The PhD project aims to translate platform chemicals derived from biorenewable substrates into sustainable aviation fuels and value-added chemicals. High-energy-density hydrocarbon fuels are generally synthesised from fossil fuels and utilize various chemical reactions such as cycloaddition, hydrogenation, and skeletal isomerization under harsh, energy-intensive conditions. Given the increasing severity of the environmental crisis and the urgency of sustainable development, converting biorenewable substrates to produce high-energy-density hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals has become imperative. The photocatalytic process offers excellent potential for synthesising a diverse range of fuels and chemicals because of its unique properties, including good efficiency, clean atom economy, and low energy consumption, making it a promising alternative to traditional thermocatalytic reactions. The project introduces several new concepts in photoredox catalysis. We propose tuning the photocatalyst's redox properties and enabling efficient methods for selective dehydrogenation, deoxygenation, fragmentation, cycloaddition, and ring-opening reactions in visible light. We aim to develop atom- and step-economic methodologies for deconstruction and functionalization of selected platform chemicals into value-added products that find applications as fuels, pharmaceuticals, polymer precursors and food additives. Background required: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering. Relevant knowledge of related topics plus experience in synthetic organic chemistry, computational chemistry, and spectroscopic analysis.
“Elevating Horizons Through Discovery and Ingenuity”