Dr. Basudev Sahoo

The direct utilization of native functional groups without the need for prefunctionalized holds considerable promise to
revolutionize organic synthesis. While significant advances have been realized within the area of C-H activation, the
functionalization of inert C-O bonds in aryl ethers is still at its infancy. Prompted by the natural abundance of aryl ethers in
Lignin, the second most abundant biopolymer (30% of non-fossil organic carbon on earth), chemists have been challenged
to devise, conceptuality and practicality aside, mild, general and widely applicable catalytic technologies for ethereal C-O
funcionalization. At present, however, these technologies remain confined to the use of rather activated extended p-systems,
stoichiometric metal reagents and, in many instances, harsh conditions. ET-PHOTOX will offer an innovative and challenging
approach for functionalizing aryl C-O bonds by merging nickel catalysis and photoredox catalysis via electron donor-acceptor
complexation events. Such synergistic catalysis will unlock unconceivable scenarios within the C-O bond-cleavage arena,
including the use of non-extended p-systems, non-organometallic based nucleophiles or even carbon dioxide as coupling
partner. Therefore, this project holds potential to change concepts in catalysis, allowing new tactics to be implemented in
organic synthesis from ubiquitous C-O bonds, thus enhancing the ever-growing quality of the European research. The
prospective impact of ET-PHOTOX, together with the new scientific, technical training, competences and transferable skills
received will position the candidate with a unique opportunity to start an independent career at a European academic
institution after the execution of the project.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement 795961