Description

The objective of the PhD is to leverage the structural tunability of the non-innocent ligands developed in the team, particularly through the modulation of L/X donor sites, to adapt it for coordination to group 2 metals and p-block metalloids. This will give the opportunity to expand cooperative catalysis to main group elements, which remains underdeveloped compared to that with transition metals, but holds much potential.
This proposal addresses coordination chemistry and catalysis, encompassing the design and synthesis of non-innocent ligands, the study of their reactivity in derived complexes (particularly those involving s- and p-block elements), and their application in cooperative catalysis.

Skills required

The ideal candidate should have a solid background in molecular chemistry and a strong interest in main-group, organometallic, and/or coordination chemistry. Motivation for research, scientific curiosity, and the ability to work collaboratively will be key assets.

Bibliography

1. a) Khusnutdinova, J. R.; Milstein, D. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2015, 54, 12236. b) Greb, L.; Ebner, F.; Ginzburg, Y.; Sigmund, L. M. Eur. J. Inorg. Chem.2020, 2020, 3030.
2. Clerc, A.; Marelli, E.; Adet, N.; Monot, J.; Martin-Vaca, B.; Bourissou, D. Chem. Sci. 2021, 12, 35.
3. a) Clerc, A.; Humbert, M.; Mallet-Ladeira, S.; Miqueu, K.; Monot, J.; B. Martin-Vaca, B.; Bourissou, D. ChemistryEurope 2024, e202400079. b) Humbert, M.; Clerc, A.; Miqueu, K.; Monot, J.; B. Martin-Vaca, B.; Bourissou, D. Chem. Commun., 2025, 61, 3327

Keywords

Non-innocent ligands, Main-group chemistry, Transition metal complexes, Small molecule activation, Cooperative catalysis