ERC FUNDED PROJECTS

We plan to chase new goals by exploring the limits of gold chemistry and organic synthesis. A major goal is to promote copper to the level of gold as the catalyst of choice for the activation of alkynes under homogeneous conditions. Another major goal is to develop enantioselective reactions based on a new chiral catalyst design to overcome the inherent limitations of the linear coordination of d10 M(I) coinage metals. We whish to contribute to bridge the gap between homogeneous and heterogeneous gold catalysis discovering new reactions for C-C bond formation via cross-coupling and C-H activation. We will apply new methods based on Au catalysis to fill the gap that exists between chemical synthesis and physical methods such as graphite exfoliation or laser ablation for the synthesis of nanographenes and other large acenes.

2 499 060 €

Start date: 2013-03-01, End date: 2018-02-28

Organic electronic devices, such as organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), are raising an increasing interest for their potential in large area coverage and low cost applications. Also, the use of single molecules as active electronic components offers great prospects for the miniaturization of devices and for their compatibility with biological systems. Within this framework, e-GAMES goals are: 1) Molecular logic gates for the storage and transmission of magnetic and optical information and for locally controlling surface wettability. The two huge limitations that hinder the application of molecules in logic gates are: i) Fabrication of devices on a solid support, ii) Concatenation of logic gates. I plan to overcome these drawbacks employing self-assembled monolayers of bistable electroactive molecules. These systems could also be used in the fabrication of surfaces with tunable wettability properties, of high interest in microfluidics and for biosensors. 2) Ambipolar organic field-effect transistors with donor-acceptor systems and their exploitation in light, temperature or pressure sensors, and/or memory devices. Intramolecular electron transfer in organic semiconductors designed for preparing ambipolar OFETs will be explored for the first time. This phenomenon will be exploited for the fabrication of light, pressure or temperature stimuli-responsive OFETs bringing innovative perspectives to the field. 3) Organic/inorganic hybrid devices based on field-effect transistors for sensing environmentally hazardous carbon nanoparticles. Carbon-based nanoparticles are being increasingly used in many applications despite their recognized toxicity. The grounds for the development of a new generation of nanotechnological low-cost and selective sensors based on transistors functionalized with organic sensing molecular monolayers for the detection of such materials will be developed, contributing towards the improvement of citizens’ safety and environmental preservation.

1 499 675 €

Start date: 2012-12-01, End date: 2018-09-30

"We present a plan to design, synthesize and exploit the properties of mechanically interlocked carbon nanotubes (MINTs). The scientific aim of the project is to introduce the mechanical bond as a new tool for the derivatization of carbon nanotubes. The mechanical link combines the advantages of covalent and supramolecular modifications, namely: kinetic stability (covalent) and conserved chemical structure (supramolecular). Besides this, its dynamic nature opens up unique opportunities for both fundamental studies and applications. From a technological point of view, MINTs should have a practical impact in the fields of molecular electronics and molecular machinery. A general modular approach to MINT-based materials for photovoltaic devices and electrochemical sensors is presented. We also expect to exploit the rigidity and low dimensionality of SWNTs to construct molecular machines that utilize them as tracks to move across long distances, which is not possible in small-molecule molecular machines. To achieve these goals we will exploit the PI’s expertise in the chemical modification of carbon nanostructures, in the self-assembly of electroactive materials and in the synthesis and characterization of mechanically interlocked molecules."

1 444 999 €

Start date: 2012-10-01, End date: 2017-09-30

Oxidation reactions are of fundamental importance in Nature and are key transformation in organic synthesis. There is currently a need from society to replace waste-producing expensive oxidants by environmentally benign oxidants in industrial oxidation reactions. The aim with the proposed research is to develop novel green oxidation methodology that also involves hydrogen transfer reactions. In the oxidation reactions the goal is to use molecular oxygen (air) or hydrogen peroxide as the oxidants. In the present project new catalytic oxidations via low-energy electron transfer will be developed. The catalytic reactions obtained can be used for racemization of alcohols and amines and for oxygen- and hydrogen peroxide-driven oxidations of various substrates. Examples of some reactions that will be studied are oxidative palladium-catalyzed C-C bond formation and metal-catalyzed C-H oxidation including dehydrogenation reactions with iron and ruthenium. Coupled catalytic systems where electron transfer mediators (ETMs) facilitate electron transfer from the reduced catalyst to molecular oxygen (hydrogen peroxide) will be studied. Highly efficient reoxidation systems will be designed by covalently linking two electron transfer mediators (ETMs). The intramolecular electron transfer in these hybrid ETM catalysts will significantly increase the rate of oxidation reactions. The research will lead to development of more efficient reoxidation systems based on molecular oxygen and hydrogen peroxide, as well as more versatile racemization catalysts for alcohols and amines.

1 722 000 €

Start date: 2010-01-01, End date: 2015-12-31