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Prf Peter Taylor

Emeritus Professor

School of Life, Health & Chemical Sciences

peter.taylor@open.ac.uk

Biography

Professional biography

Peter Taylor did his BSc and PhD many years ago at the University of East Anglia. This was followed by a brief spell (1976-78) as a postdoctoral Researcher at Exeter. He joined the Department of Chemistry at the Open University in 1978 and has stayed at the OU ever since. He was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1993 and to Professor of Organic Chemistry in 2005.

He has been research active throughout this time and has always had at least one student and/or Post Doc for the last 40 years. At present he has one Ph. D. student and one Post Doctoral Fellow. In recent years he has been more interested in working with industry and has had 3 KTPs and a CASE award.

Peter has been involved in the production and presentation of a large number of courses within and without the Science Faculty.  However, towards the end of his career he spent most of his time in a more senior University role. He was the academic lead on the Academic Principles for Qualifications project. He was Deputy Chair of the Academic Quality and Governance Committee and the Module Results Approval and Qualification Classification Panel and chairs of numerous committees and projects around assessment issues, for example he was the academic Director of the Assessment programme.  He was Director of the Open Programme which had over 25 000 students. He was an Associate Lecturer of the project module S810.

In the recent past he has had funding from Wellcome and NESTA for outreach projects around Open University Science broadcasting. He was  the academic lead for the TV series "Rough Science" and more recently one of the Academic leads on the radio series "Inside Science"

Peter is a past chair of the Travel Grants Committee of the Royal Society of Chemistry and was chair of an American Chemical Society named award Committee. He recently finished a 4 year Tempus project (900 000 euros) on developing e-learning capacity in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Peter is a Principal Fellow of the HEA

Research interests

 

Synthesis and reactions of silsesquioxane cages

Peter's work has focussed on preparing a range of silsesquioxane cages with regular structures and to examine their synthesis and interconversions.

Such compounds have been prepared with a range of functionality on each arm. For example, liquid crystalline materials have been prepared using suitably substituted linear arms. Previous work has involved cages with DNA strands attached that act as diagnostic devices, and cages with ligands that complex metal ions for imaging. We have also examined the phase changes associated with cages with long alkyl arms using WAX, SAX (Diamond), DSC and measuring their liquid crystal properties.

These cage compounds are prepared using a high yielding route from the corresponding triethoxysilane. Careful control of the reaction conditions leads to cages with a fluoride ion trapped in the centre. For a while we could only encapsulate fluoride with cages that contain an sp2 carbon. latterly we have continued the synthesis of encapsulated species where the arm is connected via an sp3 carbon which is attached to an electron withdrawing group. This has led to a number of interesting compounds where both the cation and anion are contained within cages leading to molecular ionic compounds, for example, potassium fluoride where the cation and anion are encapsulated.

The types of arms we use for attaching to silsesquioxane cages are similar to those attached to silica in HPLC. We had a partnership with Hichrom a manufacturer and distributor of HPLC columns to create new phases.

We had a CASE award student, in collaboration with TWI, examining silsesquioxane coatings.

Our most recent work has focussed on attaching protein arms to silsesquioxanes to create bioactive molecules.

Mechanistic silicon chemistry

We have been interested in substitution at silicon for over thirty years. In particular we made a range of pentacoordinate silicon compounds and examined their structures and reactions. We designed an NMR method for mapping substitution at silicon in solution based on using pentacoordinate structures as models (similar to the Dunitz approach with X-ray). We also prepared a pentacordinate silicon polymer.

 

Synthetic Organosilicon chemistry

We had a three year KTP with Cornelius Enterprises. This focussed on developing their catalogue of organosilicon intermediates and involved developing cost effective routes to particular targets followed by scale up.  As well as developing materials for contact lenses, we also aimed to prepare intermediates for electrical components and healthcare products.

 

Biological silicon chemistry

We have discovered the first unambiguous example of enzyme catalysed Si-O bond formation and cleavage. Most of the work has focussed on monoalkoxytrialkylsilanes and so the outcome has been easy to follow by gc. We are now examining the outcome of enzyme catalysed hydrolysis/condensation of di, tri and tetra alkoxysilanes. We have also engineered phages that have silaffin proteins on then outer coat that precipitate silica.

Teaching interests

My main teaching interests are in organic chemistry, although more recently I have been involved with the production and presentation of project courses.
I have been Course-team chair of four production teams, Course-team chair of five presentation teams. Author on eighteen courseteams.
I won the 1993 Courtaulds Prize for National excellence in the teaching of Polymer Chemistry
From 1999 until 2007 I was Programme Director of the MSc programme (in 2002 the MSc programme won  an OU Teaching award)
In 2009 I won an Open University Teaching Award for "the development of accesible materials using a range of media for informal and formal learning"
Most recently I have been production and presentation Module team chair of S811 - Strategic Management in Life Sciences and Healthcare.
From January 2012 to July 2019 I was Director of the Open Programme.
FromJanuary 2013 to July 2019 I was Director of the Assessment Programme, responsible for assesment innovation across the University
I am a Principal Fellow of the HEA

Impact and engagement

Peter impact and engagement is mainly focussed on working with Industry. In recent years he has had three Knowledge Tranfer Partnerships as well as a CASE award. He has numerous collaborations with a range of Industries that use organosilicon chemistry and  developed a network of SMEs that use organosilicon compounds.

