Diamond scientist part of RSC Dalton Horizon Prize-winning team
Jul 21, 2026
Team SMOM recognised for transforming organometallic chemistry through solid-state innovation
- Mark Warren on the I19 beamline
Team SMOM, which includes Diamond scientist Mark Warren from the I19 beamline, has been awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Dalton Horizon Prize. The team was recognised for pioneering a transformative approach to the synthesis, stabilisation and catalytic application of highly reactive transition metal complexes.
The Royal Society of Chemistry’s Dalton Horizon prize focuses on pioneering chemical science at the cutting edge or research and innovation. This team prize is presented to those who are opening new directions in their field through ground-breaking scientific developments. It is part of a larger prize portfolio that recognises those undertaking excellent work in the chemical sciences from across the world.
The award-winning team developed Solid-state Molecular OrganoMetallic (SMOM) chemistry, a solvent-free approach that challenges conventional organometallic methods. By removing solvents from key reactions, the team has unlocked new ways to study highly reactive molecular species, with potential applications in catalysis, materials science, and molecular design.
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Central to SMOM chemistry is single-crystal to single-crystal (SC–SC) solid–gas reactivity. Instead of carrying out reactions in solution, precursor crystals are exposed to reactive gases such as hydrogen, ethene, or propene. These gases diffuse through the crystal lattice and react at metal centres while preserving the crystal structure, enabling products to be observed and characterised with exceptional precision.
Mark’s expertise on the I19 beamline has helped enable many of the detailed structural studies that underpin the team's discoveries. Through advanced single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments, including in situ gas-cell measurements performed at Diamond, researchers have been able to monitor structural transformations within crystalline materials and obtain direct insight into reactive intermediates that would otherwise be inaccessible.
Speaking about being part of the award-winning team, Mark said: “I’m delighted that Team SMOM has won this award. It has been a privilege to work with such an outstanding group of researchers, and I’m proud to have played a part in the team’s success. This recognition is a testament to the collective effort and commitment of everyone involved.”
About the Royal Society of Chemistry
The Royal Society of Chemistry is an international organisation connecting chemical scientists with each other, with other scientists, and with society. Founded in 1841 and based in London, UK, it has an international membership of over 50,000. It develops, recognises and celebrates professional capabilities, and brings people together to spark new ideas and new partnerships.
More information is available at: rsc.li/prizes.
Diamond Light Source is the UK's national synchrotron science facility, located at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire.
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