FeCHACT · Catalytic Csp3-H functionalization via carbene insertion meets sustainability: Developing an unprecedented Iron methodology

Catalytic Csp3-H functionalization via carbene insertion meets sustainability: Developing an unprecedented Iron methodology

The project entitled “Catalytic Csp3-H functionalization via carbene insertion meets sustainability: Developing an unprecedented Iron methodology” will break new ground in Csp3-H functionalization chemistry, developing an unprecedented iron mediated methodology through carbene transference processes. Progress in these areas will generate valuable outputs which will impact not only in academia but also industry and society, in generating new environmental benign and more sustainable catalytic synthetic strategies using a new generation of iron complexes supported by facile tuneable ancillary ligands, and natural abundant alkanes as feedstock. Activation of Csp3-H bonds via carbene transfer have shown excellent promise in chemical synthesis under catalytic regimes using precious metals. However, a key aspect in developing sustainable processes is the nature of the catalytic species employed, including prize, availability and toxicity. Thus, using iron complexes which are low cost, high natural abundance, and low toxicity will open new frontiers in developing more sustainable chemistry. Although selective activation of Csp3-H bonds can be extremely difficult, recent studies on high valent oxo- and nitrene-iron complexes have shown that this may not be an insurmountable challenge, which can be controlled by the nature of the ligands. The design of the catalysts will be delivered rationally, using an iterative approach combining reactivity and kinetic studies. In addition, isolation and characterization of the first non-heme high valent iron-carbene complex will be pursued. This achievement constitutes a milestone in iron chemistry, because it will provide insightful data to control reactivity aspects in carbene transfer processes, and because this information can be used in the design of carbene transfer methodologies employing non-heme oxygenases biocatalysts, similarly to what has been done with the heme counterpart enzymes. From an interdisciplinary point of view this will suppose the establishment of a solid bridgebetween organometallic chemistry and biochemistry, and the ultimate step in the expansion of the toolbox ofenvironmentally friendly and sustainable iron-carbene insertion processes for the synthesis of organic molecules.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз