In the last years, our research group has been developing new organocatalytic processes in two main areas and covalent catalysis. For example, we have contributed to the activation of silyldienol ethers, obtaining interesting Bayllis-Hillman and Rauhut-Currier type products, as well as remarkable nitrogen additions applied to the synthesis of aminoacids or the development of inverse-electron demand aza-Diels-Alder reactions. In the field of photocatalysis, we have contributed with the development of new photocatalysts, such as acridinium-type salts, bifunctional aminocatalysts, platinum-bearing systems, or diamine-derivatives for [2+2] cycloadditions. In addition, we have studied and described new photocatalytic processes, such as ring expansion reactions, tandem processes, alkylations, or heterocyclic syntheses. During these investigations, the degradation of the photocatalyst, and in occasions the required high catalytic loadings, prompted us to explore new horizons in our research, such as the use of materials. Thus, in the catalytic material field, we have focused on the application of our knowledge in photocatalysis and organocatalysis for its implementation in heterogeneous systems. Thus, we have incorporated platinum photocatalytic centers in mesoporous silica materials (J. Catal. 2019, 374), or Covalent Organic Frameworks (COF) using a novel strategy (Applied Catal. B, 2020, 119027). Our interest was also related to the use of COF with heterobimetallic structures (ACS-Catal, 2021, 11, 12344), or the incorporation of organic photocatalysts to mesoporous materials (J. of Materials Science, 2022, 103, 134) and carbon nanotubes (ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2021, 24877). These initial explorations on catalytic materials, has given us a practical idea of the advantages and limitations of each class of materials (COF, nanotubes, and mesoporous silica).
