Professor Nicholas H. Williams

School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences

Professor of Physical Organic Chemistry

Chemistry L3 Coordinator

Nicholas Williams
Profile picture of Nicholas Williams
n.h.williams@sheffield.ac.uk
Dainton Building

Full contact details

Professor Nicholas H. Williams
School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Dainton Building
13 Brook Hill
Sheffield
S3 7HF
Profile

Prof. Williams obtained his BA in Chemistry from Cambridge in 1988, which was followed by an MA and PhD from the same institution in 1992. After his PhD he was a post doctoral fellow and temporary lector at Trinity College, Cambridge.

In 1994 he became a RS/NSERC Research Fellow at McGill University in Montr矇al. In 1996 he was appointed to a lectureship at the University of Sheffield, where he was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2003 and then Reader in 2007. In 2011 he was promoted to Professor.

Qualifications
  • MRSC
  • CChem
Research interests

Our research can be broadly described as physical organic chemistry. This is the design, synthesis and systematic study of (mainly) organic molecules. The molecules we are interested in designing are ones which either show fundamental insights into mechanisms, reactivity, recognition and/or catalysis, or exploit the understanding we have to create more complex supramolecular systems. Practically, we think at the molecular level (designing organic molecules with key structural features), make them (organic synthesis), and finally discover how well they function by carefully examining their properties. Currently, we have three main strands of investigation:

Enzymes are remarkably efficient catalysts, operating under mild aqueous conditions; as man made efforts to achieve similar activity are many orders of magnitude less efficient, there is still a great deal that we do not understand. We are investigating well defined model compounds to understand how to combine several functional groups so that they work really effectively together. This helps give a deeper understanding of biological catalysis, and guides us in designing our own biomimetic catalysts. Organic ligands which can bind and control the reactivity of metal ions provide the best catalysts to date, and form the core of our models and catalysts.

We are applying the discovery that individual components of a catalyst can be brought together to achieve cooperative catalysis (i.e. the whole is more effective than the sum of the parts!) towards creating supramolecular systems which can be controlled by recognition processes. This is the type of event which takes place in signalling at cell surfaces, and we are making transmembrane signalling systems which mimic this.

Lastly, based on the discovery that calixarene-like molecules show a remarkable ability to modify the properties of surfaces, we are investigating the key molecular features that this is based on, and what properties we can bring to a wide range of materials. For example, we can already change paper from being highly water and oil absorbent to being both water and oil repellent, without observably changing its appearance. In particular, these molecules will have the potential make ordinary materials into sophisticated biomaterials by creating a new bio-active interface.

