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. 2000
  2. Published

    Synthesis and Lewis acidity of B-O-Si and B-O-Sn derivatives.

    Beckett, M. A., Owen, P., Varma, K. S., Davidson, M. G. (ed.), Hughes, A. K. (ed.), Marder, T. B. (ed.) & Wade, K. (ed.), 1 Jan 2000, Contemporary Boron Chemistry. 2000 ed. Royal Society of Chemistry, p. 100-103

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

  3. 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

  4. Published

    Cyclo-boratrisiloxane and cyclo-diboratetrasiloxane derivatives and their reactions with amines: crystal and molecular structure of (p-BrC6H4BO)(2)(Ph2SiO)(2)

    Beckett, M. A., Hibbs, D. E., Hursthouse, M. B., Malik K.M.A.*, N. V., Owen, P. & Varma, K. S., 15 Feb 2000, In: Journal of Organometallic Chemistry. 595, 2, p. 241-147

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  5. 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

  6. 2001
  7. Published

    Lewis acidity in haloalkyl orthoborate and metaborate esters.

    Beckett, M. A., Rugen-Hankey, M. P., Strickland, G. C. & Varma, K. S., 1 Jan 2001, In: Phosphorus, Sulfur and Silicon and the Related Elements. 169, 1, p. 113-116

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  8. 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

  9. 2002
  10. Published

    Bis(triphenylstannyl)borate toluene solvate.

    Coles, S. J., Hibbs, D. E., Hursthouse, M. B., Beckett, M. A., Owen, P. & Varma, K. S., 1 Jan 2002, In: Acta Crystallographica Section E: Structure Reports Online. 58, 2, p. m65-m67

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  11. Published

    Gels and polymeric materials from isocyanates and metaborate esters.

    Beckett, M. A., Rugen-Hankey, M. P. & Varma, K. S., 1 Jan 2002, In: Main Group Metal Chemistry. 25, p. 485-488

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  12. 2003
  13. Published

    A supramolecular assembly: aquatris(pentafluorophenyl)borane as its mixed dimethyl sulfone and water solvate, (H2O)B(C6F5)3 Me2SO2

    Coles, S. J., Hursthouse, M. B., Beckett, M. A. & Dutton, M., 1 Jan 2003, In: Acta Crystallographica Section E: Structure Reports Online. 59, (9), p. o1354-o1356

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  14. 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

  15. Published

    A comparative study of seven co-ordinate Mo(II) and W(II) catalysts in the ring opening polymerization of norbornene

    Baker, P. K., Beckett, M. A. & Stiefvater-Thomas, B. M., 17 Feb 2003, In: Journal of Molecular Catalysis A-Chemical. 193, 1-2, p. 77-81

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  16. Published
  17. 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

  18. Published

    Pentafluorophenylboronic acid.

    Horton, P. N., Hursthouse, M. B., Beckett, M. A. & Rugen-Hankey, M. P., 1 Dec 2003, In: Acta Crystallographica Section E: Structure Reports Online. 60, 12, p. o2204-o2206

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  19. 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

  20. 2004
  21. Published

    Non-aqueous route to metal oxide materials using metal alkoxides and metaborate esters

    Beckett, M. A., Rugen-Hankey, M. P. & Varma, K. S., 28 Mar 2004, p. INOR 16.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

  22. Published

    A mixed-halogen tricarbonyl manganese (I) complex: fac-{MnBr0.3Cl0.7{Ph2P(CH2)3PPh2}(CO)3]

    Light, M. E., Hursthouse, M. B. & Beckett, M. A., 1 Sept 2004, In: Acta Crystallographica Section E: Structure Reports Online. 60, 9, p. m1245-m1247

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  23. 2006
  24. 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

  25. Published

    Zwitterionic and cationic monoborate species

    Beckett, M., Bland, C. C. & Varma, K. S., 2006, In: Reports Series in Chemistry. 70, p. 84

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  26. Published

    The periodic table at a glance.

    Beckett, M. A. & Platt, A. W., 1 Jan 2006, Wiley-Blackwell.

