Catalysis

In recent years, Palladium (Pd) catalysis has expanded to the use of metallic nanoparticles (NPs), due to their physicochemical properties that are related to catalytic activity. In particular, C-H bond activation reactions catalyzed by Pd attract interest because they can generate new C-C bonds without the need for prior functionalization, shortening synthesis steps and reducing waste generation. An example is phenanthridin-6(5H)-ones and benzo[c]chromenes, which are heterocycles present in various natural products and with important biological activities.

Catalysis plays an essential role in the synthesis of organic compounds, fully aligning with the ninth principle of sustainable chemistry. In recent years, nanomaterials have emerged as promising catalysts, offering stability, recyclability, and high efficiency. Among the most widely used catalysts in organic synthesis are those derived from palladium (Pd), a highly effective but costly and scarce metal.

The efficient design and synthesis of emitters for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) is a critical area of research, driven by the demand for cost-effective, sustainable, and high-performance blue emitters. This study presents the design and synthesis of 3,3’-bicarbazole-triazine derivatives as potential thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters. Using computational modeling, donor-acceptor (D-A) structures were rationally designed to exhibit blue emission and low singlet-triplet energy gaps.

Enhancing the efficiency of material processing, utilization, and recycling is pivotal for advancing sustainability in modern society. The objective of this study is to create sustainable methods for converting non-food biomass into recyclable polymers. One key compound, 4,4'-biphenyldicarboxylic acid (BPDA), is used as an additive in copolymer production and as a blending agent to improve the properties of polyester. BPDA was synthesized through the oxidation of 4,4'-dimethylbiphenyl (DMBP), a compound that can be efficiently derived from biomass-sourced 2-methylfuran.

Over the past two decades, there has been a significant surge of interest in the field of ultraviolet and/or visible (UV/vis) light photocatalysis. UV-vis irradiation merged with noble metal-based photosensitizers of Ru, Ir as catalysts is most useful combination in this segment as these metal photocatalysts mostly absorb in the UV/vis region. However, high energy UV/vis irradiation sources as well as the noble-metal based photosensitizer are not considered as green.

The research group focuses on interdisciplinary studies aimed at advancing sustainable and innovative solutions in various industries. Valorization of Agro-industrial Residues: Developing methodologies to convert agro-industrial by-products into valuable resources, such as biofuels, bioplastics, and functional ingredients for the food and chemical industries. Biomass Utilization: Exploring the potential of biomass as a renewable resource for producing energy and chemical intermediates through efficient and environmentally friendly processes.

Supported metallic and bimetallic nanocatalysts were synthesized and characterized. They were employed in different steps of the synthesis of a variety of bioactive compounds, taken in place the high atom economy and the sustainability of the process. The recoverability and reusability of the nanocatalysts was studied. The nanocatalyst were used particularly in C-H activation reaction, through a cross dehydrogenative coupling reaction (CDC), to form new C-C and C-heteroatom bonds.

Sulfonamides represent an important family of compounds with diverse biological activities, especially recognized as antibiotics. 1,2,4-Benzothiadicines-1,1-dioxide belong to a family of cyclic sulfonamides with significant pharmacological applications, such as antimicrobial, antiviral and antidiabetic. In addition, they are used clinically as diuretics and antihypertensives.