Rethinking catalysis
If you think synthetic organic chemistry lacks innovation, then check out this episode where Paolo talks with Dr. Josep Cornella about the ways he and his team are breathing innovation into modern synthetic chemistry. Dr. Cornella’s non-discriminatory approach to catalysis has enabled him to do amazing things, including making air-stable nickel zero complexes and using non-traditional catalysts such as bismuth to open new doors and break away from established catalytic reactions.
Bringing Chemistry to Life · Paolo Braiuca, Josep Cornella
Show Notes
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Modern synthetic chemistry relies on a rich toolbox of chemical transformations, among which catalytic reactions play a prominent role. Yet, despite all the many successes, innovation in the field has seemingly slowed down, the focus moving to exploring variations and application scope of well-established catalysts based on a limited number of reliable transition metals.
Josep Cornella, from the Max Planck Institute in Mülheim an der Ruhr, is an innovator. He is not loyal to a specific element or a specific catalyzed reaction. He has a non-discriminatory approach to catalysis, where the key is choosing the catalytic approach to do what he wants/needs rather than figuring out what he can do with his catalyst of choice.
This episode is a declaration of love for catalysis as a driver for innovation in organic synthesis. Paolo and Josep discuss using the elements the Earth has given us in creative new ways, from making air-stable nickel zero (Ni(0)) complexes to the unexpected use of bismuth as a completely novel catalyst, opening the box of possibilities by removing the biases from overreliance on well established – and old – concepts.
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