The Development of Green Electrosynthesis of Organic Molecules

This PhD project will evaluate the potential of an electrochemical cell to perform selective metal-free oxidations of organic molecules versus the traditional synthetic route. Such approaches are yet to be realised providing a greener approach to performing chemical transformations for the preparation of pharmaceuticals and industrial materials.

This PhD project will focus on developing, optimizing and evaluating the effectiveness of synthetic organic electrochemistry. The primary objectives will be to demonstrate the use of graphene electrodes to replace precious metal electrodes and the use of ionic liquids as green reaction solvents to replace standard organic solvents. Evaluation of the developed electrochemical set-up with the “best known” electrochemical cells will inform the development of your system. Application of the developed system to important reactions for the pharmaceutical industry will be demonstrated using single electrons as a “traceless oxidant”.

For more information about the research group please visit: www.jonesgroupresearch.wordpress.com