PIF2024 - Molecular Systems for Sustainable Chemistry (PID2023-148472NB-I00)

A PhD position is available, linked to the project ‘Design of Mono- and Multimetallic Systems for Sustainable Chemistry’ (PID2023-148472NB-I00). The project aims to develop new catalysts for sustainable chemistry, focusing on three key reactions: (i) oxygenations, (ii) heterofunctionalizations, and (iii) oxygen evolution/reduction. The first two processes are essential in organic transformations, as a key to enable the introduction of heteroatoms into organic molecules and simplify synthetic routes to desired compounds. The third process is crucial in the energy sector, targeting the development of catalysts based on Earth-abundant metals for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Several strategies, including metal-ligand and metal-metal cooperation, will be employed to explore alternative reaction pathways and lower activation barriers in these reactions. A key focus of the project is for the PhD student to gain a deep understanding of reaction mechanisms and elucidate elementary steps, laying the groundwork for innovative catalytic solutions. This includes the development of new metal-O2 complexes for selective oxyfunctionalizations, elusive late-metal oxo complexes, and metal-ligand systems for activating E-H bonds and forming C-E bonds Some selected examples of our work in this area: ACS Cat 2023, 13, 6610 and 3148; Inorg. Chem. 2023, 62, 19421, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 349-358; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 3037.