New Landscapes in Alkaline Earth and Lanthanide Chemistry

Our research group studies the fundamental chemistry of main group and f-block elements and their application in sustainable synthesis. Most of Ae and Ln metals are non-toxic, earth-abundant and comparable in price (Mg $2/kg, Ca $2/kg, Ba $20-50/kg, Eu $28/kg, Sm $13/kg, Yb $50/kg) to some of the cheapest metals used in catalysis (Fe $0.1/kg, Co $31/kg, Ni $11/kg), which makes them attractive targets for future industrial exploitations. In the light of this, we are interested in the discovery of new structural motifs and unusual reactivity of these metals, which could be applied for the activation of strategic small molecules (e.g. CO, CO2, H2) used as building blocks in catalysis.
This PhD project will target the development of unprecedented low-oxidation state chemistry for the Ae elements (Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba) and selected Ln metals (Eu, Sm and Yb). Such species will be used as powerful reagents for the activation of molecules contained in synthesis-gas; the ambitious goal will be to deliver facile transformations without the need of harsh reaction conditions normally required with transition metal catalysts. Together with the discovery of new fundamental properties of Ae and Ln metals, this new family of reagents will provide an innovative approach towards more sustainable methodologies for chemical synthesis.