DrSilvia Diez-Gonzalez

My research combines catalysis, heterocyclic chemistry, and sustainability to address fundamental and applied challenges in organic synthesis. Our work has long centred on the development of copper-based catalytic methodologies, drawing on expertise in N-heterocyclic carbene ligands and organometallic chemistry to create practical catalytic systems for synthesis. Alongside catalyst development, my group explores the unique reactivity of triazoles and triazolines as versatile building blocks and investigate the use of eutectic mixtures and other designer solvents as greener alternatives to conventional reaction media. By linking catalyst design, reaction discovery, and sustainable practices, we aim to deliver synthetic methods that are both scientifically innovative and practically useful.

Dr Silvia Díez-González graduated from the Universidad del País Vasco (Spain) and Université Paris XI (France) with an MSci in Organic Chemistry. She remained at Université Paris XI to undertake doctoral studies in organosilicon chemistry before joining the group of Professor Steven P. Nolan at the University of New Orleans (USA) as a Postdoctoral Fellow in 2004. In 2006, she moved with the group to the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ, Spain), where she was promoted to Scientific Group Coordinator.

Following a brief period working in theoretical chemistry with Professor Feliu Maseras at ICIQ, Silvia joined Imperial College London in 2009 as part of the inaugural cohort of Imperial College Junior Research Fellows. She is currently Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry.

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