Professor Michael Beckett

Emeritus Professor

Contact info

email: m.a.beckett@bangor.ac.uk

telephone: 01248 382378

Professor Mike Beckett is Emeritus Professor of Inorganic Chemistry within the School of Environmental and Natural Sciences and he is a specialist in the chemistry of boron. He has published more than 150 articles (h = 28) and has co-written a text book ('Periodic Table at a Glance', Wiley, 2006). His research papers on Lewis acidity measurement are internationally recognised and often cited as the 'Gutmann-Beckett method'. Mike Beckett has been an elected Titular/Associate Member of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) since 2012, a Fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry (CChem FRSC) and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).

  1. Published

    Synthesis, characterization, and thermal properties of benzylammonium pentaborate[C6H5CH2NH3][B5O6(OH)4]

    Beckett, M. A., Horton, P. N., Hursthouse, M. B., Timmis, J. L. & Varma, K. S., 22 Sept 2010, In: Collection of Czechoslovak Chemical Communications. 75, 9, p. 971-980

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  2. Published

    Organophosphoryl adducts of tris (pentafluorophenyl) borane; Crystal and molecular structure of B(C6F5)3Ph3PO

    Beckett, M. A., Brassington, D. S., Light, M. E. & Hursthouse, M. B., 1 Jun 2001, In: Journal of the Chemical Society Dalton Transactions. 11, p. 1768-1772

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  3. Published

    Supramolecular structures containing ‘isolated' pentaborate anions and non-metal cations: crystal structures of [Me3NCH2CH2OH][B5O6(OH)4] and [4-MepyH, 4-Mepy][B5O6(OH)4]

    Beckett, M. A., Bland, C. C., Horton, P. N., Hursthouse, M. B. & Varma, K. S., 1 Jun 2007, In: Journal of Organometallic Chemistry. 692, 13, p. 2832-2838

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  4. Published

    Bis(triphenylphosphoranylidene)ammonium iodide.

    Beckett, M. A., Horton, P. N., Hursthouse, M. B. & Timmis, J. L., 1 Feb 2010, In: Acta Crystallographica Section E: Structure Reports Online. 66, 2, p. o319-U2063

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  5. Published

    Crystallographic and spectroscopic investigation of the stereochemistry of [MBr(CO)(3)L-2] (M = Mn, Re) complexes: crystal and molecular structures of [MBr(CO)(3)L-2] {M = Mn, L = P(C6H4Cl-4)(3), 1/2dppe, 1/2dppf, M = Re, L = P(C6H4OMe-4)(3), 1/2dppf}

    Beckett, M. A., Brassington, D. S., Coles, S. J., Gelbrich, T., Light, M. E. & Hursthouse, M. B., 15 Dec 2003, In: Journal of Organometallic Chemistry. 688, 1-2, p. 174-180

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  6. Published

    Triborate and pentaborate salts of non-metal cations derived from N-substituted piperazines: synthesis, structural (XRD) and thermal properties

    Beckett, M. A., Horton, P. N., Hursthouse, M. B. & Timmis, J. L., 17 Jun 2013, In: RSC Advances. 3, p. 15185-15191

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  7. Published

    Compounds containing boron-chalcogen bonds

    Beckett, M. A., 31 Jul 2013, Handbook of Chalcogen Chemistry: New Perspectives in Sulfur: Selenium and Tellurium: volume 1. 2013 ed. Royal Society of Chemistry, p. 5-34

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

  8. Published

    Synthesis and characterization of cyclo-boratetrasiloxane, (RBO) (Me2SiO)3 (R=nBu, Ar), derivatives

    Beckett, M. A., Rugen-Hankey, M. P. & Varma, K. S., 15 Nov 2003, In: Polyhedron. 22, 25-26, p. 3333-3337

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  9. Published

    An unprecedented polyborate ester anion: X-ray diffraction studies on [1,8-C10H6(NMe2)2H][B5O6(Ome)4]

    Beckett, M. A., Bland, C. C., Horton, P. N., Hursthouse, M. B. & Varma, K. S., 1 Apr 2007, In: Inorganic Chemistry. 46, 10, p. 3801-3803

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  10. Published

    Pentaborate(1-) salts templated by substituted pyrrolidinium cations: synthesis, structural characterization, and modelling of solid-state H-bond interactions by DFT calculations

    Beckett, M. A., Coles, S., Davies, R. A., Horton, P. & Jones, C. L., 10 Mar 2015, In: Dalton Transactions. 44, p. 7032-7040

