Selective Activation of Carbon Dioxide For Organic Synthesis

The Buckley group has embarked on a programme of research directed at carbon dioxide utilisation (CDU) and has reported initial efforts in the area. An electrosynthetic system was employed under atmospheric CO2 pressures and at ambient temperatures to afford cyclic carbonates from the corresponding epoxides. A major drawback with this type of electrosynthetic system was the requirement for the use of a sacrificial anode. In order to increase the sustainability and practicality of electrosynthetic processes, it is crucially important that the sacrificial anode is replaced, and thus enables CO2 reduction using non-sacrificial electrodes that, in time, could derive energy from harvesting sunlight. However, this is non-trivial, as state-of-the-art technology has shown that the use of non-sacrificial electrodes is often accompanied by a loss in selectivity when carboxylation of organic compounds is studied. Therefore, in this project the use of a non-sacrificial synthetic electrochemical processes to hydrocarboxylate alkenes will be identified and optimised. To enable this step changing technology the project aims to apply traditional and cutting-edge physical organic techniques and electrosynthesis to better understand the carboxylation process.

Find out more

http://brbuckley.wixsite.com/the-buckley-group

http://co2chem.co.uk

http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2011/CC/C1CC15467B#!divAbstract

Entry requirements

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in chemistry or a related subject

A relevant Master's degree and / or experience in one or more of the following will be an advantage: Catalysis, electrochemistry, synthetic organic chemistry

How to apply

All applications should be made online at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/apply/research/. Under programme name, select ‘Chemistry’

Please quote reference number: CM/BB-Un1/2018