Project description DEENESFRITPL Multi-metal catalysts enable sustainable production of aromatic building blocks Aromatic building blocks are essential for the production of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and plastics, but they are mostly derived from fossil resources. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the BiMetaCat project is developing novel base metal catalysts for converting lignin-derived compounds into aromatic building blocks. The bimetallic catalysts will be designed to specifically target the robust aromatic C–O ether bonds. The project plans to synthesise new ligand frameworks that can host two low-valent base metals that strongly bind to and activate aromatics. In contrast to conventional homogeneous catalysts, the newly designed catalysts will have active sites close to each other that will work together to make or break chemical bonds. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Aromatic building blocks are essential for the production of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and plastics but are mainly produced from finite fossil resources. Lignin, a complex biopolymer that is rich in aromatic rings, can serve as a renewable source for aromatic base chemicals. Significant advances towards the depolymerization of lignin now give access to a plethora of small aromatic compounds with a variety of valuable functional groups. However, current catalyst systems are unable to convert these compounds into aromatic building blocks without loss of these desirable functional groups. Hence, there is a need for the development of new catalysts that are capable of handling these oxygen-rich materials that are derived from biomass.The objective of the proposed research is to develop novel bimetallic base metal catalysts for the conversion of lignin-derived compounds into aromatic building blocks. These bimetallic catalysts will be designed to specifically target the robust aromatic C-O ether bonds that are present in lignin-derived compounds. I will synthesize new ligand frameworks that can host two low-valent base metals, which strongly bind and activate aromatics. In contrast to conventional homogeneous catalysts, the envisioned catalysts will have active sites in close proximity to each other, enabling cooperative making and breaking of chemical bonds by multiple metal centers. The tunable nature of these ligands will enable obtaining detailed understanding on how to facilitate the bottleneck oxidative addition of aryl-ethers. The development of new catalytic methodologies that allow valorization of highly oxygenated biomass-derived compounds is essential to decrease our dependence on fossil resources. This research will fundamentally advance understanding of how multiple metals can activate strong chemical bonds, which will be employed to develop catalysts that use lignin-derived compounds for the synthesis of valuable aromatic building blocks. Fields of science medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsnatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryorganometallic chemistrynatural scienceschemical sciencescatalysisnatural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryaromatic compoundsagricultural sciencesagricultural biotechnologybiomass Keywords Multimetallic catalysis cooperative ligands biomass valorization ligand design Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2018 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2018 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT Net EU contribution € 187 572,48 Address Heidelberglaan 8 3584 CS Utrecht Netherlands See on map Region West-Nederland Utrecht Utrecht Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