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  11. Published

    Synthesis and X-ray structural studies of pentaborate(1−) salts containing substituted imidazolium cations

    Beckett, M. A., Horton, P. N., Hursthouse, M. B. & Timmis, J. L., 19 Apr 2014, In: Polyhedron. 77, p. 96-102

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  12. Published

    Synthesis and Structural Characterization of an Unprecedented Nonmetal Cation Polyborate Salt Containing Two Different “Isolated” Polyborate Anions: [H2en]2[B4O5(OH)4][B7O9(OH)5]·3H2O (en = H2NCH2CH2NH2)

    Beckett, M. A., Horton, P. N., Coles, S. K. & Martin, D. W., 5 Dec 2011, In: Inorganic Chemistry. 50, 23, p. 12215-12218

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  13. Published

    Structural (XRD) and thermal (DSC,TGA) and BET analysis of materials derived from non-metal cation pentaborate salts

    Beckett, M. A., Horton, P. N., Hursthouse, M. B., Knox, D. A. & Timmis, J. L., 11 Mar 2010, In: Dalton Transactions. 39, 16, p. 3944-3951

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  14. Published

    Synthesis and X-ray characterisation of organotriboroxinate salts [Me3NCH2CH2CH2OH][Ph4B3O3] and [NEt3H][Ph3B3O3(OH)], and the X-ray structure of the triaryboroxine, (4-MeOC6H4)3B3O3

    Beckett, M. A., Coles, S. J., Light, M. E., Fischer, L., Stiefvater-Thomas, B. M. & Sukuma Varma, K., 6 Mar 2006, In: Polyhedron. 25, 4, p. 1011-1016

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  15. Published

    Synthesis of aluminium borate-boron oxide and binary titanium-boron and zirconium-boron oxides from metal alkoxides and (MeO)(3)B3O3 in non-aqueous solvents

    Beckett, M. A., Rugen-Hankey, M. P., Timmis, J. L. & Varma, K. S., 1 Jan 2008, In: Dalton Transactions. 11, p. 1503-1506

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  16. Published

    Lewis acidity of tris(pentafluorophenyl) borane: crystal and molecular structure of B(C6F5)(3)center dot OPEt3

    Beckett, M. A., Brassington, D. S., Coles, S. J. & Hursthouse, M. B., 1 Oct 2000, In: Inorganic Chemistry Communications. 3, 10, p. 530-533

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  17. Published

    Tetraphenylphosphonium octahydrotriborate.

    Beckett, M. A., Horton, P. N., Hursthouse, M. B. & Pszolla, C., 1 Apr 2010, In: Acta Crystallographica Section E: Structure Reports Online. 66, 4, p. o833

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  18. Published

    Templated heptaborate and pentaborate salts of cyclo-alkylammonium cations: structural and thermal properties

    Beckett, M. A., Horton, P. N., Hursthouse, M. B., Timmis, J. L. & Varma, K. S., 17 Feb 2012, In: Dalton Transactions. 41, 15, p. 4396-4403

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  19. Published

    fac,cis-bromidotricarbonylbis(tribenzylphosphine)rhenium(I).

    Beckett, M. A., Light, M. E., Brassington, D. S. & Thornton-Pett, M., 1 Mar 2007, In: Acta Crystallographica Section E: Structure Reports Online. 63, 3, p. m785-m786

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  20. Published

    Trimethoxyboroxine as an 'oxygen-transfer' reagent: a non-aqueous 'sol-gel' route to alkali-free borosilicate glass

    Beckett, M. A., Rugen-Hankey, M. P. & Varma, K. S., 1 Jan 2000, In: Chemical Communications. 16, p. 1499-1500

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  21. Published

    Tetraphenylboroxinate(1-) salts of monoborate cations: Synthesis and single-crystal X-ray structures of [Ph2B{OCH2CH2N(Me)(CH2)n}2][Ph4B3O3] (n = 4, 5)

    Beckett, M. A., Bennett, E. L., Horton, P. N. & Hursthouse, M. B., 1 Apr 2010, In: Journal of Organometallic Chemistry. 695, 7, p. 1080-1083

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  22. Published

    Boron chemistry

    Beckett, M. A., 2 Feb 2015, In: Chemistry International. 37, 1, p. 28

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  23. Published

    Boron Hydrides and related compounds

    Beckett, M. A. & Leigh, J. (ed.), 25 Nov 2011, Principles of Chemical Nomenclature: A Guide to IUPAC Recommendations 2011 Edition. 2011 ed. Royal Society of Chemistry

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

  24. Published
  25. Published

    New developments in boroxine chemistry: metal alkoxide condensation reactions, and diisocyanate polymerization reactions

    Beckett, M. A. (ed.), Rugen-Hankey, M. P. (ed.), Varma, K. S. (ed.) & Bubnov, Y. N. (ed.), 1 Jan 2003, 2003 ed. URSS Scientific Publishers.

