PhD defence Daniël Sebastiaan Verdoorn- Kański

Keywords: Isocyanide, Cobalt, Insertion chemistry, Multi-component chemistry

"Assistant to the cobalt catalyst: Isocyanides and their insertion reactions"

Chemical reactions sometimes need a little helper to speed up or run more efficiently. We call this helper a catalyst. Many catalysts contain rare and expensive metals, such as palladium and rhodium. Daniel explored a cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternative: cobalt. In his research, he used cobalt to accelerate specific chemical reactions, working with isocyanides, carbenes and nitrenes, substances that help form reactive intermediates. These intermediates are crucial for building complex molecules, such as ring-shaped compounds that play a key role in the production of pharmaceuticals. He developed new methods using cobalt as a catalyst, combining various substances, like sulfonyl azides, carboxylic acids, and a molecule called NIITP, in a single reaction. This allowed him to efficiently create new compounds. Additionally, he investigated how cobalt embedded in a special material, ZIF-67, could help speed up reactions. His research demonstrated that a minimal amount of cobalt could effectively drive the reaction, significantly enhancing the process's sustainability. Daniel’s work shows that cobalt is a versatile and sustainable alternative to expensive metals. It adds to more efficient and environmentally friendly methods for the chemical industry.

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