The research is on catalysis, which is an area of chemistry that enables conversion of simple compounds into complex molecules of enormous practical utility. This area has transformed —and will continue to transform—products and processes in diverse sectors (e.g. life sciences and fine chemicals) with significant financial and societal impact. The potential for research and innovation is limited only by imagination, with ample scope for formulating, characterizing and developing transformational practical applications.
The current research efforts of the group are focused to develop efficient, reliable and selective catalytic systems, both molecular and nanostructured, for synthetic transformations of interest and studying their use to obtain relevant products for the life science and fine chemical sectors. We strive to achieve this challenging objective by:
- the modular design of catalysts, mostly from phosphorus-based transition-metal complexes,
- the use of versatile synthetic procedures (inorganic or organic transformations, or supramolecular processes),
- concepts from supramolecular chemistry and physical inorganic and organic chemistry combined with traditional approaches from stereoselective catalysis,
- use of sustainable and benign reaction conditions (e., catalyst recycling and reuse, use of benign reagents and solvents, etc.), and
- the computational study of the catalytic cycles (through collaborations).
In addition, the ample experience in (mainly enantiopure) ligand synthesis and in coordination and organometallic chemistry is ideal to establish collaborations with other groups working in organophosphorus chemistry, carbenes, enantioselective synthesis or in the application of transition metal complexes to other areas apart from catalysis.