Catalysis

The development of sustainable methodologies for the synthesis of organic compounds is a fundamental challenge in modern organic chemistry. This project is focused on advancing the fields of photoredox catalysis (PRC) and synthetic photoelectrochemistry, exploring their applications in oxidative C-H substitution reactions.

The presented work on the synthesis and functionalization of mesoporous carbon, as well as the preparation of anodic catalysts for direct ethanol fuel cells, has an essential connection with the principles of green chemistry. The synthesis of mesoporous carbon from a resorcinol-formaldehyde resin represents a sustainable approach, as it enables the design of materials with specific properties through controlled processes that maximize the use of available resources.

Water electrolysis is a promising method for producing green hydrogen, an important clean energy for achieving global decarbonization goals. This process involves two half-reactions: the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at the cathode and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the anode. While the HER is relatively fast, the OER has a multi-step process involving the transfer of four electrons, significantly limiting the overall efficiency due to its slow kinetics [1].

Graphitic carbon nitride is a semiconducting material of a graphite-like 2D layered structure. It is well known for its photocatalytic properties, which can be exploited for solar-light-driven water splitting and degradation of organic pollutants. Here, we report its capabilities of catalyzing the reduction of the azo bond by hydrazine to two amines under visible light. This photocatalytic reaction provides a novel, appealing way to reduce azo dye wastes as pollutants other than degradation.

Carbohydrate mimetics play vital roles in various cell-mediated processes due to their structural resemblance to natural sugars, yet they exhibit distinct properties. Thioglycosides, in which an exocyclic oxygen atom is replaced by sulfur, are recognized as key building blocks in the preparation of glycans and the development of novel monosaccharides. These compounds serve as valuable intermediates in carbohydrate chemistry, being widely utilized in sequential glycosylation strategies for oligosaccharide synthesis.

Hydrazones as organometallic equivalents have emerged as a general and sustainable strategy to utilize naturally abundant aldehydes and ketones as feedstocks while only releasing water and nitrogen gas as byproducts. Yet the addition of these carbanion equivalents to carbonyl compounds has been limited to the use of precious metals as catalysts and hazardous solvents under an inert atmosphere. Herein, we report the development of a manganese-based catalyst system for the addition of aldehydes to carbonyl compounds producing secondary and tertiary alcohols with yields of up to 91%.

Heterocyclic ring systems are essential in drug design, serving as core structures in many approved drugs. Nitrogen- and oxygen-containing heterocycles, in particular, have become increasingly significant in recent years. Despite the availability of efficient synthetic methods, there is an ongoing need for new approaches that offer higher molecular complexity, better functional group compatibility, and atom economy, using readily available starting materials under mild conditions.

The goal of this research was to develop advanced silica materials from rice husk ash. A renewable and abundant agro-industrial waste that causes problems of accumulation and final disposal in the environment. Using extraction and synthesis methods, nanometric silica was produced. This silica was then used as a support material for nickel-based catalysts applied in CO2 hydrogenation reactions.This silica was then used as a support material for the development of nickel-based catalysts applied in CO2 hydrogenation reactions.