Profile

The group has specialized in the development and mechanistic understanding of new reactions mediated by homogeneous catalysts. The transformations include photocatalyzed reactions with bioderived platform molecules where new carbon-carbon bonds are installed to prepare valuable building blocks for organic synthesis. The photocatalysts are often based on non-precious transition metals such as tungsten and copper. In addition, N-heterocyclic carbenes are employed as catalysts to form carbon-carbon bonds with bioderived aldehydes. The carbenes catalyze an umpolung, which converts aldehydes into nucleophiles and thus allows for a reaction with electrophiles.