Research 2017-2023

The overall goal of this project is to establish a versatile Synthetic/Systems Biology and Omics resource within the Conversion platform that can be applied to research questions relevant to the bioeconomy. The programme is centred on solving two significant global bioconversion challenges: creating synthetic pathways in microorganisms to make complex products (polymers) as well as the use of gaseous substrates to make chemicals. The focus was renewed in 2021 to include projects targeting CO 2 utilization.

Objective 1: Synthesis of a library of lactose-derived chiral N,N and N,N,N chiral ligands to investigate their ability to induce levels of enantioselectivity in metal-catalysed asymmetric transformations.

Deliverables:

Synthesis of gram quantities of lactose-derived N,N ligands with a range of alcohol-protected groups.
Synthesis of gram quantities of lactose-derived N,N,N ligands with a range of alcohol-protected groups.
Prepare metal complexes of these ligands for structural characterisation (X-ray crystallography).
Objective 2: Applications in asymmetric catalysis – screen a range of metal-catalysed processes to test the enantiodifferentiating ability of these novel ligands.

Deliverables:

Testing metal complexes of lactose-derived N,N ligands in asymmetric catalysis.
Testing metal complexes of lactose-derived N,N,N ligands in asymmetric catalysis.
Optimisation of successful asymmetric catalytic transformations to include a substrate scope.

The use of CO2 as a raw material in molecular science has been the subject of many investigations. The aim of the project is to explore feasibility of partially replacing the non-sustainable feedstock with renewable and widely available ones to contribute to transition to a circular economy. This project will investigate valorisation of CO2 as feedstock using synthetic transformation chemistry as well as biological approaches.

The project team will work closely with separation specialists in the Selective Separation Research Platform (researchers from Prof Eoin Casey’s and Prof Yurii Gunko’s group) and well as biotechnology experts in Prof Kevin O’Connor’s group in the Selective Separation Research Platform. Life cycle analysis will be built in from the start by the project team working closely with Prof Nick Holden’s group in the Sustainability Research Platform.

In addition to researchers directly focused on project 2.5, the new CO2 focus area brings together researchers engaged in other centre projects who have CO2 focus. Namely, the work of Project 2.1 PhD Kate McKeever and CDT PhD students Manuel Bruch (from September 2020), Jia-Lynn Tham (from October 2020) will come under the umbrella of CO2 focus area.

The aim of the project is to investigate the use of CO2 and syngas (H2/CO) produced from biomass in metal-catalysed, direct and enantioselective carboxylation and carbonylation of styrenes for the production of high value fine chemicals of interest to the pharmaceutical industry. The production of pure CO2 and syngas will require (i) optimisation of pyrolysis, gasification, chemical looping combustion, separation and purification (link to Platform 1 – PP-1 and PP-2) (ii) test a range of ligands to determine both regioselectivity and enantioselectivity; (iii) extend alkene substrates to naturally occurring examples; (iv) apply methodology to compounds of pharmaceutical interest.