Doctoral Themes - Proposals

Sustainable catalytic processes based on camphor derived complexes for the synthesis of fine chemicals

Supervisors

Maria Fernanda N N Carvalho, fcarvalho@tecnico.ulisboa.pt

Tiago A. Fernandes, tiago.a.fernandes@tecnico.ulisboa.pt

Registration Institution

Instituto Superior Técnico (Universidade de Lisboa)

Project description

Fine chemicals obtained through sustainable catalytic processes are of utmost relevance either when directed to specific synthetic applications or as biologically active principles. Within our research work several complexes based on camphor type ligands have been identified as efficient catalysts towards CC and CO coupling leading to aromatic compounds, heterocycles or polymers depending on the metal and the substituents on the camphor derived ligand. Such preliminary results show that camphor coordination compounds have a high potential as catalysts towards a wide type of reactions, e.g. synthesis of lactones, acetals, phenyl substituted, etc.. Insights into the processes and mechanisms are necessary to design, optimize and fully control the overcome of reactions. Such are the main goals in this project proposal.

The formation scope of this proposal includes synthetic procedures (including vacuum and inert atmosphere), modern characterization techniques (NMR, ESI-MS, GC, HPLC, other), kinetic methods and electrochemical studies, among other if necessary and available.

Keywords

Catalysis, Coordination compounds, Camphor imines, CC coupling, CO coupling, Bioactive molecules

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