Publications

Journal articles

  • Svenningsen SW, Luige O, Abdulkarim Z, Str繹mberg R & Williams NH (2024) . Molecules, 29(9).
  • Abdelhady R, Senthong P, Eyers CE, Reamtong O, Cowley E, Cannizzaro L, Stimpson J, Cain K, Wilkinson OJ, Williams NH , Barran PE et al (2023) . Chemical Research in Toxicology, 36(12), 1921-1929.
  • Ludden MD, Taylor CGP, Tipping MB, Train JS, Williams NH, Dorrat JC, Tuck KL & Ward MD (2021) . Chemical Science, 12(44), 14781-14791.
  • Kocsis I, Ding Y, Williams NH & Hunter CA (2021) . Chemical Science, 12(37), 12377-12382.
  • Seddon WD, Alfhaid L, Dunbar ADF, Geoghegan M & Williams NH (2020) . Langmuir, 36(46), 13843-13852.
  • Szeler K, Williams NH, Hengge AC & Kamerlin SCL (2020) . The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 85(10), 6489-6497.
  • Taylor CGP, Metherell AJ, Argent SP, Ashour FM, Williams NH & Ward MD (2020) . Chemistry A European Journal, 26(14), 3065-3073.
  • Alfhaid L, Williams NH & Geoghegan M (2020) . Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 137(38).
  • Ding Y, Williams NH & Hunter CA (2019) . Journal of the American Chemical Society, 141(44), 17847-17853.
  • Ward MD, Hunter CA & Williams NH (2018) . Accounts of Chemical Research, 51(9), 2073-2082.
  • Cullen W, Metherell AJ, Wragg AB, Taylor CGP, Williams NH & Ward MD (2018) . Journal of the American Chemical Society, 140(8), 2821-2828.
  • Alfhaid L, La Spina R, Tomlinson MR, Hall AR, Seddon WD, Williams NH, Cousin F, Gorb S & Geoghegan M (2018) . Journal of Adhesion, 94(1), 58-76.
  • Metherell AJ, Cullen W, Williams NH & Ward MD (2018) . Chemistry A European Journal, 24(7), 1459-1459.
  • Metherell AJ, Cullen W, Williams NH & Ward MD (2018) . Chemistry A European Journal, 24(7), 1463-1463.
  • Metherell AJ, Cullen W, Williams NH & Ward M (2017) . Chemistry - A European Journal.
  • Langton MJ, Scriven LM, Williams NH & Hunter CA (2017) . Journal of the American Chemical Society, 139(44), 15768-15773.
  • Pabis A, Williams NH & Kamerlin SCL (2017) . Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 35, 7308-7316.
  • Chu Y, Williams NH & Hengge AC (2017) . Biochemistry, 56(30), 3923-3933.
  • Langton MJ, Williams NH & Hunter CA (2017) . Journal of the American Chemical Society, 139(18), 6461-6466.
  • Blackburn GM, Cherfils J, Moss GP, Richards NGJ, Waltho JP, Williams NH & Wittinghofer A (2017) . Pure and Applied Chemistry, 89(5), 653-675.
  • Kirwa AT, Williams NH, Mulla MY, Di Natale C, Paolesse R & Grell M (2017) . Talanta, 164, 228-232.
  • Ward MD, Hunter CA & Williams NH (2017) . Chemistry Letters, 46(1), 2-9.
  • Williams NH & Williams IH (2017) . Advances in Physical Organic Chemistry, 51, ix-x.
  • Langton MJ, Keymeulen F, Ciaccia M, Williams NH & Hunter CA (2016) . Nature Chemistry.
  • Tuwei KA, Williams NH & Grell M (2016) . Sensors & Actuators B: Chemical, 237, 1102-1107.
  • Li D & Williams NH (2016) . Journal of Physical Organic Chemistry, 29(12), 709-717.
  • Duarte F, Barrozo A, Aqvist J, Williams NH & Kamerlin SCL (2016) . Journal of the American Chemical Society, 138(33), 10664-10673.
  • Alfhaid L, Seddon WD, Williams NH & Geoghegan M (2016) . Soft Matter.
  • Cullen W, Misuraca MC, Hunter CA, Williams NH & Ward MD (2016) . Nature Chemistry, 8(3), 231-236.
  • Tirel EY & Williams NH (2015) . Chemistry - A European Journal, 21(19), 7053-7056.
  • Williams IH & Williams NH (2015) . Advances in Physical Organic Chemistry, 49, ix-x.
  • Duarte F, Aqvist J, Williams NH & Kamerlin SCL (2014) . Journal of the American Chemical Society, 137(3), 1081-1093.
