Project description
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.
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 (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.
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry organometallic chemistry
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry aromatic compounds
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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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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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) H2020-MSCA-IF-2018
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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.
3584 CS Utrecht
Netherlands
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.