External collaborations

Most of Peter's external collaborations are with Industry and professional bodies.

International links

Peter has been part of international projects in India, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Brazil and China.

Projects

Knowledge Transfer Investigations in hplc chromatography Industry with Hichrom Ltd. (SC-09-082-AB)

Production of novel HPLC phases exhibiting superior performance by combining the chromatography knowledge at Hichrom with the synthetic silane chemistry knowledge at the Open University

WJ Products KTP

A KTP partnership with WJ Products KTP to help them innovate their thermoplastic formulations for road marking through our expertise in organic synthesis and analysis and basic research and development

Biocatalytic Approaches to the Synthetic Manipulation of Silicones

The overall aim of this proposal is to develop engineered enzymes to explore possible biocatalytic routes for the production and manipulation of organosiloxane polymers. This area is particularly significant since organosilicon-based compounds constitute a major class of polymers (the “silicones”) with a vast variety of uses in industrial components and consumer goods. Yet, current methods of producing these compounds are energy intensive and carry a large environmental footprint, and thus new routes with greater selectivity and sustainability are desirable. In this proposal, the enzyme silicatein, which catalyses the formation and hydrolysis of Si-O bonds, will be investigated to establish their scope in the synthesis of these polymers. In addition, their use in the hydrolysis of polysiloxanes will be investigated, as a step towards the recycling of these materials. This is a cross-disciplinary proposal which brings together elements of recombinant protein engineering and biological chemistry (led by Dr. L. S. Wong, LSW), organic chemistry (Dr. P. Quayle, PQ) and silicone polymer chemistry (Prof. P. G. Taylor, PGT).

Nuffield undergraduate bursaries

The project will last for 6 weeks and will provide an OU student with the opportunity to carry out research work in our laboratories.

Publications

Book Chapter

Open by Degrees: Personalization at Degree and Module Level (2021)

Open by Degrees: A Case of Flexibility or Personalization? (2018)

Biocatalysis of siloxane bonds (2005)

Journal Article

Investigating silicatein selectivity and specificity in silicon–oxygen bond condensation and metathesis (2025)

Improving the Encapsulation of Ferritin‐Like Nanoparticles Within Polymeric Nanofibers Using a New Electrospinning Set‐Up and Its Effect Upon Iron Release Properties (2025)

Development of Improved Spectrophotometric Assays for Biocatalytic Silyl Ether Hydrolysis (2024)

"Clicking" trimeric peptides onto hybrid T8POSS nanocages and identifying synthesis limitations (2024)

Halogen exchange in complexes of hexacoordinate tin (LnCH2)2SnX2 and (LnCH2)2SnY2 containing lactamomethyl n-membered C,O-chelate ligands LnCH2 (n = 5–7; X, Y = Cl, Br, I) (2022)

Biocatalytic Silylation: The Condensation of Phenols and Alcohols with Triethylsilanol (2021)

Synthesis of Organosilicon Ligands for Europium (III) and Gadolinium (III) as Potential Imaging Agents (2020)

Self-assembly of fluoride-encapsulated polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) nanocrystals (2019)

Influence of the initial chemical conditions on the rational design of silica particles (2018)

Facile synthesis of novel hybrid POSS biomolecules via “Click” reactions (2017)

Synthesis and Structures of Novel Molecular Ionic Compounds Based on Encapsulation of Anions and Cations (2016)

N,N-bis-(dimethylfluorosilylmethyl)amides of N-organosulfonylproline and sarcosine: synthesis, structure, stereodynamic behaviour and in silico studies (2016)

Crystallization and morphology development in polyethylene-octakis(n-octadecyldimethylsiloxy)octasilsesquioxane nancomposite blends. (2015)

The Use of Complimentary Stationary Phases and 2-Dimensional HPLC for the Separation of the Synthesis and Degradants of Tipredane (INN) (2014)

Morphology and crystallization kinetics of polyethylene/long alkyl-chain substituted Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxanes (POSS) nanocomposite blends: a SAXS/WAXS study (2014)

Spotlight on medicinal chemistry education (2014)

Enhancing in vitro selection techniques to assist the discovery, understanding and use of inorganic binding peptides (2013)

Synthesis and hydrolysis-condensation study of water-soluble self-assembled pentacoordinate polysilylamides (2013)

Selective derivatization and characterization of bifunctional “Janus-type”cyclotetrasiloxanes (2013)

Enzyme-catalyzed transetherification of alkoxysilanes (2013)

X-ray crystal structures, packing behavior and thermal stability studies of a homologous series of n-alkyl-substituted polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (2013)

Properties and self-assembled packing morphology of long alkyl-chained substituted polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) cages (2013)

Linear long alkyl chain substituted POSS cages: the effect of alkyl chain length on the self-assembled packing morphology (2013)