  • Tirel EY, Bellamy Z, Adams H, Lebrun V, Duarte F & Williams NH (2014) . Angew Chem Int Ed Engl, 53(31), 8246-8250.
  • Tirel EY, Bellamy Z, Adams H, Lebrun V, Duarte F & Williams NH (2014) . Angewandte Chemie, 126(31), 8385-8389.
  • Williams IH & Williams NH (2014) . Advances in Physical Organic Chemistry, 48(C), ix-x.
  • Duarte F, Geng T, Marloie G, Al Hussain AO, Williams NH & Kamerlin SCL (2014) . J Org Chem, 79(7), 2816-2828.
  • El Zubir O, Barlow I, Leggett GJ & Williams NH (2013) . Nanoscale, 5(22), 11125-11131.
  • Ul-Haq E, Patole S, Moxey M, Amstad E, Vasilev C, Hunter CN, Leggett GJ, Spencer ND & Williams NH (2013) . ACS Nano, 7(9), 7610-7618.
  • Kirby AJ, Medeiros M, Mora JR, Oliveira PSM, Amer A, Williams NH & Nome F (2013) . J Org Chem, 78(4), 1343-1353.
  • El Zubir O, Barlow I, Ul-Haq E, Tajuddin HA, Williams NH & Leggett GJ (2013) . Langmuir, 29(4), 1083-1092.
  • Williams IH & Williams NH (2013) ADVANCES IN PHYSICAL ORGANIC CHEMISTRY PREFACE. ADVANCES IN PHYSICAL ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, VOL 47, 47, IX-X.
  • Williams IH & Williams NH (2013) . Advances in Physical Organic Chemistry, 47, 9-10.
  • Tajuddin HA, Manning RJ, Leggett GJ & Williams NH (2012) . Aip Conference Proceedings, 1502(1), 171-181.
  • Williams IH & Williams NH (2012) . Advances in Physical Organic Chemistry, 46, ix-x.
  • Yang S, Feng G & Williams NH (2012) . Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 10(29), 5606-5612.
  • Korhonen H, Mikkola S & Williams NH (2012) . Journal of Physical Organic Chemistry.
  • Williams IH & Williams NH (2012) Advances in Physical Organic Chemistry Volume 46 PREFACE. ADVANCES IN PHYSICAL ORGANIC CHEMISTY, VOL 46, 46, IX-X.
  • Korhonen H, Mikkola S & Williams NH (2012) . Chemistry A European Journal, 18(2), 659-670.
  • Kirby AJ, Medeiros M, Oliveira PSM, Orth ES, Brand瓊o TAS, Wanderlind EH, Amer A, Williams NH & Nome F (2011) . Chemistry A European Journal, 17(52), 14996-15004.
  • Tomlinson CG, Syson K, Sengerov獺 B, Atack JM, Sayers JR, Swanson L, Tainer JA, Williams NH & Grasby JA (2011) . J Biol Chem, 286(35), 30878-30887.
  • Sengerov獺 B, Tomlinson C, Atack JM, Williams R, Sayers JR, Williams NH & Grasby JA (2010) . Biochemistry, 49(37), 8085-8093.
  • Chu Y, Hengge AC & Williams NH (2010) A Simple Arg to Lys Mutant of Protein Phosphatase 1 Exhibits Catalytic Efficiencies toward Monoanionic Substrates Superior to Wild Type. FASEB JOURNAL, 24.
  • Baxter NJ, Bowler MW, Alizadeh T, Cliff MJ, Hounslow AM, Wu B, Berkowitz DB, Williams NH, Blackburn GM & Waltho JP (2010) . Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 107(10), 4555-4560.
  • Alkherraz A, Kamerlin SCL, Feng GQ, Sheikh QI, Warshel A & Williams NH (2010) . FARADAY DISCUSS, 145, 281-299.
  • Baxter NJ, Hounslow AM, Bowler MW, Williams NH, Blackburn GM & Waltho JP (2009) . J Am Chem Soc, 131(45), 16334-16335.
  • Feng G, Tanifum EA, Adams H, Hengge AC & Williams NH (2009) . J Am Chem Soc, 131(35), 12771-12779.
  • Charnley M, Fairfull-Smith K, Haldar S, Elliott R, McArthur SL, Williams NH & Haycock JW (2009) . ADV MATER, 21(28), 2909-2915.
  • Tsang WY, Edwards DR, Melnychuk SA, Liu CT, Liu CM, Neverov AA, Williams NH & Brown RS (2009) . J AM CHEM SOC, 131(11), 4159-4166.
  • Golicnik M, Olguin LF, Feng G, Baxter NJ, Waltho JP, Williams NH & Hollfelder F (2009) . J Am Chem Soc, 131(4), 1575-1588.
  • Garzelli R, Khlestkin VK, Williams NH & Chechik V (2008) . TETRAHEDRON LETT, 49(41), 5887-5889.
  • McWhirter C, Lund EA, Tanifum EA, Feng G, Sheikh QI, Hengge AC & Williams NH (2008) . J Am Chem Soc, 130(41), 13673-13682.
