Dissertation: New methods for chemical synthesis without reagents that may catch fire (Bannykh)
In the industry and in research laboratories, new chemical compounds are often made using methods that require highly reactive reagents. For example, they could use a compound called n-butyllithium, which is a highly powerful reagent that easily catches fire upon contact with air or water. These reagents, called organometallic reagents, must be handled with great care and kept away from air and moisture.
- In my research, I have found that these organometallic reagents can be avoided altogether. Instead, my method uses a combination of a catalyst, and a less reactive reagent is used to promote the reaction. A catalyst is a compound that accelerates the reaction rate but is not consumed, and it can be used in small quantities, says Anton Bannykh from Ģֱ.
This finding has allowed researchers to carry out reactions that were previously thought to be possible only by using these highly reactive organometallics, such as the formation of carbon-carbon and carbon-silicon bonds.
Innovative catalytic reagent enhances molecular synthesis efficiency
In his thesis,Bannykh developed a new catalytic system to promote reactions in an organocatalytic fashion without the help of metal-containing reagents.
- The dual role of the newly discovered catalytic reagent combination promoted rapid formation of carbon-carbon and carbon-silicon bonds, and at the same time protected sensitive groups elsewhere in the molecule. This feature minimizes additional steps for complex molecular synthesis, making them more efficient, explains Bannykh.
The molecular-level mechanism of the new catalyst combination was discovered by monitoring the reactions while they were running, using different instruments such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).
The research project received funding from the Department of Chemistry and Research Council of Finland.
M.Sc Anton Bannykh defends his doctoral dissertation "From carboxylate catalysis to probase catalysis” on 7.2.2025 at 12:00 at Ylistönrinne Campus in lecture hall KEM4. Opponents is professor Donald Craig (Imperial College London) and custos is professor Petri Pihko (Ģֱ).
The dissertation "From carboxylate catalysis to probase catalysis” can be read on the JYX publication archive:
