Project description
Metal-metal bonds for sustainable chemical processes
Demand exists for eco-friendly reagents in sustainable chemical processes. Despite the widespread use of transition metal-based catalysts, they are costly and toxic. Main group-based species with low oxidation states and/or metal-metal bonds are being explored as potential replacements. However, current examples are limited to molecules containing magnesium, leaving other s-block metal-metal bonds unexplored. In this context, the ERC-funded MeMe-BONDS project aims to engineer sustainable reductants using novel s-block bonds stabilised by adjustable electronic interactions. The project will integrate ligands with σ-acceptor functionality to control the reactivity of formed radical intermediates and develop new s-block metal-metal bonds. It will employ a combination of experimental and computational methods to understand the electronic structures.
Objective
The increasing demand for environmentally friendly reagents to perform sustainable processes has become of paramount relevance for modern academia and industry. Transition metal-based catalysts are long-established players in many important chemical transformations, given their ability to cleave and form chemical bonds with facile oxidation state changes. Their high cost and/or toxicity, however, have prompted the search for potential replacements. The past decades brought fascinating discoveries of main-group-based species exhibiting low-oxidation states and/or metal–metal bonds with excellent and tunable reducing properties. Nonetheless, despite formidable efforts invested in broadening the scope, existing examples are restricted to Mg-containing molecules, while other s-block metal-metal bonds remain unaccomplished. MeMe-BONDS will address this challenge by engineering novel sustainable reductants based on hitherto unknown s-block bonds stabilized by tunable electronic interactions. This breakthrough will be possible by combining the steric shielding provided by commonly used ligands with the introduction of a σ-acceptor functionality to tame the inherent reactivity of formed radical intermediates. This innovative metal-ligand interaction will allow for the precise incorporation of one or two extra electrons, resulting in a unique electronic structure, which - under suitable conditions - will afford the new s-block metal–metal bonds. Tandem experimental and computational methods will enable a fundamental understanding of the electronic structures and their interplay with the nature of the substituents. The properties and reactivity of these novel bonds will be thereby tuned, opening the door for application in small molecules’ activation and as electronically versatile catalysts. The output of this project will enrich the synthetic chemistry toolbox and pave the way for more environmentally friendly chemical processes.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences electrochemistry electrolysis
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2023-COG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
66123 Saarbrucken
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.