NextBase is committed to advance the field of base metal-catalytic cross-couplings along the following general directions, which correspond to the research Work Packages (WPs) of the Network
C-C bond formation by redox-neutral cross-coupling, involving both classical reagents (e.g., boronic acids/esters and organomagnesium compounds) and unfunctionalized C-H groups as nucleophiles.
C-C bond formation by deoxygenative cross-coupling, which will allow to forge single and multiple C-C bonds from oxygenated substrates (e.g., phenols, aryl ethers, carbonyl compounds) traditionally underexploited but very common, for example, in bio-derived building blocks.
C-heteroatom bond formation by cross-coupling, providing access to very important classes of compounds such as phenols, ethers, amines, amides, esters, thiols.
Application of the new methodologies to the synthesis of industrial targets, which will be selected based on the input received from the industrial beneficiaries FIS and JANSSEN.
The project’s WPs will be implemented with an ambitious, intersectoral doctoral programme having ‘training-through-research’ as the central pillar. Within a wide research area such as cross-coupling chemistry, NextBase will focus on several specific objectives, which will be pursued in the individual research projects assigned to the DCs.
Visible light-promoted C-heteroatom and C-C couplings in the presence of bifunctional Ni-, Co-, Cu- and Fe-catalysts
C-C or C-N coupling lignin-derived aromatics promoted by bimetallic base metal-nanoparticle (NP) catalysts in alternative reaction media
Cross-coupling by C(sp2) or C(sp3)-H activation promoted by heterosubstituted cyclopentadienyl Co- and Fe-complexes
Deoxygenative coupling of carbonyl compounds promoted by homogeneous (Fe, Mn) and heterogeneous (Fe, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu) catalysts
Fe-catalytic Kumada-type cross-couplings to forge C(sp2)-C(sp2) bonds
Mn-, Fe- and Cu-catalytic arylation by Suzuki-type coupling and C-H activation
Synthesis of industrial targets – APIs and API intermediates