Developing new reactivity for gold complexes within confined environments

Developing new reactivity for gold complexes within confined environments

CHEMISTRY & GREEN CHEMISTRY

Lab: LHFA

Duration: NanoX master Internship (8 months part-time in-lab immersion)
5 months full-time internship
6 months full-time internship

Latest starting date: 01/03/2023

Localisation: Laboratoire Hétérochimie Fondamentale et Appliquée
UMR CNRS 5069
118 Route de Narbonne
31062 Toulouse Cedex 9

Supervisors:
Gyorgy SZALOKI gyorgy.szaloki@univ-tlse3.fr
Didier BOURISSOU didier.bourissou@univ-tlse3.fr

This research master's degree project could be followed by a PhD

Work package:
Enzymes are extremely powerful catalysts for a large variety of biological reactions. For a long time, chemists have sought to reproduce such activities using supramolecular cages as artificial enzymes. The interior cavity of these cages mimics enzyme pockets and can host reactions.[1] The confinement of reacting molecules within these cavities changes their original reactivity: indeed, noticeable impact on both rate and selectivity has been evidenced. In the framework of this project we aim to study and develop the reactivity of transition metal complexes (particularly gold) within confined environments.[2] Our group has a strong interest and experience in gold chemistry, that we wish to further develop in a supramolecular context.[3] In summary, the objective of this project is to design and synthesize novel, anionic supramolecular cages that will be used to confine reactive, cationic gold complexes.

References:
[1] Morimoto, M.; Bierschenk, S. M.; Xia, K. T.; Bergman, R. G.; Raymond, K. N.; Toste F; D. Nat. Catal. 2020, 3, 969. [2] Jans, A. C. H.; Caumes, X.; Reek, J. N. H. ChemCatChem 2019, 11, 287. [3] (a) Rodriguez, J.; Szalóki, G.; Carizzo, E. D; S.; Saffon-Merceron, N.; Miqueu, K.; Bourissou, D. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 59, 1511. (b) Szalóki, G.; Babinot, J.; Martin-Diaconescu, V.; Mallet-Ladeira, S.; García-Rodeja, Y.; Miqueu, K.; Bourissou, D. Chem. Sci. (2022, Edge Article, DOI : 10.1039/d2sc03724f)

Areas of expertise:
Supramolecular chemistry, supramolecular cages, organometallic chemistry, catalysis, gold complexes

Required skills for the internship:
A good background in organic/organometallic chemistry and the knowledge of basic analytical techniques (NMR, UV, MS) would be appreciated. We are looking for a motivated candidate with good synthetic skills.