Exciting Iron Catalysis: A route towards sustainable cross-couplings Enabled by Light
This project aims to develop a novel iron-catalyzed cross-coupling method using visible light to enhance reactivity and sustainability in organic synthesis, reducing reliance on palladium.
Projectdetails
Introduction
The manufacture of many high-value chemicals that sustain our daily lives depends on the ability of palladium catalysts to link together (cross-coupling) complex structural motifs. Yet, in view of the rapid increase of the price of palladium and its progressive depletion, it is crucial to invent alternative and more sustainable systems based on Earth-abundant metals to ensure the viability in the long term of these strategic processes that provide us with materials, agrochemicals, or medicines.
Iron as a Sustainable Alternative
Iron is considered the most benign of transition metals because it is endless, inexpensive, and biocompatible. However, despite its early discovery, iron-catalyzed cross-couplings have been underutilized owing to their narrower scope and the need for strong organometallic reductants or harsh conditions. This hampers their applicability in complex targets and densely functionalized substrates.
Proposed Approach
This proposal introduces a fundamentally new approach to overcome the issues that restrain the development of iron-catalyzed cross-couplings. It exploits the innate ability of iron complexes to harvest light and repurposes it to “activate” catalysis.
Novel Modes of Reactivity
Capitalizing on novel modes of reactivity accessed upon visible-light irradiation, this research programme offers a strategy to access key catalytically active iron species under mild conditions without the use of strong organometallic reductants. This enables unprecedented transformations with extended scope.
Mechanism of Action
ExCEL recruits charge-transfer excited states of iron complexes, providing access to:
- Fe(I)/Fe(III) and Fe(0)/Fe(II) catalytic manifolds
- C–C and C–heteroatom bond formation
- Multicomponent reactions that are currently out of the reach of state-of-the-art iron catalysis
Conclusion
Overall, this proposal aims to introduce a new paradigm to upgrade and unleash the full potential of iron catalysis in organic synthesis, and will pave the way for the discovery of exciting new synthetic transformations.
Financiële details & Tijdlijn
Financiële details
Subsidiebedrag | € 1.499.995 |
Totale projectbegroting | € 1.499.995 |
Tijdlijn
Startdatum | 1-1-2024 |
Einddatum | 31-12-2028 |
Subsidiejaar | 2024 |
Partners & Locaties
Projectpartners
- UNIVERSIDAD DE MURCIApenvoerder
Land(en)
Vergelijkbare projecten binnen European Research Council
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Enabling Noble Metal Reactivity with Earth-Abundant Metals for Selective Bond Functionalization Strategies
This project aims to develop iron-based catalysts for key organic reactions by unlocking two-electron chemistry, replacing precious metals to enhance sustainability in chemical synthesis.
Multifunctional Ligands for Enhanced Catalysis
This project aims to develop a sustainable method for selective C-H functionalization using earth-abundant metals and multifunctional ligands, enhancing efficiency and expanding industrial applications.
Metal-Organic REagents for Light-Enabled Shuttling of protons and electrons
This project aims to develop metal-organic PCET shuttles for efficient solar-to-chemical conversion, enhancing selectivity in N2 reduction through innovative catalytic strategies.
Single-Atom Catalysts for a New Generation of Chemical Processes: from Fundamental Understanding to Interface Engineering
This project aims to develop innovative single-atom catalysts for CO2 conversion through advanced synthesis and characterization techniques, enhancing sustainability in chemical manufacturing.
Synthetic Bimodal Photoredox Catalysis: Unlocking New Sustainable Light-Driven Reactivity
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