PhotoFLPs · Design and Catalytic Applications of Photoactivated Frustrated Lewis Pairs

Design and Catalytic Applications of Photoactivated Frustrated Lewis Pairs

Chemical reactions make up the foundation of nearly every product we use in daily life — from medicines and plastics to fuels and fragrances. Yet many of these reactions still rely on rare metals, high energy consumption, and processes that generate waste. In a century increasingly defined by sustainability and the European Green Deal, chemistry faces an urgent need to reinvent itself. The PhotoFLPs project responds directly to this challenge by developing a new class of light-activated molecular systems capable of driving cleaner, smarter, and more efficient chemical transformations. At the heart of PhotoFLPs are “Frustrated Lewis Pairs” (FLPs): combinations of molecules that would normally neutralize each other but are deliberately kept apart by their bulky shapes. This chemical “frustration” makes them highly reactive and able to activate strong chemical bonds — even without using metals. More recently, scientists have discovered that some of these pairs can exchange single electrons, forming so-called frustrated radical pairs (FRPs). These species open a completely new window for reactivity, allowing molecules to interact through radical, one-electron pathways that were once considered the exclusive domain of transition-metal catalysts. However, this behaviour has only been observed in a handful of examples, and the potential of these systems has remained largely unexplored. The PhotoFLPs project, led by Dr Felix León at the Institute for Chemical Research (IIQ-CSIC/University of Seville) under the supervision of Dr Jesús Campos, aims to bring FLP chemistry into the light — literally. By using photons as a clean and renewable energy source, PhotoFLPs will design and study the first generation of photoactivated FLPs capable of switching their reactivity on and off through light. This concept merges two of the most dynamic frontiers in modern chemistry: light-driven catalysis and radical reactivity. It opens the door to performing demanding chemical reactions under mild conditions, without the need for expensive or toxic metal catalysts. To achieve this, the project follows a progressive, three-stage approach. Main-group photoactivation: The first phase explores purely main-group systems that can absorb light and form radical pairs. These will be tested in the activation of small, stable molecules such as hydrogen and carbon dioxide, providing fundamental insights into how light can control bond formation and cleavage. Hybrid photo-systems: The second phase introduces combinations of main-group and first-row transition metals (such as iron, cobalt, or nickel) to merge the best of both worlds — the versatility of metals with the sustainability and tunability of FLPs. Metal-only photo-radical pairs: Finally, the project aims to create transition-metal-only photoactivated FLPs, a completely new class of compounds that could perform unprecedented reactions, such as the transformation of ether and lignin waste materials into useful chemicals. Beyond their scientific novelty, these discoveries could have far-reaching environmental and economic impacts. By finding new ways to convert low-value or waste feedstocks like carbon dioxide or lignin into valuable molecules, PhotoFLPs aligns closely with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (notably SDG 12, Responsible Consumption and Production) and the EU Green Deal’s push for climate-neutral chemistry. The project contributes to the long-term vision of building a circular chemical economy in which waste becomes a resource and sunlight replaces fossil energy as the driving force for synthesis. The results of PhotoFLPs will be openly shared with the scientific community and the public. Publications will appear in leading open-access journals, and experimental data will be made available through European repositories following the FAIR principles. The project also places a strong emphasis on communication and outreach. Dr León will participate in major public events such as the European Researchers’ Night and the Seville Science Fair, as well as informal outreach activities (Pint of Science, Café con Ciencia). Through collaborations with the University of Seville’s communication office, the findings will be shared with local and national media, accompanied by clear explanations and engaging visuals. Educational visits to schools will help inspire future generations of scientists, while social-media campaigns using the hashtag #PhotoFLPs will reach a wider international audience. Ultimately, PhotoFLPs aims to demonstrate that light-driven chemistry can do far more than illuminate our surroundings — it can illuminate new paths toward a sustainable and knowledge-based society. By blending fundamental research with environmental responsibility and public engagement, this Marie Skłodowska-Curie project exemplifies the transformative power of science in service of both innovation and the common good.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union