Identification, Synthesis, and Application of Novel Enantiomerically Pure Titanocenes – Cyclic Voltammetry, Electrolysis, and Supramolecular Chemistry in Concert

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Andreas Gansäuer
• Subject Area: Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: since 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 432405389

Catalysis is an enabling branch of science providing access to novel materials and processes. Therefore, it is ideally suited to deliver sustainable solutions for the demands of modern societies. This is the case, because catalysis can be employed in the design of selective processes that maximize the amount of raw material ending up in the product, in the use of renewable energy sources and in avoiding the production of waste. Thus, developing novel and sustainable catalytic methods constitutes a highly attractive and relevant field of research. However, identifying optimal catalytic conditions usually demands laborious experimental reaction screening through expensive use of workforce, material and lab time. To reinforce the sustainability claim of catalysis, we propose to identify mechanistic key aspects or so-called ’predictors’ for successful catalysis before setting up any reaction. With these mechanistic key features at hand, we can then suggest or even predict efficient catalytic reaction conditions based on experimental facts rather than the usual intuitive ‘into the blue approach’. Ideally, this results in only a few experimental combinations that need to be corroborated.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants