Doctoral Themes

Chalcogen bonding in synthesis, crystal engineering and catalysis

Supervisors

Kamran T. Mahmudov, kamran.mahmudov@tecnico.ulisboa.pt

M. Fátima C. Guedes da Silva, fatima.guedes@tecnico.ulisboa.pt

Vânia André, vaniandre@tecnico.ulisboa.pt

Registration Institution

Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa

Project description

Noncovalent interaction is a matter of growing interest and an important synthetic strategy to improve the functional properties of novel materials to be applied in catalysis, drug development, etc.. They may involve a periodic table group 15 (pnictogen, Pn), 16 (chalcogen, Ch) or 17 (halogen, Ha) element.

The chalcogen bond (ChB) is defined as a noncovalent interaction between the electron density deficient region (so-called as σ or π hole) of a covalently bonded Ch atom and a nucleophilic (Nu) site in the same (intramolecular) or another (intermolecular) molecular entity: R−Ch···Nu [Ch = O, S, Se or Te; R = C, Pn, Ch, metal, etc.; Nu = lone pair possessing Ha, Ch, Pn or metal atom, π-system, anion, radical, etc.]. Like in HaB and PnB, the bond parameters (strength, directionality and tunability) make ChB a relevant supramolecular tool in the design of organic and coordination compounds.

The aim of this Project is to use ChB in the synthesis of newfangled compounds and their further application in a variety of industrially relevant catalytic transformations (reaction of CO2 with epoxides, alkenes and alkynes). The PhD student will have the opportunity to learn about synthetic methods and to apply several analytical characterization techniques, and thus will acquire knowledge and develop important skills that will prove fundamental for a successful career in academia or in Industry.

The work will have the collaborations of Prof. Armando J.L. Pombeiro and Prof. Giuseppe Resnati.

Keywords

Noncovalent interactions, chalcogen bond, synthesis, crystal engineering, catalysis

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