  • Kamerlin SCL, Williams NH & Warshel A (2008) . J ORG CHEM, 73(18), 6960-6969.
  • Syson K, Tomlinson C, Chapados BR, Sayers JR, Tainer JA, Williams NH & Grasby JA (2008) . J Biol Chem, 283(42), 28741-28746.
  • Linjalahti H, Feng GQ, Mareque-Rivas JC, Mikkola S & Williams NH (2008) . J AM CHEM SOC, 130(13), 4232-+.
  • Baxter NJ, Blackburn GM, Marston JP, Hounslow AM, Cliff MJ, Bermel W, Williams NH, Hollfelder F, Wemmer DE & Waltho JP (2008) . J Am Chem Soc, 130(12), 3952-3958.
  • Charnley M, Fairfull-Smith K, Williams NH, Douglas CWI, McArthur SL & Haycock JW (2007) Evaluation of anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial resorcinarene-peptides for biomaterial modification. European Cells and Materials, 14(SUPPL.3), 23.
  • Charnley M, Fairfull-Smith K, Williams NH, Douglas CWI, McArthur SL & Haycock JW (2007) Evaluation of anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial resorcinarene-peptides for biomaterial modification. European Cells and Materials, 14(SUPPL.3), 126.
  • Tanifum EA, Hengge AC, Lund EA, Williams NH, Feng GQ & McWhirter C (2007) ORGN 724-Comparative mechanistic studies on the catalytically promiscuous serine/threonine protein phosphatase-1 (PP-1) and the dinuclear cobalt(III) complex [Co2(tacn)2(OH)3](ClO4)3. ABSTR PAP AM CHEM S, 234.
  • Dijkstra HP, Hutchinson JJ, Hunter CA, Qin H, Tomas S, Webb SJ & Williams NH (2007) . Chemistry, 13(25), 7215-7222.
  • Stirling CJM, Fundin LJ & Williams NH (2007) . Chem Commun (Camb)(17), 1748-1750.
  • Lund EA, Hengge AC, Williams NH, McWhirter C & Feng GQ (2007) Mechanistic study of PP-1, a catalytically promiscuous enzyme. ABSTR PAP AM CHEM S, 233, 613-613.
  • Fairfull-Smith K, Redon PMJ, Haycock JW & Williams NH (2007) . TETRAHEDRON LETT, 48(8), 1317-1319.
  • Feng G, Natale D, Prabaharan R, MarequeRivas JC & Williams NH (2006) . Angewandte Chemie, 118(42), 7214-7217.
  • Feng G, Natale D, Prabaharan R, Mareque-Rivas JC & Williams NH (2006) . Angew Chem Int Ed Engl, 45(42), 7056-7059.
  • Baxter NJ, Olguin LF, Golicnik M, Feng G, Hounslow AM, Bermel W, Blackburn GM, Hollfelder F, Waltho JP & Williams NH (2006) . Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 103(40), 14732-14737.
  • Williams NH (2006) . ChemInform, 37(28).
  • Charnley M, Fairfull-Smith K, Williams NH & Haycock JW (2006) Evaluation of anti-inflammatory calixarene-peptides for biomaterial modification. European Cells and Materials, 11(SUPPL.2), 26.
  • Feng G, Mareque-Rivas JC & Williams NH (2006) . Chem Commun (Camb)(17), 1845-1847.
  • Schroeder GK, Lad C, Wyman P, Williams NH & Wolfenden R (2006) The time required for water attack at the phosphorus atom of simple phosphodiesters and of DNA. P NATL ACAD SCI USA, 103(11), 4052-4055.
  • Williams NH (2005) . Annual Reports on the Progress of Chemistry Section B, 101, 352-373.
  • Feng G, Mareque-Rivas JC, Torres Mart穩n de Rosales R & Williams NH (2005) . J Am Chem Soc, 127(39), 13470-13471.
  • Williams NH (2005) . ChemInform, 36(15).
  • Brazier JA, Shibata T, Townsley J, Taylor BF, Frary E, Williams NH & Williams DM (2005) . Nucleic Acids Res, 33(4), 1362-1371.
  • Haycock JW, Haldar S, Elliott RJ, Williams NH & MacNeil S (2004) Anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective action of novel synthetic MSH peptides in human skin keratinocytes. Transactions 7th World Biomaterials Congress, 1067.
  • Williams NH (2004) . ChemInform, 35(39).
  • Humphry T, Forconi M, Williams NH & Hengge AC (2004) . J AM CHEM SOC, 126(38), 11864-11869.
  • Padovani M, Williams NH & Wyman P (2004) . J PHYS ORG CHEM, 17(6-7), 472-477.
