Organic chemistry of biobased building blocks

We do fundamental research in organic chemistry using molecules and material that nature provides, the biobased building blocks. Our overall mission is to deliver clean, atom-and step-efficient one-pot syntheses for sustainable production of molecular diverse and structurally complex organic molecules tailored towards higher added-value in materials, medicines and catalysts.

Research

To allow the synthesis of molecules with supreme complexity and with a plethora of specific functions, nature has evolved its synthetic tools over billions of years with high levels of efficiency and elegance. Our research is inspired by nature’s approach but takes a next step finding efficient synthetic methodologies and strategies that out-perform processes in biology while taking advantage from the broad range of functionalities available in biobased building blocks.

To achieve our mission we focus on cascade syntheses, sustainable catalysis and multicomponent reactions. The robust cascade sequences are based on in-house MCRs using diversity and biology oriented design strategies. Rapid complexity generation and advanced scaffold diversification are combined with sustainable catalysis addressing selectivity, efficiency and potential scale-up.

This is elaborated in the following research lines:

Design, develop, and explore one-pot cascade syntheses based on state-of-the art multicomponent reaction chemistry using bio-based building blocks as feedstock
Develop chemo-, regio- and stereoselective procedures using sustainable resource efficient base-metal-, organo- or bio-catalytic systems
Employ biobased isocyanides as versatile C1-building building blocks in cross-coupling chemistry
Develop a biomimetic templated N-to-C synthesis of peptides and proteins

Projects

Alternative Peptide Synthesis Technologies

Peptides and proteins are essential for life and are the foundation for many research fields. Scientists are often interested in protein functions, e.g. to improve the activity of proteins or to understand their mode of action.

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Circular Cultivation and Chemistry

In this program, we try to realize new ways to generate income and improve value chains that contribute to a circular economy, sustainable production and consumption, and healthy food - focusing on mission-driven innovations

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SusIsocyanide

The overarching goal of this proposal is to design new methods employing photo flow reactors for the synthesis of isocyanides at larger scale using bio-based scaffolds and visible light as sustainable energy resource.

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Sustainable Production Routes for Complex Medical Hydrogels using Biomass

The scientific targets for the project are to establish sustainable conversion pathways to tailor specific functional polysaccharides, explore new post-modification techniques to introduce photo-sensitive side groups into polysaccharides, and to demonstrate biomedical applicability of these functional materials for the fabrication of complex hydrogel constructs by photocrosslinking assisted 3D lithography.

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KIEM GoChem

Improving chemo-enzymatic synthesis towards green and sustainable protein synthesis.

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BiG: Developing a new value chain from biomass to C6 monomers

In this project, the Orrù-group of AMIBM is responsible of the quality analysis of the pilot plant and scouting for new routes to use methyl pentenoates as bio-based building block into high-commodity materials.

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Biobased Materials Plus (BBM+)

Maastricht University is developing an innovative learning environment in the field of biobased materials for talented students and professionals on the Brightlands Chemelot Campus.

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