Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CHAIR (C-H Activation for Industrial Renewal)
Reporting period: 2020-07-01 to 2022-06-30
CHAIR (C-H Activation for Industrial Renewal) fosters research training of early stage researchers (ESRs, PhD students) on one of the most promising fields of molecular chemistry, i.e. C-H activation. Our target is to establish bridges between academia and industry, aiming for the future general implementation of the C-H activation way of thinking in industry, from both R&D and production perspectives. “C-H industrial renewal” enables modernization of the industry by improving its sustainability and economic viability that may only be achieved via the education of the next generation of innovative and entrepreneurial chemists, able to implement the acquired competences in cutting-edge academic research to non-academic sectors.
C-H activation is one of the most rapidly expanding areas of molecular chemistry and has emerged as an increasingly viable tool. Despite clear benefits offered by the C-H activation for sustainable and eco-responsible synthesis, its industrial applications are scarce. The lack of its widespread implementation in the industrial sector is due to multiple factors, amongst which the major reasons are a) the limited interactions between academia and industrial practitioners, and b) a limited number of young scientists with a strong expertise in the domain. CHAIR is aimed to specifically address these issues.
CHAIR represents a unique European Research Network, combining nine renowned academic research groups and six industrial partners, strongly motivated to settle a solid basement for profound embedment of the C-H activation in an industrial environment. To achieve this ambitious goal 15 ESRs and 15 advanced scientists will be mobilized to implement direct C-H functionalization in industry, including both lead development and process chemistry. Fundamental research projects will be conducted to showcase the potential of the C-H activation to:
1) speed up lead-to-hit optimization in pharmaceutical industries;
2) rapidly access molecular diversity;
3) assemble advanced materials;
4) convert raw materials into valuable building blocks;
5) bring new techniques to easily implement C-H activation based protocols for large-scale production.
Development of these projects, combined with the scientific training and close collaborations within the CHAIR consortiums through specific secondments will provide 15 ESRs with unique competences in this edge-cutting field. Trainings on personal development, career development and societal/business aspects will complement their unique education, providing them with far-reaching and complementary competences to become future key actors of chemical industries in charge of the modernization of chemical and pharmaceutical industries.
C-H activation is one of the most rapidly expanding areas of molecular chemistry and has emerged as an increasingly viable tool. Despite clear benefits offered by the C-H activation for sustainable and eco-responsible synthesis, its industrial applications are scarce. The lack of its widespread implementation in the industrial sector is due to multiple factors, amongst which the major reasons are a) the limited interactions between academia and industrial practitioners, and b) a limited number of young scientists with a strong expertise in the domain. CHAIR is aimed to specifically address these issues.
CHAIR represents a unique European Research Network, combining nine renowned academic research groups and six industrial partners, strongly motivated to settle a solid basement for profound embedment of the C-H activation in an industrial environment. To achieve this ambitious goal 15 ESRs and 15 advanced scientists will be mobilized to implement direct C-H functionalization in industry, including both lead development and process chemistry. Fundamental research projects will be conducted to showcase the potential of the C-H activation to:
1) speed up lead-to-hit optimization in pharmaceutical industries;
2) rapidly access molecular diversity;
3) assemble advanced materials;
4) convert raw materials into valuable building blocks;
5) bring new techniques to easily implement C-H activation based protocols for large-scale production.
Development of these projects, combined with the scientific training and close collaborations within the CHAIR consortiums through specific secondments will provide 15 ESRs with unique competences in this edge-cutting field. Trainings on personal development, career development and societal/business aspects will complement their unique education, providing them with far-reaching and complementary competences to become future key actors of chemical industries in charge of the modernization of chemical and pharmaceutical industries.
Objective 1: train the next generation of chemists on C–H activation and green chemistry
We have hired 15 ESRs and initiated their training. Hands-on laboratory training is provided by the PI and the research team of ESRs in their host institution. Further training is provided through secondments - although the start of the secondments were delayed mostly due to Covid-19 travel restrictions that disturbed the project early-on, the first ones have been initiated and further are planned to start in the next few months.
Our fist workshops, seminars, and a series of lectures have been organised.
Objective 2: design new sustainable and cost-efficient C–H Activation methodologies
Each ESR has initiated their project and have been able to solve complex issues and challenges to obtain their first results. Combining academic and industrial perspectives, experimental and theoretical work, batch, flow chemistry and high-throughput experiments, several developments are being carried out, including: new catalytic systems for late-stage or remote functionalisation, innovative methods towards new materials, new C–H activation pathways on biomass derivatives, as well as novel sustainable and safe C–H activation reactions with industrial applications.
Results dissemination has also been initiated, with the publication of 2 research papers and 3 reviews in peer-reviewed journals. The ESRs also attended their first conference(s) and 6 of them have presented at least one poster.
Objective 3: foster new collaborations to bridge the gap between industry and academia
New industrial-academic collaborations have been initiated within the consortium. Further than the IRPs, the project enables regular scientific exchanges between academic and industrial researchers, whether during our online monthly meetings or our in-person gatherings. CHAIR has already strengthened existing relationships and is helping initiating new ones, with new project ideas already emerging. We are expecting these to lead to new project proposal by the end of the project period.
We have hired 15 ESRs and initiated their training. Hands-on laboratory training is provided by the PI and the research team of ESRs in their host institution. Further training is provided through secondments - although the start of the secondments were delayed mostly due to Covid-19 travel restrictions that disturbed the project early-on, the first ones have been initiated and further are planned to start in the next few months.
Our fist workshops, seminars, and a series of lectures have been organised.
Objective 2: design new sustainable and cost-efficient C–H Activation methodologies
Each ESR has initiated their project and have been able to solve complex issues and challenges to obtain their first results. Combining academic and industrial perspectives, experimental and theoretical work, batch, flow chemistry and high-throughput experiments, several developments are being carried out, including: new catalytic systems for late-stage or remote functionalisation, innovative methods towards new materials, new C–H activation pathways on biomass derivatives, as well as novel sustainable and safe C–H activation reactions with industrial applications.
Results dissemination has also been initiated, with the publication of 2 research papers and 3 reviews in peer-reviewed journals. The ESRs also attended their first conference(s) and 6 of them have presented at least one poster.
Objective 3: foster new collaborations to bridge the gap between industry and academia
New industrial-academic collaborations have been initiated within the consortium. Further than the IRPs, the project enables regular scientific exchanges between academic and industrial researchers, whether during our online monthly meetings or our in-person gatherings. CHAIR has already strengthened existing relationships and is helping initiating new ones, with new project ideas already emerging. We are expecting these to lead to new project proposal by the end of the project period.
Consequent progress has been made to this date, nevertheless most results are yet unpublished and cannot be disclosed publicly. We are expecting to reach most of our expected scientific results by the end of the project.
We expect our research to have a direct impact on the research industry, since several new methodologies with industrial potential will be published.
By the end of the project, 15 highly trained ESRs with a strong multidisciplinary knowledge of C–H activation will be pursuing their career. They will bring a very innovative perspective to their new employment place, but also benefit from the CHAIR network, whether from fellow ESRs but also PIs involved in the project.
We expect our research to have a direct impact on the research industry, since several new methodologies with industrial potential will be published.
By the end of the project, 15 highly trained ESRs with a strong multidisciplinary knowledge of C–H activation will be pursuing their career. They will bring a very innovative perspective to their new employment place, but also benefit from the CHAIR network, whether from fellow ESRs but also PIs involved in the project.