Project description
New approach to stabilise highly reactive zero-oxidation state metal complexes
Main group metals such as lithium and magnesium have traditionally been used in chemical reactions to help make new compounds. Yet recently, scientists discovered they can also act as catalysts. However, creating stable forms of these metals in their zero-oxidation state (ZOS), where they are highly reactive, is difficult. The ERC-funded MM-ZERO project plans to design protective molecules (ligands) and use ball milling and metal vapour synthesis to create stable, hydrocarbon-soluble complexes with ZOS metals of groups 1-3. These complexes will also be used in hydrogenation catalysis, which is important for storing hydrogen as fuel.
Objective
Historically, main group metal organometallics are used as stoichiometric reagents in organic synthesis. This holds especially for highly polar s-block metal compounds like BuLi or Grignard’s. Only since the start of this century, it has been recognized that they also make for remarkably versatile catalysts. Parallel to these developments, the low-oxidation-state chemistry of the early main group metals emerged with the seminal isolation of first MgI complexes. Since 2007 numerous examples have been reported. First highly reactive complexes of an s-block metal in the formal zero-oxidation-state (ZOS) were reported by our group (“Strongly reducing magnesium(0) complexes”, Nature 2021, 592, 717).
MM-ZERO aims to develop main group metal chemistry in the ZOS. In contrast to transition metals, for which there are many examples of TM(0) complexes, it is a bold challenge to isolate complexes of electron-rich main group metals. This holds especially for the electropositive s-block metals. Devoid of d-orbitals for backbonding, they easily oxidize. Building upon our preliminary work, we propose strategies to advance ZOS main group metal chemistry and push the frontiers of knowledge. Smart ligand design and the introduction of ball-milling are key to access hydrocarbon-soluble complexes with ZOS-metals of groups 1-3.
While this first part is of fundamental nature, the second part of the project aims to activate main group metals for hydrogenation catalysis. Preliminary work shows that Ba activated by Metal-Vapour-Synthesis (MVS, i.e. cocondensation in an organic matrix) is an unexpectedly active alkene hydrogenation catalyst. Moreover, in combination with MVS-activated Fe, benzene can be even hydrogenated at 20 °C. Ba/Fe-cooperativity is demonstrated by the fact that both metals alone are not active. Combining abundant main group and 3d-TM’s, it is our ultimate goal to develop sustainable, highly active (de)hydrogenation catalysts for hydrogen storage applications.
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 inorganic chemistry organometallic chemistry
- 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)
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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.
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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
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-ADG
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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.
91058 Erlangen
Germany
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