Colin Cairns

I was trained as an inorganic chemist but consider myself a molecular engineer: I design and build new molecules with specific electronic and steric properties. My current research is focused on the following areas:

Complexes of Substituted 1,8-Naphthyridines

Figure 1 shows the prototypical structure: 2-phenyl-1,8-naphthyridine.

I am interested in the coordination properties of derivatives that have substituents on the phenyl group. This research area involves experimental and theoretical work. For example, Figure 2 shows the structure of one example of a platinum(II) complex.

Complexes of Water-Soluble Schiff Bases

Figure 4 shows one general example. Other molecules contain sulfonate or phosphonium groups instead of the bipyridinium groups shown in this Figure.

These complexes may have useful redox properties. For example, they may be catalysts for oxidation of organic molecules.