Facile synthesis of novel functionalized silsesquioxane nanostructures containing an encapsulated fluoride anion (2012)

An artificial organosilicon receptor (2012)

Pentacoordinated chlorosilanes with C,O-chelate ligands derived from N-methyl-N'-organosulfonyl-prolinamides (2012)

Synthesis, structures, and stereodynamic behavior of novel pentacoordinate fluorosilanes: fluorosilyl derivatives of proline (2012)

Cationic complexes of silicon and germanium with (O,S)-chelate ligands (2012)

Inclusion complexes between cyclic siloxanes and cyclodextrins: synthesis and characterization (2012)

Further studies of fluoride ion entrapment in octasilsesquioxane cages; X-ray crystal structure studies and factors that affect their formation (2012)

Biomimetic catalysis at silicon centre using molecularly imprinted polymers (2011)

A large scale enzyme screen in the search for new methods of silicon-oxygen bond formation (2011)

Donor-stabilized five-coordinate cationic chelate silicon compounds with two (O→Si)-coordinating ligands (2011)

Study of binuclear silicon complexes of diketopiperazine at S(N)2 reaction profile (2011)

Enzyme mediated silicon–oxygen bond formation; the use of Rhizopus oryzae lipase, lysozyme and phytase under mild conditions (2010)

Four independent structures of a pentacoordinate silicon species at different points on the Berry pseudorotation pathway (2010)

A kinetic and mechanistic study of nucleophilic substitution at a pentacoordinated silicon atom (2009)

O,O-monochelate complexes of silicon and germanium halides: the derivatives of L-mandelic N,N-dimethylamide (2009)

Simple and mild preparation of silica-enzyme composites from silicic acid solution (2009)

Synthesis, structure and dynamic stereochemistry of (O→Si)-chelate N-(trifluorosilylmethyl)-[N-(S)-(1-phenylethyl)]acetamide and 1-(trifluorosilylmethyl)-2-oxoperhydroazepine: Retention of the O→Si coordination in the adduct with KF and 18-crown-6 (2008)

The use of silsesquioxane cages and phage display technology to probe silicone–protein interactions (2008)

A simple route to novel D spherosilicones; the first crystallographic structures of D6 and D8 cages (2008)

An improved phage display methodology for inorganic nanoparticle fabrication (2007)

Structures and stereochemical non-rigidity of Si-substituted N-(dimethylsilylmethyl)- and N-(methylphenylsilylmethyl)amides and -lactams (2006)

Silicon-nitrogen bond cleavage in N-(dimethylimidosilylmethyl)imides and dimethyl(lactamomethyl)aminosilanes with BF3 etherate as an alternative route to N-(dimethylfluorosilylmethyl)imides and related compounds (2006)

A higher yielding route to octasilsesquioxane cages using tetrabutylammonium fluoride, Part 2: Further synthetic advances, mechanistic investigations and X-ray crystal structure studies into the factors that determine cage geometry in the solid state (2004)

Fluoride Ion Entrapment in Octasilsesquioxane Cages as Models for ion entrapment in Zeolites. Further examples, X-ray Crystal Structure studies, and investigations into how and why they may be formed (2004)

Synthesis of silsesquioxane cages from phenyl-cis-tetrol, 1,3-divinyltetraethoxydisiloxane and cyclopentyl resins (2004)

The reactions of dialkyl and diarylethoxysilanes with T6 silsesquioxane cages X-ray crystallographic studies of the mono-T6D1 and bis-T6D2 insertion ring expansion products (2003)

Structural elucidations of T[sub 8] and Q[sub 8] silsesquioxane cages containing two types of pendant group using [sup 29] Si NMR spectroscopy (2003)

Fluoride-ion encapsulated within a silsesquioxane cage (2003)

Enzyme-catalysed siloxane bond formation (2003)

Stereochemical rearrangements of dibromides of hexacoordinated germanium containing amidomethyl and lactamomethyl chelate ligands (2003)

A higher yielding route for T8 silsesquioxane cages and X-ray crystal structures of some novel spherosilicates (2003)

The Preparation of hexasilsesquioxane (T6) cages by "non aqueous" hydrolysis of trichlorosilanes (2003)

Modelling nucleophilic substitution at silicon using solution 19F NMR chemical shift, 1JSi‑F and 2JC‑F coupling constant data of pentacoordinate silicon compounds. Correlation with other magnetic nuclei and X-ray structures, (2003)

Modelling SN2 nucleophilic substitution at silicon by structural correlation with X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy (2003)

Proton catalysis of nucleophilic substitution at pentacoordinate silicon (2002)

Reactions of silamorpholinones and acylsilamorpholines with electrophilic reagents. X-ray structure of products including a pentacoordinated silicon compound (2001)

Presentation / Conference

Plug and play nanoparticles: functionalization of octa-alkyne silsesquioxane nanocages (2021)

Design and synthesis of a new class of biomaterials towards control of cell behaviour and tissue integration (2019)

Report

ISOTOPE: Informing Science Outreach and Public Engagement. Final Report of the NESTA-funded ISOTOPE Project (2009)