Catalysis; kinetic and mechanistic studies; medicinal chemistry; methodology development; total synthesis; agrochemistry

Allan completed his MSci (2004) and PhD (2008) at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. After a postdoctoral fellowship (Lindemann Trust) at Princeton (2010) and industrial postdoctoral position at GlaxoSmithKline (2011), Allan took up his first independent position at the University of Strathclyde as Lecturer (2011-2015) and Senior Lecturer (2015-2017). Allan moved to the University of St Andrews to take up the position of Reader in Homogeneous Catalysis in 2017.

Our group works to solve problems in catalysis by using mechanism and with a focus on application. We work across the field of homogeneous catalysis from transition metals (Pd, Cu, Ni) to organocatalysis and focus on making C–C and C–X bonds. The bonds we target are typically related to chemotypes present in bioactive molecules. We have active projects in medicinal chemistry (enzyme inhibitors), chemical biology (bioconjugation), and agrochemistry (SAR on natural product templates).

Allan contributes to teaching at both sub-honours and honours classes, through lecturing in CH3612 Synthetic Methodology (7 Lectures and 4 tutorials), CH3621 Organic Chemistry Lab (12 hours), and contributes to tutorials for CH1601 Organic Chemistry (8 hours) and CH2601 Organic Chemistry (8 hours).