Mechanocatalysis is emerging as a powerful tool in organic synthesis, combining enhanced control and selectivity at the catalytic level with a reduced environmental impact.
Objectives
The objective of this project is to engineer metallopolymeric mechanocatalysts with optimized architectures to enable the targeted chemical modification of bio‑based molecules. This innovation is underpinned by fundamental mechanistic investigations using AFM‑based single‑molecule force spectroscopy to quantify the coordination‑bond strength across different catalyst systems.
Expected results
Once their molecular architecture has been optimised, the metallopolymeric mechanocatalysts will be applied to the chemical modification of bio‑based molecules derived from lignin, vegetable oils, or hemicellulose.
Target markets
Additives
Monomeres
Materials
Industrial processes for chemical transformation of molecules