
Unit A
Coupled chemocatalytic reactions
The central objective is to elucidate the decisive parameters that control synergistic effects between two (or more) chemocatalytically active sites as a prerequisite for coupled catalytic transformations under mild reaction conditions.
We will explore new synthetic strategies for combining two or more catalytic active sites in a defined manner:
- Single atomic sites in solutions
- Supported on solids
- Arrays of deposited nanoparticles
Thus, we want to analyze whether precise control over spatial and temporal coupling of these sites makes it possible to switch on or off consecutive catalytic reactions which are otherwise hardly achievable.
For instance, cooperativity or communication between single atomic centers will be predetermined by distance control in dinuclear complexes of main-group elements or transition-metals.
Whereas closely spaced reactive sites may involve synergistic effects, increasing the separation might favor uncommon molecular coordination modes in bond activation, thereby enabling distinct consecutive reaction pathways and/or selectivities in coupled catalytic reactions.
Our Challenge
Design and control of the synergistic effects between two or more chemocatalytically active sites.
Team
Antonietti, Markus
Colloid and polymer chemistry, synthesis of electrode materials
Braun, Thomas
Metal organic chemistry, late-metal catalysis
Dau, Holger
X-ray spectroscopy
Driess, Matthias
Organometallic chemistry, ligand design
Kaupp, Martin
Theoretical chemistry, quantum chemistry
Limberg, Christian
Ligand design, small molecule activation
Matera, Sebastian
Multiscale modeling
Oestreich, Martin
Organic synthesis, ligand design, FLP
Oschatz, Martin
Heterogeneous catalysis, nanoparticles, and electrode materials
Pieber, Bartolomäus
Microfluidics, flow chemistry
Ray, Kallol
Lewis acid cooperation, mechanism
Repke, Jens-Uwe
Reactive flow simulation, CFD, mass transport

Roldan, Beatriz
Surface science, nanoparticles, electrochemistry
Schlögl, Robert
Electron microscopy, X-ray spectroscopy, catalyst characterization
Schomäcker, Reinhard
Catalyst performance, kinetic studies, reactor design
Schwalbe, Matthias
Ligand design, metal cooperativity
Seeberger, Peter
Microfluidics, flow chemistry
Strasser, Peter
Electrochemistry, CO2 activation
Teichert, Johannes
Molecular catalysts, site-selective catalysis
Thomas, Arne
Materials synthesis
Weidinger, Inez
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy