New Catalysts for the Synthesis of High Value Added Epoxides

New Catalysts for the Synthesis of High Value Added Epoxides

Speaker: Marta Abrantes

Affiliation: LSRE - Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto

Host: Alumni ITQB

Abstract

Enantiopure epoxides are high value added molecules, useful as chiral synthons for the synthesis of biologically active molecules. Worldwide, the demand for enantiopure chiral compounds continues to rise, primarily for the use in pharmaceuticals but also in three other sectors: flavor and aroma chemicals, agricultural chemicals and specialty materials. Some authors claim that, in the future, enantioselective catalysis is likely to be the economically and ecologically most attractive strategy to produce enantiopure chiral compounds. In this seminar efforts to contribute to this strategy will be presented.

Marta Abrantes, auxiliary researcher at LSRE, is a former ITQB PhD Student. At ITQB, Marta worked under the supervision of Prof. Carlos Romão, integrating the Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry. She finished her PhD in Chemistry in 2004.