Clayton Research Group

The group works at the interface of digital chemistry, machine learning and process engineering within the Institute of Process Research and Development at the University of Leeds. We are focused on advancing sustainable multistep synthesis of small molecules. Our interdisciplinary team develops and combines autonomous reactors and optimisation algorithms to explore a wide variety of multistep continuous flow processes. This approach combines advanced computational techniques with practical experimentation, enabling the seamless incorporation of digital methods into synthetic chemistry. We exploit these tools to primarily target the integration of different (photo-, bio-, chemo-) catalytic reactions into cascades, with the overall goal of reducing the carbon footprint of chemical manufacturing.