Pushing oxidation-state limits in the f-block.

What we do

Chemistry at the bottom of the periodic table

We are the Goodwin Group in the Department of Chemistry at The University of Manchester, working to further our understanding of the f-block elements — the lanthanides and actinides.

We predominantly focus on non-aqueous chemistry to realise well-defined coordination geometries with which to stabilise highly reactive oxidation states and bonding motifs. By understanding the link between metal coordination environment and electronic structure, we aim to tune the physicochemical properties of f-block ions and direct them toward new chemistry and quantum properties.

Recent work

Newest publications

• Uranocenium – The bis-[8]annulene Uranium Cation

  Nat. Commun. 2026 17, 10914. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-77066-2. Preprint here: https://doi.org/10.26434/chemrxiv.15000008/v1

• Pulsed hyperfine EPR study of formally divalent rare earth (scandium, yttrium, lanthanum) arene complexes

  Chem. Commun. 2026 In Press.

• Coherent manipulation of Zr(III) aryloxide qudits

  Nat. Chem. 2026 In Press.

• Resonant inelastic X-ray scattering covalency analysis reveals non-Aufbau electronic configurations in low-valent lanthanides

  J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2026, 148, 44310–44322. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6c11285. Preprint here: https://doi.org/10.26434/chemrxiv.15004309/v1.