  • Williams NH (2004) . Biochim Biophys Acta, 1697(1-2), 279-287.
  • Nakano E, Williamson MP, Williams NH & Powers HJ (2004) . Biochim Biophys Acta, 1688(1), 33-42.
  • Williams NH (2004) . Annual Reports on the Progress of Chemistry Section B, 100, 407-434.
  • Blackburn GM, Williams NH, Gamblin SJ & Smerdon SJ (2003) . Science, 301(5637), 1184.
  • Lad C, Williams NH & Wolfenden R (2003) . Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 100(10), 5607-5610.
  • Astrom H, Williams NH & Stromberg R (2003) . ORG BIOMOL CHEM, 1(9), 1461-1465.
  • Doyle EL, Hunter CA, Phillips HC, Webb SJ & Williams NH (2003) . J Am Chem Soc, 125(15), 4593-4599.
  • Williams NH (2003) . Annual Reports on the Progress of Chemistry Section B, 99, 447-473.
  • Humphry T, Forconi M, Williams NH & Hengge AC (2002) . J AM CHEM SOC, 124(50), 14860-14861.
  • Barton P, Hunter CA, Potter TJ, Webb SJ & Williams NH (2002) . Angewandte Chemie, 114(20), 4034-4037.
  • Barton P, Hunter CA, Potter TJ, Webb SJ & Williams NH (2002) Transmembrane signalling. ANGEW CHEM INT EDIT, 41(20), 3878-3881.
  • Williams NH (2002) Models for biological phosphoryl transfer: From very, very slow to very fast.. ABSTR PAP AM CHEM S, 223, C24-C24.
  • Forconi M & Williams NH (2002) Mimicking metallophosphatases: revealing a role for an OH group with no libido.. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl, 41(5), 849-852.
  • Forconi M & Williams NH (2002) Mimicking Metallophosphatases: Revealing a Role for an OH Group with No Libido. Angewandte Chemie, 114(5), 877-880.
  • Williams NH & Wyman P (2001) . J CHEM SOC PERK T 2(11), 2068-2073.
  • Hengge AC, Humphry T, Forconi M & Williams NH (2001) Mechanism of reaction of phosphate esters coordinated to a model of dinuclear metallophosphatases.. ABSTR PAP AM CHEM S, 222, U154-U154.
  • Williams NH & Wyman P (2001) Base catalysed phosphate diester hydrolysis. CHEM COMMUN(14), 1268-1269.
  • Williams NH (2000) . J AM CHEM SOC, 122(48), 12023-12024.
  • Williams NH, Takasaki B, Wall M & Chin J (1999) . ChemInform, 30(33).
  • Williams NH, Lebuis AM & Chin J (1999) A structural and functional model of dinuclear metallophosphatases. J AM CHEM SOC, 121(14), 3341-3348.
  • Williams NH, Takasaki B, Wall M & Chin J (1999) . Accounts of Chemical Research, 32(6), 485-493.
  • Vyle JS, Williams NH & Grasby JA (1998) A novel solid support for synthesis of 2 ',3 '-cyclic phosphate terminated oligonucleotides. TETRAHEDRON LETT, 39(43), 7975-7978.
  • Williams NH, Cheung W & Chin J (1998) Reactivity of phosphate diesters doubly coordinated to a dinuclear cobalt(III) complex: Dependence of the reactivity on the basicity of the leaving group. J AM CHEM SOC, 120(32), 8079-8087.
  • Williams NH & Chin J (1996) . Chemical Communications(2), 131-132.
  • KIRBY AJ & WILLIAMS NH (1994) . JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 2(4), 643-648.
  • KIRBY AJ & WILLIAMS NH (1992) . JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS(18), 1286-1287.
  • KIRBY AJ & WILLIAMS NH (1992) . JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS(18), 1285-1286.
  • KIRBY AJ & WILLIAMS NH (1991) . JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS(22), 1643-1644.
  • KIRBY AJ & WILLIAMS NH (1991) . JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS(22), 1644-1645.
  • Barrozo A, Liao Q, Esguerra M, Marloie G, Flori獺n J, Williams NH & Kamerlin SCL () . Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 16(12), 2060-2073.
  • Williams NH, Baarrozo A, Blaha-Nelson D & Kamerlin SCL () . Pure and Applied Chemistry.

