Implementing photocatalytic methodologies for industrial goals

We foster connections between academic research and the pharmaceutical industry to bring photocatalysis applications

We are PIA, a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network focused on the development of cheaper, straightforward methodologies to add key photochemical processes into industrial solutions.

We are convinced that a greater blending of academia and industry would have a great impact on the implementation of photocatalysis in the chemical industry world. Students involved in this doctoral network will have the opportunity to work with European-funded academic researchers and in three pharmaceutical companies in a hot field such as photocatalysis.

Our research objectives

We will develop photocatalytic methods for the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds and the derivatization of existing drugs

We will use late-stage functionalisation of advanced heteroaryl scaffolds through cycloaddition reactions and perfluoroalkylation.

We will leverage the benefits of flow processes with innovative capabilities of light-activated catalysis.

Our research programme 

PIA has 6 individual research projects under three work packages (WPs).

WP1 – Photocatalytic methods for the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds and the derivatization of existing drugs

DC1

C-H Meta functionalization of aryl and heteroaryl unit through merger of Pd-catalysis and visible light photocatalysis: direct trifluomethylation and oxytrifluoromethylation on pharmaceutical compounds

DC2

Photocatalytic (Csp3)-H functionalization of N-alkylic amides for the late-stage modification of advanced scaffolds contained in pharmaceutical compounds

 
WP2 – Late-stage functionalisation of advanced heteroaryl scaffolds through cycloaddition reactions and perfluoroalkylation

DC3

N-perfluoroalkylation of heteroaryl unit through merger of copper-catalysis and visible light photocatalysis

DC4

 Photocatalytic cycloadditions

WP3 – Photocatalytic flow processes 

DC5

Photocatalytic alkylation of heteroarenes in batch and continuous flow: Synthesis of building blocks and pharmaceutical components

DC6

Photocatalytic processes for benzimidazole for the late-stage functionalization