Enzyme-like FLP Catalysis within Coordination Cages

• Applicant: Dr. Weichao Xue
• Subject Area: Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2019 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 439667829

The project aims to achieve the encapsulation of frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) by water-soluble coordination cages. This would provide the first example of coordination cages incorporating FLP catalysts, advancing the field of enzyme-mimic catalysis. The successful execution of this project will overcome the problem that FLP catalysis cannot proceed in aqueous solution, and at the same time bring about improved reactivity and unprecedented selectivity for FLP catalysis with the aid of coordination cages. This will also open new avenues to apply cage catalysis and FLP catalysis to other fundamental organic reactions.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: United Kingdom
• Host: Professor Dr. Jonathan R. Nitschke