Dr Gregory A Solan

Greg Solan is Associate Professor of Inorganic Chemistry within the School of Chemistry at the University of Leicester. He gained his PhD degree at the University of Cambridge (King’s College) under the supervision of Dr M. J. Mays (1992) and BSc degree (First Class Honours) in Chemistry with European Studies from the University of Sussex. After postdoctoral research at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, University of Edinburgh and Imperial College London, he moved to his current position at the University of Leicester in 1999. He is an author of over 207 articles and 8 world patents (H-index 39). He has received several international awards including the ExxonMobil European Science and Engineering Award and guest/visiting professorships at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing, the University of Lille and the Shanghai University of Electric Power.

The Solan research group aims to design and develop inorganic compounds for use as molecular catalysts to promote various organic transformations including polymerisation, (de-)hydrogenation and C-H functionalisation. Both main group and transition metals are used in catalyst development with particular emphasis placed on earth abundant metals and their use in addressing sustainable challenges (e.g., CO₂ to biofuels, high performance biodegradable polymers). The group also focuses on fundamental organometallic chemistry as well as various aspects of polymer chemistry.

Greg Solan has published 207 peer-reviewed papers in international journals (over 8500 citations, Scopus) and has a current h-index of 39 (WoS).

Top 10 selected Publications:

• J. Yang, L. Yao, Z. Wang, Z. Zuo, S. Liu, P. Gao, M. Han, Q. Liu, G. A. Solan and W.-H. Sun, Manganese(I)-Catalyzed Asymmetric (Transfer) Hydrogenation of Ketones: An Insight into the Effect of Chiral PNN and NN ligands, Journal of Catalysis 2023, 418, 40-50.
• F. Cao, Y. Wang, X. Wang, W. Zhang, G. A. Solan, R. Wang, Y. Ma, X. Hao and W.-H. Sun, Zinc 8-aminotrihydroquinolines appended with pendant N-diphenylphosphinoethyl arms as exceptionally active catalysts for the ROP of ε-CL, Catalysis Science & Technology 2022, 12, 6687-6703.
• M. Liu, R. Zhang, Y. Ma, M. Han, G. A. Solan, T. Liang and W.-H. Sun, Trifluoromethoxy-substituted nickel catalysts for producing highly branched polyethylenes: impact of solvent, activator and N,N'-ligand on polymer properties, Polymer Chemistry 2022, 13, 1040–1058.
• Z. Wang, Q. Lin, N. Ma, S. Liu, M Han, X. Yan, Q. Liu, G. A. Solan and W.-H. Sun, Direct synthesis of ring-fused quinolines and pyridines catalyzed by NN_HY-ligated manganese complexes (Y = NR₂ or SR), Catalysis Science & Technology 2021, 11, 8026-8036.
• S.-F. Yuan, Y. Yan, G. A. Solan, Y. Ma and W.-H. Sun, Recent advancements in N-ligated group IV metal catalysts for the (co)polymerization of ethylene, Coordination Chemistry Reviews 2020, 411, 213254.
• Z. Wang, Z. Zhao, Y. Li, Y. Zhong, Q. Zhang, Q. Liu, G. A. Solan, Y. Ma and W.-H. Sun, Ruthenium-catalyzed Hydrogenation of CO₂ as a Route to Methyl Esters for use as Biofuels or fine Chemicals, Chemical Science 2020, 11, 6766-6774.
• J. Gao, D. Zhu, W. Zhang, G. A. Solan, Y. Ma and W.-H. Sun, Recent progress in the application of groups 1, 2 & 13 metal complexes as molecular catalysts for the ring opening polymerization of cyclic esters, Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers 2019, 6, 2619-2652.
• Z. Wang, G. A. Solan, Y. Ma, Q. Liu, T. Liang and W.-H. Sun, Fusing carbocycles of inequivalent ring size to a bis(imino)pyridine-iron ethylene polymerization catalyst; distinctive effects on activity, PE molecular weight and dispersity, Research 2019, e9426063.
• Y. Huang, R. Zhang, T. Liang, X. Hu, G. A. Solan and W.-H. Sun, Selectivity effects on N,N,N'-cobalt catalyzed ethylene dimerization/trimerization dictated through choice of aluminoxane co-catalyst, Organometallics 2019, 38, 1143-1150.
• Z. Wang, Q. Liu, G. A.; Solan and W.-H. Sun, Recent advances in Ni-mediated ethylene chain growth: N_imine-donor ligand effects on catalytic activity, thermal stability and oligo-/polymer structure, Coordination Chemistry Reviews 2017, 350, 68-83.

Inorganic Chemistry, Organometallic Chemistry, Catalysis, Polymer Chemistry, Synthetic Chemistry.

Chemistry BSc and MChem degree Modules: Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry (CH1202 UoL & DLI), Inorganic Chemistry (CH2202 UoL & DLI: Module Leader), Advanced Chemistry Practical (CH3271 UoL).

ExxonMobil European Science and Engineering Award (2001)
Chinese Academy of Sciences President’s International Fellowship (2016).
Chinese Academy of Sciences President’s International Fellowship (2017).
Chinese Academy of Sciences President’s International Fellowship (2018/19).
Tokyo Metropolitan University, Visiting position (2022/23).
Université de Lille, Visiting position (2022).
Shanghai University of Electric Power (SUEP), Visiting position (2023)

In addition to Departmental talks in the UK, US, Europe and the Far East, Greg Solan has also given invited lectures including keynote/plenary lectures at international conferences such as the 2nd Yanqi Molecular Science Forum, Beijing, China (2019), the 10th International symposium on high tech polymer materials (HTPM-10), Beijing, China (2018), International Symposium on Catalysis and Fine Chemicals (C&FC2018), Bangkok, Thailand (2018) and the 10th International symposium on Engineering Plastics (Ep’2023), Ningbo, China (2023).

Music and Sport.

B.Sc. (Hons) in Chemistry with European Studies (1st class Hons) – University of Sussex.
Ph.D. in Organometallic Chemistry – University of Cambridge.