Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Nanostructured Supramolecular Polymers with Allosterically Regulated Catalytic Interstices

Project description

Improving supramolecular catalysis with a cue from nature

Metal complexes derived from porphyrins occur naturally. They are of interest to scientists who seek to convert solar energy into fuel or use them as catalysts for oxidising organic compounds. They are also often used to construct structures in supramolecular chemistry. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the SuprAlloCat project plans to prepare self-assembled nanostructured supramolecular polymers that demonstrate similar catalytic performance to that of homogeneous catalysts and high control and selectivity similar to that of allosteric enzymes. Achieving these goals requires developing a self-assembly method that allows to cofacially arrange metalloporphyrins at tailored interstitial distances along a certain dimension. This should result in the creation of a periodic array of connected nanoreactors with well-defined, accessible catalytic compartments.

Objective

Natural systems represent a source of inspiration when it comes to the processing of energy and matter. Metalloporphyrins are at the core of many of these processes, harvesting solar energy and catalyzing relevant chemical processes. In contrast to most artificial nanostructured catalysts based on porphyrins, in which the main assembly driving force is π-π stacking or metal-ligand coordination, enzymes teach us that the catalytic sites around the porphyrin metal centers must remain accessible to the relevant substrates (to optimize catalytic performance), embedded in a well-defined compartment (to enhance selectivity), and connected through the protein backbone (to allow for allosteric regulation).
In SuprAlloCat we plan to apply some of the lessons learned from nature to target the self-assembly of nanostructured supramolecular polymers with catalytic performance that would combine the broad catalytic scope of homogeneous catalysts, and the allosteric control, selectivity and activity under mild conditions of enzymes. The key to achieve such goal relies on the development of a self-assembly strategy that will allow us to cofacially arrange metalloporphyrins at tailored interstitial distances along a single dimension, thus creating a periodic array of connected nanoreactors with well-defined, accessible catalytic compartments.
The MSC candidate, Dr. Alberto de Juan, will focus on the synthesis of porphyrin and ligand molecules equipped with complementary H-bonding units, and will proceed to study their combined assembly into 1D polymers. We will then focus on evaluating unique functions in these supramolecular materials, such as host-guest binding, chiral induction, allosteric regulation and, finally, Lewis-acid catalysis.
SuprAlloCat introduces fundamental challenges and unprecedented approaches in chemical self-assembly and constitutes the best research scenario for the candidate to learn from different fields and further develop his scientific career.

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

Keywords

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.

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.

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.

MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

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

(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

UNIVERSIDAD AUTONOMA DE MADRID
Net EU contribution

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.

€ 160 932,48
Address
CALLE EINSTEIN 3 CIUDAD UNIV CANTOBLANCO RECTORADO
28049 MADRID
Spain

See on map

Region
Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid
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.

€ 160 932,48
My booklet 0 0