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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/T011599/1
Title: Exploiting the interface between aromaticity and non-aromaticity
Principal Investigator: Donohoe, Professor T
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
AstraZeneca
Department: Oxford Chemistry
Organisation: University of Oxford
Scheme: Standard Research
Starts: 02 March 2020 Ends: 10 May 2023 Value (£): 390,108
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Catalysis & Applied Catalysis Chemical Synthetic Methodology
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Chemicals Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
11 Sep 2019 EPSRC Physical Sciences - September 2019 Announced
Summary on Grant Application Form
Chemistry is a dynamic subject that is at the centre of many different scientific advances. Organic chemistry is concerned with the reactivity of carbon in all of its different forms and can be viewed as the chemistry taking place within living things. Chemists are constantly looking for new ways of designing and building molecules (synthetic chemistry is essentially molecular architecture) and this proposal describes a short and powerful new way of making valuable molecules using a new catalytic system that works in combination with methanol as a (renewable resource) solvent. The molecules at the heart of the proposal are aromatic ring derivatives which are found in many different compounds of value in both the academic and commercial world.

The idea of catalysis also lies at the heart of this work; and catalysis uses small amounts of key promoters (catalysts) to make reactions run in ways that are not possible without them. Catalysts are also added to a reaction in small quantities which has beneficial consequences for the efficiency of the chemical processes involved.

The novel chemistry proposed herein will provide a new, efficient and powerful way of making cyclic and aromatic compounds using catalysis to control all aspects of the structures of the products formed: this will be of great benefit to both academia and industry who will be able to make interesting molecules in new ways. We have engaged a project partner from the pharmaceutical industry so that the project will develop rapidly into areas that are of direct interest and value to industry.

Given all of the above, it is imperative that we have novel, efficient and powerful methods for making new compounds so that we can study and use them. In addition, the development and application of new catalytic systems is also important because catalysis makes chemical reactions run faster and cleaner with less waste: this is clearly a good thing for industry and also for the environment. The real advantage of this proposal is the development of cutting edge science and its application to solve problems that are relevant to chemical scientists around the world.
Key Findings
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Potential use in non-academic contexts
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Impacts
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Summary
Date Materialised
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Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.ox.ac.uk