Project description
Advancing amide synthesis with single-atom catalysts bearing frustrated Lewis pairs
Amide synthesis is critically important for the production of bulk chemicals, polymers, agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals. However, from a green chemistry perspective, typical methods of amidation are inefficient, generating significant waste due to the need for large amounts of activating reagents, and frequently rely on solvents with toxicity and disposal concerns. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the SOLCAT project aims to design a new class of solid catalysts, namely single-atom catalysts featuring frustrated Lewis pairs. Through a multidisciplinary strategy combining experimental work and computational modelling, the project will prepare, characterise and optimise the structure and function of these innovative bifunctional catalysts.
Objective
As the shadow of climate change deepens and calls for sustainability grow louder, the fine chemical industry faces a dilemma. On the one side, traditional processes optimised over decades, increasingly fall foul of environmental regulations. This is particularly true for amidations, one of the most commonly performed industrial processes: current power-hungry protocols largely rely on wasteful stoichiometric agents. On the other side, promising catalytic innovations like Single-Atom Catalysts (SACs) and Frustrated Lewis Pairs (FLPs) fail to make the leap to industry, due to fundamental limitations and lack of scalability studies.
SOLCAT will address these challenges by designing Single Atom-FLPs (SA-FLPs), a novel family of hybrid catalysts. Herein, FLPs will be embedded into the very surface of a solid support, ensuring stability and accessibility. Adjacent to them, photoactive SACs will be anchored, fostering a synergistic interaction between the two catalytic sites. Guided by computational models and cutting-edge characterisation, the structure-function relationship of the new catalysts will be elucidated, and continually refined. Armed with these insights, the exceptional activity of the SA-FLPs will be unleashed towards photocatalytic amidations. The process will then be adapted to operate under flow, bridging the divide between academia and industry. To achieve these objectives, this action will consolidate an interdisciplinary team of experts both in industry and academia.
As a result, a new class of bifunctional catalysts will be established and optimised towards one of the most ubiquitous and polluting industrial processes. Importantly, it will impart a diverse set of skills in research, leadership and project management alongside an extensive network of collaborators to an Experienced Researcher thus propelling him towards scientific independence.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01
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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.
20133 Milano
Italy
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.