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.
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.
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
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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-2019
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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.
28049 Madrid
Spain
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