Descripción del proyecto
La corriente eléctrica podría allanar el camino hacia una funcionalización más sencilla y ecológica
Muchas de las reacciones químicas son de tipo redox, en las que una especie se oxida (pierde electrones) y otra se reduce (gana electrones). En lugar de utilizar sustancias químicas especiales que requieran múltiples pasos de reacción y, a menudo, de purificación, además de generar residuos, la electrosíntesis molecular utiliza corriente eléctrica como agente redox. Esto facilita la electrofuncionalización directa de enlaces inertes, abriendo así la puerta a productos actualmente inaccesibles y reduciendo el impacto ambiental de la síntesis orgánica. A pesar de resultar prometedor, todavía quedan retos por delante. El equipo del proyecto ElectroFun, financiado con fondos europeos, se ha propuesto abordarlos y ha creado un conjunto exhaustivo de estrategias sostenibles para la electrocatálisis orgánica.
Objetivo
The impressive progress in organic chemistry during the past century has propelled this discipline to its current central position as the enabling technology in the physical and life sciences. Despite remarkable advances, our ability to assemble molecules of even moderate structural complexity remains unsatisfactory, since these syntheses continue to be inefficient, rely on a high number of reaction and purification steps, and generate undesired, often toxic waste. These features led to the general consensus on the need for greener chemical transformations that will stimulate the transition to more sustainable chemical industries.
Conventional strategies in molecular syntheses make use of chemical redox reagents and directing groups, the installation of which results in costly reaction steps. Therefore, an environmentally-sound alternative is represented by molecular electrosynthesis to enable direct electro-functionalization of inert bonds. This strategy avoids prefunctionalizations, and prevents undesired waste formation, overall enabling a streamlining of organic synthesis for late-stage diversification.
While significant recent progress has been achieved in electrosynthesis, available methods are limited, and key challenges remain, particularly metalla-electrocatalyzed transformations beyond the realm of innate reactivity are in high demand.
I aim at addressing these major obstacles of selective electrochemical functionalizations. Thus, I will devise efficient electrochemical C–H and CO2 functionalizations without directing groups, gain full selectivity control in molecular electrocatalysis, and achieve late-stage polymer and peptide diversifications. Establishing a comprehensive set of sustainable strategies for organic electrocatalysis, including paired electrolysis, hybrid catalysts and electrophotocatalysis, will undeniably have a tremendous impact on applied areas, such as medicinal chemistry, drug discovery, chemical industries and material sciences.
Ámbito científico
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
ERC-ADG - Advanced GrantInstitución de acogida
37073 Gottingen
Alemania