Projects
Development of new synthetic methods for the preparation of amidines and guanidines. University of Antwerp
Goods and Bads among the genus Burkholderia : do proteases and amidases make the difference ? Ghent University
The bacterial genus Burkholderia consists of more than 100 species isolated from a bewildering
array of niches. Many of them are closely interacting with a growing list of hosts from different
eukaryotic kingdoms. These interactions are often beneficial but Burkholderia can be pathogenic
for their fungal, plant or/and animal host. Curiously, virulence towards particular hosts is not a
phylogenetic trait. Plant and ...
Heterogeneous catalysts for efficient and environmentally benign conversion of biobased phenols and their derivatives to anilines KU Leuven
Future feedstocks for aromatic compounds will increasingly be of biobased origin, with phenols and alkoxyarenes as key compounds. Currently, there is a lack of atom-efficient, catalytic methods to convert these oxygenated aromatics into nitrogen-functionalized aromatics such as anilines. Aniline is currently still produced via a multistep sequence from benzene. In this project, we will study the direct conversion of oxygenated aromatics ...
Synthesis of α-secondary alkylamines via reductive functionalization of amides. University of Antwerp
Enhancing lithium stripping from the solvent extraction system of tributyl phosphate and FeCl3 using amines KU Leuven
Lithium is an essential element in lithium-ion-batteries (LIBs) for electric vehicles and portable devices. Currently, the majority of global Li2CO3 is produced from salt lake brines, which contain over 70% of the exploitable lithium reserves. The existing hydrometallurgical processes for the separation of lithium from the associated magnesium in brines suffer from low recovery rate and create a heavy environmental burden. The synergistic ...
Electrocatalytic N-functionalisation of olefins towards aziridines and amines KU Leuven
Ever since the Industrial Revolution, mankind has been progressively manufacturing a wide array of goods that led to an unprecedented growth in prosperity and quality of life. In response to the mounting ecological and social challenges, the 20th century witnessed the emergence of environmental movements and a growing awareness of the need for sustainable practices. The shift towards sustainability gained momentum as the global community ...
Innovative catalytic materials for the hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis of 2° and 3° amides KU Leuven
The reduction of amides is an important method for the synthesis of amines. These compounds are used in a wide range of applications, including agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, detergents, personal care etc. Although the use of H2 for these difficult reactions got quite some attention in recent years, reports on heterogeneous catalysts for these transformations are scarce; they are deactivated by water formed during hydrogenation and very ...
Synthesis of a-secondary alkylamines via reductive functionalization of amides. University of Antwerp
Catalytic amination of phenols with amines or ammonia KU Leuven
Aromatic and aliphatic (di)amines are unambiguous industrial precursors for polymers, active pharmaceutical ingredients, dyes and agrochemicals; produced in enormous amounts each year. As a result, chemical processes towards these molecules have a non-negligible impact on the environment. Classic procedures rely almost solely on the exploitation of (preactivated) finite fossil feedstocks. Moreover, some of these processes display significant ...