Research Interests
We are a highly motivated team working at the interface of supramolecular chemistry and low-valent main-group organometallic chemistry. The group develops supramolecular organometallic and main-group metal systems for confined reactivity, coordination cages, bimetallic cooperativity, small-molecule activation and catalysis. Our research aims to control reactivity beyond the first coordination sphere through molecular and supramolecular design, with particular interest in catalitic selectivity, stability and sustainable chemistry.
FUNDING
We gratefully acknowledge support from the EU, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Government of Andalusia, University of Huelva, and AIQBE.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
2026 | Chemical Sciences
Orthogonal cation and anion template-directed synthesis of a heteroditopic [3]catenane for ion-pair recognition.
First orthogonal cation/anion templation strategy giving access to a heteroditopic [3]catenane with distinct Na+ and Cl− binding cavities.
Chem. Sci., 2026, Accepted Manuscript.
Read More: https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SC05942A
2026 | Structure and Bonding – Springer Nature (in press)
Group 13 Metals as L-type ligands for Transition Metals.
This chapter develops a unifying, descriptor‑based view of aluminylene Al(I), gallylene Ga(I), and indylene In(I) donors, and contrasts them with the limited L‑type behavior of Tl(I).
Structure and Bonding, Springer, 2026 in press.
Read more arXiv: https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2511.03513
2025 | Chemical Sciences
Cooperative reversible assembly in triply interlocked Al6L4 and Ga6L4 cages.
Main-group metals go mechanical: The first triply interlocked main-group metal cages, Al6L4 and Ga6L4, assemble cooperatively and reversibly in water at room temperature via acid–base cycling.
Chem. Sci., 2025, 16, 20406-20413.Å
Read more: https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SC05441A
2024 | Inorganic Chemistry
Reversible Redox Ligand-Centered Reactivity in 2,6-Bisiminopyridine Aluminum Systems.
Reversible single-electron redox transformations between diamagnetic Al3+ and paramagnetic “Al2+-like” species in organoaluminum 2,6-bisiminopyridine (BIP) chemistry.
Inorg. Chem., 2024, 63, 41, 19156–19166.
2024 | Inorganic Chemistry
Synthesis, Characterization, and Photochemistry of a Ga2L3 Coordination Cage with Dithienylethene-Catecholate Ligands.
Structurally elongated dithienylethene-catechol ligands enable the efficient self-assembly of a novel [Ga2L3]6– main group metal coordination cage.
Inorg. Chem., 2024, 63, 19872–19884.
2023 | Dalton Transactions | Highlighted as a Front Cover
Revealing unbound β–diketiminate anions: structural dynamics from caesium complexes.
Setting β-diketiminate ligands free: Unveiling the unbound dynamic nature of free-form β-diketiminate anion.
Dalton Trans., 2023, 52, 13058-13062.
Read more: https://doi.org/10.1039/D3DT01592K
Front Cover: https://doi.org/10.1039/D3DT90164E
2022 | ChemRXiv
Contacted” vs “separated” aluminyls: Dynamic alkali metal effects in H2 activation.
This work discloses an unprecedented dynamic ion-pairing behaviour of “naked” aluminyl anions related to their stability and reactivity in solution towards H2 activation.
ChemRxiv 2022, pre-print.
2019 | Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Reversible Encapsulation of Xenon and CH2Cl2 in a Solid-State Molecular Organometallic Framework (Guest@SMOM).
Reversible encapsulation of CH2Cl2 or Xe in a non-porous solid-state molecular organometallic BArF4 framework occurs in single-crystal to single-crystal transformations.
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 16873-16877.
Read more: https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201910539
2017 | Science Advances
Templated deprotonative metalation of polyaryl systems: Facile access to simple, previously inaccessible multi-iodoarenes.
A new methodology for the non-ortho-functionalization of simple arene feedstocks to access otherwise unobtainable multi-iodoarenes via an s-block metal sodium magnesiate template deprotonative approach.
Sci. Adv. 2017, e1700832.
Read more: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.1700832
2014 | Science
Directed ortho-meta’- and meta-meta’-dimetalations: A template base approach to deprotonation.
A new synthethic approach adds functionalization to arenes at ortho and meta positions or the two meta positions to the directing group. This regioselective eases technique eases challenging meta substitutions in functionalized arenes.
Science 2014, 346, 834-837.
Read more: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1259662
Highlighted in:
Directed Metalation. Not just for ortho. Nature Chem. 2015, 7, 8.
Method aids arene meta substitution. C&EN News 2014, 92, 35.
Paper of the month: Synfacts 2015, 11, 0183.
MEMBERS
Dr. M. Ángeles Fuentes
Ramón y Cajal Researcher
+ 34959219452, mangeles.fuentes@dqcm.uhu.es
Profiles: ORCID | LinkedIn
2013 PhD in Chemistry (University of Huelva, Spain)
2014–2017 Postdoctoral researcher (Prof. Robert. E. Mulvey, Univ. of Strathclyde, UK)
2017–2019 Postdoctoral researcher (Prof. Simon Aldridge, Univ. of Oxford, UK)
2019–2021 Juan de la Cierva Researcher (Prof. Pedro J. Pérez, Univ. of Huelva, Spain)
2021–2024 Postdoctoral Researcher (University of Huelva, Spain)
2024–present Ramón y Cajal Researcher (University of Huelva, Spain)
Dr. Hellen Videa Dubón
Postdoctoral Researcher
+34959219972, hellen.videa@ciqso.uhu.es
Profiles: ORCID | LinkedIn | X
2025 PhD in Chemistry (University of Huelva, Spain; Dr. Antonio J. Martínez-Martínez)
2025–present Postdoctoral researcher (University of Huelva, Spain)
Pablo J. Serrano-Laguna
PhD Student
+34959219971, pabloj.serrano@ciqso.uhu.es
Profiles: ORCID | LinkedIn | X
2022–present PhD student (University of Huelva, Spain)
Adrián Carbonell Gil
PhD Student
+34959219487, adrian.carbonell@ciqso.uhu.es
Profiles: ORCID | LinkedIn | X
2021–present PhD student (University of Huelva, Spain)
FORMER MEMBERS
Dr. Ignacio Izquierdo Sánchez. PhD student (2021-2025). Currently working as R&D Consultant at OCA Global.
VISITING STUDENTS
Finn Schatz, 11/2025–02/2026 (University of Wuppertal, Germany).
UNDERGRADUATE AND MASTER STUDENTS
Julia Casado García (2025/26, TFM, in progress), Ana Bernal Espinar (2024/25, TFG), David Pimiento Arteaga (2023/24, TFM), Cristina Rodríguez Rodríguez (2023/24, TFG), Patricia Porras Suárez (2022/23, TFM), Eloy Guevara Domínguez (2022/23, TFM), Juan Marcos Rodríguez Ruda (2022/23, TFG), Victoria Guerra Benítez (2021/22, TFG), Noelia Jiménez Sierra (2019/20, TFM), Patricia Porras Suárez (2020/21, TFG), Noelia Jiménez Sierra (2019/20, TFG).
Group Leader – Contact Details:
Dr. Antonio J. Martínez-Martínez
Associate Professor of Inorganic Chemistry
Department of Chemistry and Center for Research in Sustainable Chemistry (CIQSO)
University of Huelva, ES–21007 Huelva, Spain
Tel.: +34 959 21 9909
E-mail: antonio.martinez@dqcm.uhu.es
Profiles: ORCID | Google Scholar | Scopus | Web of Science | UHU CRIS | LinkedIn | X
Educational Background
2005 BSc Chemistry, University of Murcia, Spain
2012 PhD Chemistry (European Mention), University of Murcia, Spain
PhD Advisors: Prof. José Vicente and Prof. M. Teresa Chicote
2008, 2009 Predoctoral Researcher, Univ. of Glasgow, UK, Prof. John McGrady
2012–2016 Postdoctoral Researcher, Univ. of Strathclyde, UK, Dr. Charles O’Hara, Prof. Robert Mulvey
2017–2019 Postdoctoral Researcher, Univ. of Oxford, UK, Prof. Andrew Weller
2019–2024 Ramón y Cajal Researcher, University of Huelva, Spain
2024–present Associate Professor of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Huelva, Spain
Awards/Recognitions/Fellowships
2024 R3 Certificate
2023 I3 Certificate
2019 Ramón y Cajal Research Fellowship (RYC-2017-21783)
2015 SusChem RSEQ Postdoctoral Prize
2012 PhD Prize for the Best Thesis in Chemistry, University of Murcia
2006 FPU Predoctoral Fellowship, Spanish Ministry of Science
Professional and University Appointments
Principal Investigator, University of Huelva (since 2019)
Coordinator of Scientific Facilities, CIQSO, University of Huelva (since 2020)
Expert Evaluator, Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI), Spain (since 2018)
Evaluator, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowships, European Commission (since 2020)
Associated Investigator, NordCO2, Nordic Consortium for CO2 Conversion (since 2020)
Membership in Professional Societies
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) | American Chemical Society (ACS) | Real Sociedad Española de Química (RSEQ) GEQO / GEQOR | American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Biographical Sketch
Antonio J. Martínez-Martínez received his BSc in Chemistry from the University of Murcia in 2005 and his PhD in Chemistry (European Mention) in 2012. After postdoctoral appointments at the University of Strathclyde (2012–2016) and the University of Oxford (2017–2019), he initiated his independent research programme at the University of Huelva in 2019 as a Ramón y Cajal Research Fellow. He is currently Associate Professor of Inorganic Chemistry and group leader of the the Supramolecular Organometallic and Main Group Chemistry Laboratory at CIQSO. His research focuses on supramolecular organometallic chemistry, low-valent main-group and group 13 systems, coordination cages, bimetallic cooperativity, and small-molecule activation. Since 2019, he has led competitive research projects and doctoral/postdoctoral supervision at the University of Huelva.