Organic Synthesis - ORSY

The expertise of the ORSY group is situated in the area of homogeneous catalysis (transition metal-catalyzed reactions), heterocyclic chemistry and photocatalytic chemistry. Particular research directions include:

• Sustainable catalytic methods employing commodity metals (such as Fe, Cu) instead of precious metals (such as Pd, Rh, Ru).
• Development of new sustainable technologies for the separation, recovery and reuse of homogeneous catalysts with the aid of specifically functionalized ceramic membranes (organic – inorganic hybrid membranes) and ligands.
• Transition metal-catalyzed methods for the synthesis and decoration of (novel) azaheteroaromatic skeletons. These skeletons are interesting “scaffolds” for the development of novel enzyme inhibitor and receptor agonist/antagonist
• Special attention in the homogeneous catalysis is given to development of synthetic methods based on direct C–H bond activation, both for “scaffold” synthesis and decoration.
• Investigation of fundamental aspects of the mechanism of transition metal-catalyzed reactions which remained misunderstood, which facilitates the achievement of efficient reactions in problematic cases.
• Use of photocatalysis to transform CO₂ into fine chemicals
• Synthesis of organic building blocks using photocatalysis
• Depolymerization of plastics into fine chemicals
• Sustainable synthesis of fuel and pharmaceuticals by the reduction of O₂ molecule