Project description
Overcoming the reactivity slump of p-block elements
Some of the most important elements for current and future processes and technologies can be found in the so-called p-block of the periodic table. The structural, electrical, magnetic and catalytic properties of these elements and the compounds made of them are of increasing interest to chemists and engineers alike. However, common strategies aimed to enhance their reactivity alter their standard oxidation states - with detrimental effects. The EU-funded pCx4All project is developing innovative ways to add exceptional reactivity to selected p-block elements in their stable oxidation states. Exploiting structural constraint and ligand-element cooperativity will enable reactions successfully implemented with transition metals but not with p-block elements. The novel approach could usher in a new era of innovation with the p-block elements in their standard oxidation states.
Objective
State-of-the-art strategies for p-block element-based bond activations predominantly rely on the activity of low-valent species (e.g. silylenes). However, during bond activation, those species usually collapse into the deep thermodynamic sinks of their standard oxidation states, precluding any catalytic cycles. The present proposal pCX4All develops new concepts that add unique reactivity to the p-block elements Al, Ga, Si, Ge, Sn and P in their stable oxidation states. This is achieved by the generation of planar anti-vant Hoff/Le Bel configurations, ligand-element cooperativity, and p-block valence isomerism. All those original features are enabled by calix[4]pyrrole a well-established ligand for transition metals which has never been used for p-block elements. Challenging bond activations (e.g. dinitrogen) and catalytic transformations (e.g. water splitting and acceptorless dehydrogenative oxidation of alcohols) are tackled with the most abundant elements of the earth crust (e.g. a square-planar, tetracoordinated silicon(IV) or aluminum(III)). The concepts are supplemented by photo-induced reactivity and extended into the field of dynamic covalent chemistry. An integrated synthetic, spectroscopic and theoretical research approach guides the way from fundamental understanding to the application in catalysis and materials. Importantly, general feasibility was recently provided by the successful isolation of the first square-planar coordinated aluminum(III) anion in our laboratories, including the observation of its exciting reactivity. We believe that these objectives will initiate a renaissance of p-block element chemistry in their standard oxidation states, equipped with exceptional reactivity by strong structural constraint and ligand-element cooperativity.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- natural sciences chemical sciences electrochemistry electrolysis
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry alcohols
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry metalloids
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-STG - Starting Grant
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2020-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
69117 Heidelberg
Germany
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