Objective
Transition-metal catalyzed cross-coupling reactions have transformed carbon-carbon bond formation in complex organic molecules, revolutionizing fields like pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries, polymers, and natural product synthesis. Despite their vast applications, these reactions heavily rely on toxic organic halides and organometallic reagents that require multiple preparation steps and often lack stability. Carboxylic esters (RCOOE) offer a promising alternative as they are readily available, potentially bio-sourced, and can serve as bifunctional partners in cross-coupling reactions. The ester’s R and E groups can act as nucleophiles and electrophiles upon carbon dioxide extrusion, forming carbon-carbon bonds (R–E) by recombination in an exergonic transformation. However, unlocking the full potential of esters faces a significant kinetic challenge due to the difficult activation of strong C–O bonds. This challenge has limited applications to reactive substrates like allyl esters (E = allyl).
The DECAF project seeks to overcome these barriers by developing groundbreaking multi-catalyst cross-coupling reactions using dialkyl carboxylic esters (RCOOE with R, E = alkyl) as versatile and bifunctional reagents under visible-light irradiation. In the first Strand, DECAF will focus on generating reactive intermediates from the cleavage of ester C–O bonds. Their potential as cross-coupling partners will be demonstrated through the example of Heck-type couplings with alkenes. The second Strand will introduce an electron-borrowing strategy to enable the decarboxylative recombination of esters. This unified mechanistic approach will extend the application of carboxylic esters as bifunctional reagents to catalytic alkene transfer dialkylations and, ultimately, decarboxylative sulfonylations.
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.
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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-2025-STG
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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.
75794 PARIS
France
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.