    Research output: Book/ReportBook

  27. 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

  28. Published

    Formation of borosilicate glasses from silicon alkoxides and metaborate esters in dry non-aqueous solvents

    Beckett, M. A., Rugen-Hankey, M. P. & Varma, K. S., 15 Aug 2006, In: Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology. 39, 2, p. 95-101

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  29. 2007
  30. 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

  31. 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

  32. 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

  33. 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

  34. 2008
  35. 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

  36. Published

    A 11B NMR study of zwitterionic and cationic monoborate complexes with cationic 1,2-diol ligands

    Beckett, M. A., Bland, C. C. & Varma, K. S., 26 Jun 2008, In: Polyhedron. 27, 9-10, p. 2226-2230

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  37. 2010
  38. 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

  39. 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

  40. 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

  41. 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

  42. 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

  43. 2011
  44. 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

  45. 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

  46. 2012
  47. 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

  48. Published

    Structural and thermal studies of non-metal cation pentaborate salts with cations derived from 1,5-diazobicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene, 1,8-diazobicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene and 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene

    Kreuziger, A., Beckett, M. A., Horton, P. N., Coles, S. J., Kose, D. A. & Kreuziger, A. M., 17 Mar 2012, In: Polyhedron. 38, 1, p. 157-161

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  49. Published

    Synthesis, thermal properties and structural characterisation, of the tetraphenylphosphonium pentaborate salt, [PPh4][B5O6(OH)4]1.5H2O

    Beckett, M. A., Horton, P. N., Hursthouse, M. B., Timmis, J. L. & Varma, K. S., 30 Mar 2012, In: Inorganica Chimica Acta. 383, p. 199-203

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  50. Published

    Synthesis, spectroscopic and thermal characterization on non-metal cation (NMC) pentaborate salts containing cations derived from histidine and arginine

    Kose, D. A., Beckett, M. A. & Colak, N., 19 Jun 2012, In: Hacettepe Journal of Biology and Chemistry. 40, 3, p. 219-225

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  51. 2013
  52. 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

  53. 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

  54. 2014
  55. 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

  56. Published

    Organic biomolecules bind to phosphate through borate linkages in aqueous solution: a possible role of boron as a phosphorylation chaperone in the prebiotic world

    Aydogmus, N., Kose, D. A., Beckett, M. A. & Zumreoglu Karan, B., 11 Jun 2014, In: Turkish Journal of Chemistry. 38, p. 617-628

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  57. Published

    Computational studies on gas phase polyborate anions

    Beckett, M. A., Davies, R. A. & Thomas, C. D., 22 Jun 2014, In: Computational and Theoretical Chemistry. 1044, p. 74-79

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  58. 2015
  59. Published

    A New Decaoxidooctaborate(2-) Anion, [B8O10(OH)(6)}(2-): Synthesis and Characterization of [Co(en)3][B5O6(OH)(4)][B8O10(OH)(6))]center dot 5H(2)O (en=1,2-Diaminoethane)

    Altahan, M. A., Beckett, M. A., Coles, S. J. & Horton, P. N., 2015, In: Inorganic Chemistry. 54, 2, p. 412-414

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  60. Published

    Boron chemistry

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

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  61. 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

  62. Published

    K(I)-M(II) (M=Co, Mn) heterometallic-(perfluorinated) organic frameworks containing inorganic layered K-O-M linkages: synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetic properties

    Yan, Q., Huang, X. C., Zhong, J., Gao, J., Chen, S. C., He, M. Y., Chen, Q. & Beckett, M. A., 30 Jun 2015, In: Journal of Coordination Chemistry. 68, 15, p. 2691-2702

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  63. Published

    A new polyborate anion, [B7O9(OH)6]3−: Self assembly, XRD and thermal properties of s-fac-[Co(dien)2][B7O9(OH)6]·9H2O

    Altahan, M. A., Beckett, M. A., Coles, M. J. & Horton, P. N., 17 Jul 2015, In: Inorganic Chemistry Communications. 59, p. 95-98

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  64. 2016
  65. Published

    DFT studies on hexaborate(2-) and heptaborate(2-) anions

    Davies, R., Beckett, M. & Jones, C., 1 Apr 2016, In: Phosphorus, Sulfur and Silicon and the Related Elements. 191, 4, p. 633-637

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review