Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	EP/K504105/2
Title:	Recyclable Catalyst Technology for Cross-Coupling Reactions at Manufacturing Scale
Principal Investigator:	Lloyd-Jones, Professor G
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Sch of Chemistry
Organisation:	University of Edinburgh
Scheme:	Technology Programme
Starts:	01 October 2013	Ends:	30 June 2015	Value (£):	169,863
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Catalysis & Applied Catalysis
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Manufacturing
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
Homogeneous Palladium (Pd) cross-couplings, based on Nobel-prize winning methodologies, have become essential for the production of life-enhancing pharmaceuticals & chemicals (est. worth to sector: >£10 bn). However there are environmental & sustainability issues, often addressed by heterogeneous Pd catalysts but with reduced performance. This project combines the advantages of each type of Pd catalysis by development of a broad-spectrum 'Catch & Release' cross-coupling technology. Novel functionalised silica materials will allow purification of reaction products by temporary capture of the Pd catalyst in heterogeneous form, capable of release back in it's active form into solution by new reaction components for further production. The technology is employed in semi-continuous format, with application possible across multiple process industries. Initial applications towards the manufacture of pharmaceuticals & agrochemicals will be demonstrated. This project fits rigorously within the TSB competition's headline goal of providing 'Sustainable manufacturing for the process industry' and describes an innovative 'Novel Catalysis' approach. This is delivered through a technology which enables change from existing batch to semi-continuous processing and the development of inherently more sustainable processes, which recover & reuse the active catalysts, both metal and ligand, whilst dramatically reducing subsequent product purification requirements. The overarching objective is the identification and optimisation of an appropriately functionalised aryl bromide on the silica solid support to effectively catch & then release the active Pd catalyst and to take this as proven technology into manufacture. Our consortium links academic and SME expertise in ligand design/immobilisation and understanding of metal-catalysed couplings together with global industrial product end-users. The widespread application of transition metal (Pd) crosscoupling reactions in a variety of chemistry-related industries means the chosen subject material is of high and topical importance as the UK strives for faster production processes to increase it's competitive edge in manufacturing. The project's combination of the benefits of homogeneous Pd catalysis (fast reaction rates, selectivity and flexible catalyst choice) with the use of a solid phase to temporarily support the active Pd catalyst (for subsequent reuse) & simultaneously allow easy product purification will enable high efficiency chemical synthesis with increased throughput by semi-continuous processing. First development and then fine-tuning of the silica-supported linker to suitably effect the cross-coupling reaction step is critical to industry adoption of the final commercial product as a broad-spectrum, preferred method for cross-coupling at process scale; the project's activities and objectives reflect this. The output from this innovative and improved catalytic route for cross-couplings will be observed by better process economics, through recycling of high cost synthetic metals, including Pd, and organic ligands, and reduced toxic waste outputs. The endpoint commercial product would generate international interest and lead to export sales. In summary, our project focuses primarily on catalysis process innovation, through improvement of the lifetime and recycling of the Pd catalyst for cross-couplings by the introduction of a heterogeneous stage to the catalytic cycle, which also serves as a reaction purification step.
Key Findings
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