Book chapters

  • Williams NH & Williams IH (2017) , Advances in Physical Organic Chemistry (pp. ix-x). Elsevier
  • (2015) , Advances in Physical Organic Chemistry (pp. ix-x). Elsevier
  • Williams NH (2004) , Nucleic Acids and Molecular Biology (pp. 3-17). Springer Berlin Heidelberg

Conference proceedings

  • (2016) (pp ix-x)
  • Williams IH & Williams NH (2014) (pp ix-x)
  • Williams IH & Williams NH (2013) (pp ix-x)
  • Williams IH & Williams NH (2012) (pp ix-x)
  • Chu Y, Hengge AC & Williams NH (2012) A Simple Arg to Lys Mutant of Protein Phosphatase 1 Exhibits Catalytic Efficiencies toward Monoanionic Substrates Superior to Wild Type. FASEB JOURNAL, Vol. 26
  • Chu Y, Williams NH & Hengge AC (2010) Mechanistic study of phosphoryl transfer reactions catalyzed by protein phosphatase-1. ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, Vol. 239
  • Humphry T, Forconi M, Williams NH & Hengge AC (2003) Alteration of the mechanisms of phosphate ester hydrolysis by complexation to a dinuclear metal cneter.. ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, Vol. 226 (pp U747-U748)
  • KIRBY AJ & WILLIAMS NH (1993) . ANOMERIC EFFECT AND ASSOCIATED STEREOELECTRONIC EFFECTS, Vol. 539 (pp 55-69)
  • KIRBY AJ & WILLIAMS NH (1992) ANOMERIC AND GAUCHE EFFECTS - SOME BASIC STEREOELECTRONICS. ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, Vol. 204 (pp 91-CARB)

Other

  • Taylor CGP, Metherell AJ, Argent SP, Ashour FM, Williams NH & Ward MD (2020) . Chemistry A European Journal, 26(14), 2981-2981.
Teaching interests

Organic Chemistry; Biological Chemistry

Teaching activities

Undergraduate and postgraduate taught modules

  • Stereochemistry (Level 2)
    This course discusses stereochemistry and conformation in organic chemistry.
  • Mechanistic Organic Chemistry (Level 3)
    This module discusses how to investigate organic reaction mechanisms.
  • Stereoelectronics, Mechanism and Reactivity in Organic Chemistry (Level 4)
    This lecture course develops and unites your understanding of the factors that contribute to the reactivity and mechanisms of organic compounds, and particularly the role of stereoelectronic effects in influencing the outcome of ionic, pericyclic and radical reactions.

Support Teaching:

  • Level 3 Literature Review

Laboratory Teaching:

  • Level 4 Research Project