understand their envionmental impact. We have collaborative projects seeking to understand the effect of these materials on the natural environment.
Future polymers: We are developing catalysts for the preparation of novel polymers, along with the technology to recycle them effectively by de-polymerisation. Our goal is to prepare materials that have superior properties to traditional polymers such that they can be used in real-world applications whilst improving the environmental footprint of the polymer sector. Specific projects involve some or all of:
- Preparation of new ligand environments for effective catalysis
- Development of catalytically active complexes for polymerisation
- Reaction mechanism determination using spectroscopic analyses and computational studies
- Analysing the materials properties of novel polymers made in our laboratory
As part of our research efforts, we collaborate with scientists and engineers from across the catalysis and materials research areas.
For more information on specific projects available with Dr Benjamin Ward please the review the Molecular synthesis section of our research project themes.
Teaching
CH5102 Foundations of Inorganic Chemistry
CH5208 Applications of Molecular Spectroscopy
CH3402 Frontiers in Ligand Design and Coordination Chemistry
CHT221 Mechanism and Ligand Design in Homogeneous Catalysis
Biography
DPhil University of Oxford (2002, P. Mountford, synthesis and reactivity of Groups 3 and 6 complexes supported by polydentate N-donor ligands). Post-doctoral Research Fellow, University of Oxford (2002, P. Mountford, synthesis and polymerisation catalysis with Group 3 complexes supported by macrocyclic ligands). Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Università Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France (2003-4, L. H. Gade, asymmetric catalysis using C3-symmetry). Marie Curie Intra-European Research Fellow, Universitat Heidelberg, Germany (2005-7, L. H. Gade, stereoselective Fe- and Co-catalysed oxidation and peroxidation of hydrocarbons; isotactic olefin polymerisation with Group 3 catalysts). Research Fellow, CaRLa - Catalysis Research Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany (2007, L. H. Gade, stereospecific olefin polymerisation). Appointed lecturer, Cardiff, in 2007 (promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2014).
Supervisions
Current supervision
Halimah Alahmari
Taylor Young
Eve Tarring
News articles
Contact Details
Research themes
Specialisms
- Polymers and plastics
