Structure/activity relationships in heterogeneously catalysed selective hydrogenation reactions of relevance to agri-chemical production chains

As the global population continues to increase, food security is playing an increasingly important role in national and international sustainability strategies. Syngenta is a world-wide organisation that specialises in crop protection via application of innovative technologies encompassing various areas of biology and chemistry [1]. At the Jeallot's Hill International Research Centre (Berkshire, UK) the Process Studies Group are interested in understanding heterogeneous catalytic processes for the large-scale production of agri-chemical intermediates. One transformation of interest involves the application of heterogeneous catalysis to selectively hydrogenate aromatic nitrile molecules to primary amines.
A recently completed Ph.D. project, concentrating on the kinetics and hydrodynamics of nitrile hydrogenation, has enabled a catalyst specification to be defined that supports high amine selectivity and extended catalyst lifetimes [2-4]. A follow-on Ph.D. project is available for commencement in October 2022 that represents a further collaboration between Syngenta and the University of Glasgow. The new project will build on the previous work by developing a mechanistic understanding of the principal surface-mediated processes responsible for sustained product yields for a series of nitrile hydrogenations relevant to large-scale agri-chemical production. Most of the work will be performed in modern laboratories housed within the School of Chemistry at the University of Glasgow. In addition, each year, the student will be expected to spend a 1-2 week placement at the Company's research centre.