C-H activation: design and development of novel catalytic systems for synthetic chemistry

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Catalytic C-H functionalisation aims at developing new tools enabling the transformation of any C-H bond in an organic molecule into the desired functionality. Once chemists have developed a whole set of tools (catalysts) for C-H functionalisation, the fast and efficient synthesis of any molecule will be a simple task. In this project we will study how ruthenium salts can be used as catalysts to carry out C-H functionalisation and how to control their reactivity. What are the key elements in ruthenium catalysts that allow modifying the site of C-H functionalisation? What changes can be made to accelerate the catalytic activity of these ruthenium salts? In order to answer these questions we will apply state of the art mechanistic investigations, including kinetics, stoichiometric studies and computational studies. Subsequently, we will combine all lessons learned into the design of new ruthenium catalysts and their application to the development of new synthetic transformations for the efficient preparation of important structural motifs in pharmaceutical, agrochemical and organic electronic materials.