Dr Graham Saunders
Graduate Coordinator; Inorganic Chemistry
Qualifications: B.A.(Hons) Oxon (1986), D.Phil Oxon (1989)
Contact Details
| Name | Extn. | Username | Room | Department | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saunders, Dr Graham | 4092 | gsaunder | CD.3.01 | Chemistry |
You can contact staff by:
- Calling +64 7 838 4466 then enter the extension
- Extensions starting with 4 or 5 can also be direct dialed:
- For extensions starting with 4: dial +64 7 838 extension
- For extensions starting with 5: dial +64 7 858 extension
- Emailing username@waikato.ac.nz
- Using the campus map to locate their room
Research Interests
Research is directed towards using the properties of the carbon―fluorine bond in organometallic chemistry and for highly repellant surfaces.
- Organometallic Chemistry
- The extreme strength and the electronic and steric properties of the C―F bond are used to confer useful properties on organometallic complexes, in particular catalytic activity.
- C―F bond fission is used to synthesize organometallic complexes, not accessible by other routes.
- Superhydrophobic Surfaces
- The extreme water repellancy of perfluoroalkyl groups is used to confer superhydrophobicity on metal surfaces. The work has been highlighted by Nature and Scientific American. The simple fabrication technique allows a range of unusual phenomena to be investigated, such as the Cheerios Effect and 'super-buoyancy', which allows boats to be constructed of metal mesh, and has potential industrial importance.
Students Supervised
MSc:
Hamish Galt - Fluoroaryl substituted N-Heterocycle carbenes
Sam Pachal - Superhydrophotitanium bic and titanium dioxide
Ivan Schroder - Synthesis of dicyandiamide derivatives for agricultural applications
Teaching Commitments
Expertise
Using the properties of the carbon-fluorine bond in organometallic chemistry and for highly repellent surfaces.
Recent Publications
- McGibbon, A., Nieuwenhuyzen, M., Saunders, G. (2011) Intramolecular dehydrofluorinative coupling of η⁶-arene and fluoroarylphosphine ligands in ruthenium complexes
Refereed Journal Articles - Journal of Fluorine Chemistry - Saunders, G. (2011) On the importance of π-π stacking and cation–anion interactions in the construction of non-centrosymmetric networks of bromide salts of imidazolium cations bearing arene and polyfluoroarene rings
Refereed Journal Articles - CrystEngComm - Henderson, W., Saunders, G., Hor, T. (2011) Dinuclear platinum(II) sulfide–thiolate complexes [Pt₂(μ-S)(μ-SR)(PPh₃)₄]⁺ containing fluorinated substituents and the identification of a S⋯C₆F₅ π interaction in the crystal structure of [Pt&
Refereed Journal Articles - Inorganica Chimica Acta - Larmour, I., Saunders, G., Bell, S. (2010) Compressed metal powders that remain superhydrophobic after abrasion
Refereed Journal Articles - Applied Materials & Interfaces