    Research output: Book/ReportBook

  26. Published

    pi-Bonding in B-O ring species: Lewis acidity of Me3B3O3, synthesis of amine Me3B3O3 adducts, and the crystal and molecular structure of Me3B3O center dot(3NH2Bu)-Bu-i center dot MeB(OH)(2)

    Beckett, MA., Brassington, D. S., Owen, P., Hursthouse, MB., Light, ME., Malik, KMA. & Varma, KS., 1999, In: Journal of Organometallic Chemistry. 585, 1, p. 7-11 5 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  27. Published

    A convenient NMR method for the measurement of Lewis acidity at boron centres: Correlation of reaction rates of Lewis acid initiated epoxide polymerizations with Lewis acidity

    Beckett, MA., Holland, JR. & Varma, KS., 1996, In: Polymer. 37, 20, p. 4629-4631 3 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  28. Published

    Crystal structure of tris (riphenylsiloxy)borane center dot triphenylsilanol(1 : 1) adduct

    Beckett, MA., Hibbs, D. E., Hursthouse, M. B., Abdul Malik, K. M., Owen, P. & Sukumar Varma, K., 1998, In: Journal of Chemical Crystallography. 28, 4, p. 277-281 5 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  29. Published

    Lewis acidity of tris(pentafluorophenyl) borane: crystal and molecular structure of B(C(6)F(5))(3)center dot OPEt(3)

    Beckett, MA., Brassington, D. S., Coles, S. J. & Hursthouse, MB., 2000, In: Inorganic Chemistry Communications. 3, 10, p. 530-533 4 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  30. Published

    Synthesis and solid state B-11-{H-1} MAS NMR investigations of some group 11 arachno-2-metallatetraboranes.

    Beckett, MA. & Jones, P. W., 1997, In: Synthesis and Reactivity in Inorganic and Metal-Organic Chemistry. 27, 1, p. 41-50 10 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  31. Published

    Synthesis and characterization of amine adducts of tri(4-bromophenyl)boroxine, tri(3-nitrophenyl)boroxine, and tri(3-aminophenyl)boroxine; molecular strcture of 3-picoline.tri(4-bromophenyl)boroxine.

    Beckett, M., Hibbs, D., Hursthouse, MI., Malik, K. M. A., Varma, K. S. & Owen, P., 1998, In: Main Group Chemistry. 2, p. 251-258 8 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  32. Published

    Synthesis and thermal studies of two phosphonium tetrahy-droxidohexaoxidopentaborate(1-) salts: single-crystal XRD characterization of [iPrPPh3][B5O6(OH)4].3.5H2O and [MePPh3][B5O6(OH)4].B(OH)3.0.5H2O

    Beckett, M., Horton, P., Hursthouse, M. B. & Timmis, J., 29 Sept 2023, In: Molecules. 28, 19, 12 p., 6867.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  33. Published

    Solid-state structures of compounds containing organic cations with cyclic organoboroxinate(1-) or bicyclic spiro pentaborate anions

    Beckett, M., Bland, C. C., Stiefvater-Thomas, B. M. & Varma, K. S., 2006, In: Reports Series in Chemistry. 70, p. 23

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  34. Published

    Compounds Containing the Boron–Chalcogen B–E (E[double bond, length half m-dash]S, Se, Te) Bond

    Beckett, M., 2007, Handbook of Chalcogen Chemistry: New Perspectives in Sulfur, Selenium and Tellurium . Royal Society of Chemistry, p. 1-30

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

  35. Published

    Synthesis and Lewis acidity of triorganosilyl and triorganostannyl esters of orthoboric, metaboric and arylboronic acids

    Beckett, M., Owen, P. & Varma, K. S., 1999, In: Journal of Organometallic Chemistry. 588, 1, p. 107-112 6 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  36. An NMR study of the arachno [B10H12PPh2]- anion: an interesting arachno to arachno topological transition induced by deprotonation

    Beckett, M. & Kennedy, J., 1983, In: Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications. p. 575-576 2 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  37. Published

