Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS
Content archived on 2024-05-27

Emulating Nature through Asymmetric Catalysis

Objective

We aim to establish a multidisciplinary research program inspired by nature s ability to selectively and specifically control the formation of complex materials, in order to develop new catalytic reactions, generate new materials and delineate new synthetic strategies. The performance of enzymes - complex catalysts perfected though millions years of evolution - offer ideals of selectivity and specificity that synthetic chemistry can aspire to. This proposal aims to establish a multidisciplinary approach to develop new practical and predictable catalytic methods based upon and inspired by natural catalysts. We aim to challenge preconceptions about the field of organic synthesis to focus on the development of asymmetric electrocyclization processes, an entire class of reactions for which there is no general solution. We have delineated an ion-pairing approach to the only catalytic asymmetric thermal 6À electrocyclic process and we aim to build on the insight provided by this result to develop a general approach to the control of electrocyclic processes. We also aim to investigate the development of unnatural folded materials that plagiarize some of the features of enzymes - such as positive cooperativity between non-covalent interactions to generate more efficient asymmetric catalysts. This multidisciplinary approach focuses on the design and synthesis of new folding backbones, investigation of their folding propensities and the evolution of catalytic function. This research program will lead to the development and understanding of new tools essential for the assembly of complex molecules with biological, material or structural value.

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.

You need to log in or register to use this function

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.

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

ERC-2010-StG_20091028
See other projects for this call

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.

ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant

Host institution

THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
EU contribution
€ 1 499 993,00
Address
WELLINGTON SQUARE UNIVERSITY OFFICES
OX1 2JD Oxford
United Kingdom

See on map

Region
South East (England) Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Oxfordshire
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost

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.

No data

Beneficiaries (1)

My booklet 0 0