Functional Organometallic Chemistry
Design. Methodology. Application.
About Us
We are a junior research group based in the Institute of Nanotechnology (INT) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).
Our work aims to design and synthesise organometallic compounds for direct uses in catalysis, magnetism, and as bottom-up precursors for nanomaterials.
These three concepts have applications in the sustainable production of fine chemicals, quantum computing, and next level nanotechnology.
Our work aims to design and synthesise organometallic compounds for direct uses in catalysis, magnetism, and as bottom-up precursors for nanomaterials.
These three concepts have applications in the sustainable production of fine chemicals, quantum computing, and next level nanotechnology.
Research
Application
Our complexes have targeted applications in Sustainable Synthesis, Quantum Computing, and Nanomaterials
Methodology
To synthesise the designed complexes, we use conventional (Schlenk Technique, Glovebox), and unconventional (Metal Vapour Synthesis, Microwave Synthesis, Mechanochemical Synthesis) anaerobic techniques.
Design
We use quantum chemical investigations such as density functional theory (DFT) to design and predict complexes with privileged electronic structures. Using an intertwined experimental and computational approach, we can look forward and develop the next generation of functional organometallics.
What's New?
PhD Students Edward and Nooshin, pictured middle-right and right, join the Townrow group to explore the organometallic chemistry of iron in its +1 and 0 oxidation states.
Thanks to Franziska Ganslmaier for the photo
After a successful HiWi project this summer, Luise Kink joins the team for her Master’s thesis. She will be exploring novel organometallic complexes as single-ion sources of iron.
Thanks to a YIG Prep Pro Fellowship from KIT, we have purchased our very own glovebox, equipped with a freezer and cold well. This will allow for the storage and manipulation of air and moisture sensitive chemicals, and massively improve the efficiency of our work.
Publications
David M. J. Krengel, Xiaobai Wang, Christopher Golz, Regine Herbst-Irmer, Oliver P. E. Townrow, Malte Fischer, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2026, https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.1788393
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Luise Kink, Robert Kruk, Oliver P. E. Townrow, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2026, https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.6c01660
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F. Dankert, O. P. E. Townrow, Nachrichten aus der Chemie, 2026, 74, 51-62 https://doi.org/10.1002/nadc.20264154474
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D. Jędrzkiewicz, M. Morasch, O. P. E. Townrow, B. Rösch, J. Langer, Z. Mathe, S. Harder, Chem. Sci. 2025, Accepted, DOI: 10.1039/D5SC05373K
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J. Klaucke, N. Sinthathurai, C. Golz, O. P. E. Townrow,* M. Fischer,* Nat. Commun. 2025, 16, 2657, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57907-2
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F. Meyer, S. Demeshko, C. Golz, O. P. E. Townrow,* M. Fischer,* Dalton Trans. 2025, 54, 8035-8040, DOI: 10.1039/D5DT00480B
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S. Thum, O. P. E. Townrow, J. Langer, S. Harder, Chem. Sci., 2025, 16, 4528–4536. DOI: 10.1039/D4SC08502G
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O. P. E. Townrow, T. Richter, J. Langer, S. Harder, Chem. Eur. J., 2024, e202404028, DOI: 10.1002/chem.202404028
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D. M. J. Krengel, N. Graw, R. Herbst-Irmer, D. Stalke, O. P. E. Townrow,* M. Fischer,* Inorg. Chem. Front. 2024, 11, 8649-8659. DOI: 10.1039/D4QI02202E
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T. Richter, S. Thum, O. P. E. Townrow, J. Langer, M. Wiesinger, S. Harder, J. Organomet. Chem. 2024, 1021, 123356. DOI: 10.1016/j.jorganchem.2024.123356
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T. Richter, S. Thum, T. Vilpas, O. P. E. Townrow, L. Klerner, J. Langer, S. Harder, Organometallics 2024, 43, 1377–1385. DOI: 10.1021/acs.organomet.4c00164
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L. Kreßner, D. Duvinage, P. Puylaert, N. Graw, R. Herbst-Irmer, D. Stalke, O. P. E. Townrow,* M. Fischer,* Inorg. Chem. 2024, 63, 7455–7463. DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c00598
Read MoreNooshin Gholhovallahi Ardakan
PhD StudentNooshin is originally from Iran. She holds an M.Sc. in Inorganic Chemistry from Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST). Her previous research focused on designing MOF- and COF-based nanocomposites for sustainable photocatalysis. She is currently developing iron-based catalysts as sustainable alternatives to noble metals. Outside the lab, she enjoys reading, travelling, and hiking, and capturing moments through photography.
Edward Tomlinson
PhD StudentEdward joined the group in March 2026. His project is funded by the Liebig fellowship and focuses on Iron-main group cooperative catalysts for cross coupling reactions. Originally from Hampshire in the UK, Edward graduated in July 2024 from the University of Bath with an MChem degree in Chemistry. He completed his final year project working under the supervision of Prof. Andrew Johnson in the Johnson research group. His project focused on synthesising novel germylenes and stannylenes and their applications in insertion-style reactions. Following this, he worked as an NMR research technician at the University of Oxford under the supervision of Dr. Harold Mackenzie. In this role, he was responsible for managing cryogenics logistics, maintaining open access spectrometers, supporting the NMR Submission Service and providing technical support across the NMR laboratories. In his free time Edward enjoys playing and watching sports, specifically hockey, tennis, cricket, football, rugby and Formula 1. He enjoys playing and listening to music, and also likes to cook and bake.
Luise Kink
MSc StudentLuise joined the group originally as a HiWi and has stayed with us for her MSc project. In this time, she has been working on the coordination chemistry of iron in its 1+ oxidation state.
Join Us
Come and join our group!
Hiwi, Bachelor's, Master's
Please get in touch to enquire about a Hiwi position, or to write your Bachelor's or Master's thesis with us.
PhD
If you are an ambitious masters student or graduate who is interested in applying for a PhD scholarship (VCI, DAAD, DFG, Evonik Stiftung, etc.) with us, please let us know.
Postdoc
We are always interested in hearing from future fellows of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, or similar. Please get in touch with a brief proposal outline.
All enquiries are welcome in German or English.
Fully funded positions will be posted here in the future.
Apply Now Please get in touch to enquire about a Hiwi position, or to write your Bachelor's or Master's thesis with us.
PhD
If you are an ambitious masters student or graduate who is interested in applying for a PhD scholarship (VCI, DAAD, DFG, Evonik Stiftung, etc.) with us, please let us know.
Postdoc
We are always interested in hearing from future fellows of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, or similar. Please get in touch with a brief proposal outline.
All enquiries are welcome in German or English.
Fully funded positions will be posted here in the future.
Contact
- Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen-Neureut, Germany
- Institut für Nanotechnologie (INT), Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) 76344