    Nomenclature for boranes and related species

    Beckett, M., Brellochs, B., Chizhevsky, I. T., Damhus, T., Hellwich, K-H., Kennedy, J. D., Laitinen, R., Powell, W. H., Rabinovich, D., Vinas, C. & Yerin, A., 1 Mar 2020, In: Pure and Applied Chemistry. 92, 2, p. 355-381

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  38. Published

    Enantiomer Discriminating Dehydrogenation of (R,S)-(±)-1-Phenylethan-1-ol to Acetophenone Catalysed by Chiral Cobalt(II) Schiff's Base Complexes and Triphenylphosphine

    Beckett, M. & Homer, R. B., Dec 1986, In: Inorganica Chimica Acta. 122, 1, p. L5-L7

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  39. Published

    Recent advances in crystalline hydrated borates with non-metal or transition-metal complex cations

    Beckett, M., 15 Sept 2016, In: Coordination Chemistry Reviews. 323, p. 2-14

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  40. Published

    Synthesis and XRD study of an C2-linked bis(quaternary ammonium) pentaborate: [Me3NCH2CH2NMe3][B5O6(OH)4]2

    Beckett, M., Coles, S. J., Horton, P. N. & Rixon, T., 3 Oct 2019, In: Phosphorus, Sulfur and Silicon and the Related Elements. 194, 10, p. 952-955

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  41. Molecular structure of the 17-vertex conjuncto platinaheptadecaborane [(PPMe2Ph)(PtB16H18)]: a 16-vetex h6-hexadecaboranyl ligand

    Beckett, M., Crook, J., Greenwood, N., Kennedy, J. & McDonald, W., 1982, In: Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications. p. 552-553 2 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  42. Published

    Amine adducts of (4-ClC6H4)3B3O3, Lewis acidity of triarylboroxines, and an XRD study on the related tetraphenylboroxinate(1-) salt, [C6H11NMe3][Ph4B3O3]

    Beckett, M., Coles, S., Horton, P. N., jones, C., Marshall, E. & Perry, T., 15 Jun 2018, In: Journal of Organometallic Chemistry. 865, p. 72-79

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  43. Published

    Copper(2+) Complexes of Hydroxyoxidoborates. Synthesis and Characterization of Two Clusters Containing the Hexaborate(2-) Ligand: [Cu(NH2CH2CH2NEt2){B6O7(OH)(6)}]center dot 5H(2)O and [Cu(NH3)(2){B6O7(OH)(6)}]center dot 2H(2)O

    Beckett, M., Altahan, M., Coles, S. J. & Horton, P. N., May 2019, In: Journal of Cluster Science. 30, 3, p. 599-605

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  44. Published

    Ligand substitution reactions of metal and organometal carbonyls with group V and group VI donor ligands: Organometallic Chemistry

    Beckett, M., 1991, In: Specialist Periodical Report. 20, p. 180-204

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  45. Comparative ten-vertex metallaborane chemistry: some nido-6-metalladecaboranes of tungsten, rhenium, ruthenium, osmium, and iridium; including the crystal and molecular structures of [6,6,6,6,6-(PMe2Ph)3H2-nido-6-WB9H13] and [6,6,6-(PMe2Ph)3-nido-6-OsB9H13]

    Beckett, M., Greenwood, N., Kennedy, J. D. & Thornton-Pett, M., 1986, In: Journal of the Chemical Society Dalton Transactions. 4, p. 795-801 7 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  46. Published

    A computer simulation of the solvation of a solvatochromic pyridinium betaine

    Beckett, M. & Dawber, J. G., 1989, In: Journal of the Chemical Society: Faraday Transactions I. 85, p. 727-733 7 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  47. Published

    Synthesis, XRD studies and NLO properties of [p-H2NC6H4CH2NH3][B5O6(OH)4].1/2H2O and NLO properties of some related pentaborate(1-) salts

    Beckett, M., Coles, S. J., Horton, P. N., Jones, C. & Krueger, K., Jul 2017, In: Journal of Cluster Science. 28, 4, p. 2087-2095

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  48. Published

    Ligand substitution reactions of metal and organometal carbonyls with group 15 and 16 donor ligands: Organometallic chemistry

    Beckett, M., 1990, In: Specialist Periodical Report. 19, p. 184-207 24 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  49. Published

    Structural (XRD) Characterization and an Analysis of H-Bonding Motifs in Some Tetrahydroxidohexaoxidopentaborate(1-) Salts of N-Substituted Guanidinium Cations

    Beckett, M., Coles, S. J., Horton, P. & Rixon, T., 6 Apr 2023, In: Molecules. 28, 7, 15 p., 3273.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review