Objective Molecular hydrogen is widely used today in chemical reactions, such as the addition of H2 to organic molecules, a process referred to as hydrogenation. These transformations are among the largest-volume industrial processes: for example, crude oil is treated with H2, and 108 tons of ammonia-based fertilizers are produced each year via catalytic hydrogenation. Also, hydrogen is arguably one of the most promising and valuable future fuels. Thus, any improvement in catalyst efficiency, cost efficiency, or availability would help to cut the cost of these important processes, and advances made in the field have a deep impact on both industrial and academic scenarios. Hydrogenations generally require a first step in which the strong H-H bond is cleaved. This splitting usually requires the action of a metal center, and both the mechanism and applications of transition metal catalyzed hydrogenations have been the subject of numerous studies.However, currently there is a growing interest to part from expensive and toxic transition metal catalysts, and redirect research towards more environmentally benign organic compounds. Recent studies have demonstrated the viability of this proposal. In 2006, a groundbreaking contribution described the metal-free activation of hydrogen. This new system, based on phosphinoboranes, can add H2 reversibly under mild conditions and functions as a catalyst for the hydrogenation of imines. Although the catalytic efficiency and scope are still very limited, these results indicate that it might be possible to develop practically useful systems for H2 activation based on organic compounds. The goal of our studies is to develop an efficient new system for heterolytic dihydrogen activation which contains boron as a hydride acceptor and oxygen as proton acceptor. Ideally, this process will be catalytic, and will be coupled with the reduction of an organic compound. Moreover, non-metallic catalysts could open ways to unusual reactivity and selectivity. Fields of science natural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistrynatural scienceschemical sciencescatalysisengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsnatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrymetalloids Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF - Marie Curie Action: "Intra-European Fellowships for Career Development" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF) Coordinator UNIVERSITAT BASEL EU contribution € 161 821,60 Address PETERSPLATZ 1 4051 Basel Switzerland See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Nordwestschweiz Basel-Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Andreas Pfaltz (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
