ICIQ_C2-O3: Unravelling the Mechanistic Intricacies of Catalytic Reductive Carboxylation Reactions

This project will cover the following aspects: Reaction mechanisms, metal complexes, decomposition pathways, kinetics

Although the development of nickel-catalysed carboxylation reactions of organic matter with CO2 has gained considerable momentum, the mechanism by which these processes operate remain rather speculative and it is based on empirical evidences. This project aims at unravelling the mechanistic intricacies of nickel-catalysed reductive carboxylation reactions by physical organic methods as well as by the isolation of the putative nickel intermediates within the catalytic cycle and study the decomposition pathways of these species in order to design better robust catalytic protocols.

Eligibility Criteria
To be admitted to the review process, candidates must comply with the following eligibility criteria:

• Presenting complete applications including all requested compulsory information and documentation.

• Having not spent more than 12 months of the prior 36 months in Spain, at the time of the call deadline. You will be required to confirm your compliance through a self-declaration.

• Hold a University degree (by the time of enrollment in the PhD program) that would qualify the applicant to enter one of the PhD programmes recognized by the BIST research centers. These have formal agreements with the major Catalan Universities (UB, UAB, UPC, URV, and UPF) whereby BIST senior researchers (generally of professorial rank and enjoying international recognition) are accredited to supervise PhD students, who do their research at BIST research centres and obtain their degree from the corresponding university. Please provide evidence when you apply (e.g. scanned copy of your degree or similar).

• At the time of the call deadline, be in the first 4 years of your scientific post gradual career (full-time equivalent research experience). In case your University degree was longer ago than 4 years, you will need to provide documental evidence for complying with this criteria.

• Having not been awarded yet a PhD degree.