Development of Frustrated Lewis Pair-Type Catalysts Based on Readily Accessible Boranes for Reactions of Industrial Importance

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Urs Gellrich
• Subject Area: Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 540780671

Industrial chemical synthesis processes often use noble transition metal catalysts that are very effective, but their long-term availability raises concerns about the sustainability of these processes. In recent years, it has been shown that certain main group compounds can exhibit the reactivity of transition metal compounds. In the context of the present proposal, the ability of certain boranes to activate hydrogen is particularly relevant. The aim of the present proposal is now to develop main group catalysts based on readily accessible boranes for two processes that are carried out industrially on a ton scale, namely the semihydrogenation of alkynes and the hydroformylation of olefins. To achieve this goal, we intend to use a combination of experimental studies and computational data science approaches to catalyst optimization. The successful completion of this research project could not only enrich our understanding of the reactivity of main group catalysts, but also contribute to the development of more sustainable catalytic processes.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants