ILLUminating synthesis

four research
areas

Photoactive Ligands

Dual catalytic manifolds apply photocatalysts to harvest visible light and transfer the photon energy to transition metal complexes to trigger catalytic reactions. This is accompanied by drawbacks, such as complex catalytic cocktails, high catalyst loadings, and limited control of catalytic activities

We design photoactive ligands that allow transition metal complexes to play a dual role.

Our newest photoactive ligand

Enabling Reactions

Visible light photocatalysis emerged as a powerful approach to promote organic transformations that involve open-shell species under mild conditions. This unlocks unique reaction pathways, which pave the way for novel reactions that outperform state-of-the-art methodologies.

We use our know-how in photocatalytic synthesis to develop reactions with high synthetic utility.

Our latest enabling reaction

Catalytic Materials

Heterogeneous photocatalysts are heavily studied for artificial photosynthesis but rarely used in organic synthesis. The stability, low cost, and reusability of these materials make them a promising, sustainable alternative to commonly used noble metal complexes and organic dyes.

We study the applicability of heterogeneous photocatalysts in synthetic chemistry.

Learn about heterogeneous photocatalysis

Mechanistic Studies

Understanding reactivity is a core interest and key to developing and improving catalysts and reactions. Elucidation of (photo)chemical reaction mechanisms is a challenging task that requires synthetic, spectroscopic, and theoretical studies.

We interrogate mechanisms using multiple approaches and closely work with our collaborators who provide complementary expertise.

Learn about the mechanistic tools we use