Organic reactions under mechanochemical activation
Mechanochemistry has emerged as a sustainable synthesis tool, outperforming traditional organic synthesis in the solution phase, by avoiding the use of bulk solvents and minimizing the need for organic resources, which in turn reduces energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Despite recent progress, the reactivity at the interface of solids and within the assisting liquid during mechanical activation is not yet well understood. Particularly intriguing is the reactivity between inorganic and organic compounds, enantioselective catalysis, and the synthesis of complex supramolecular building blocks. This project offers a future PhD student the opportunity to fill the gaps in understanding the driving forces and learn to control reactivity in condensed matter.
There will be two topic options to choose from: (1) developing a mechanistic understanding of mechanochemical reactions, or (2) developing dynamic covalent chemistry and non-covalent interaction driven synthesis of supramolecular systems. Both topics are expected to lead to the discovery of new mechanochemical transformations.
The successful synthetic protocols will be scaled up from mg scale to multigram scale using in-house mechanochemical equipment and, possibly, other techniques with the help of our academic collaboration network.
Experimental work will be conducted in chemistry research lab equipped with planetary and mixer mills, and suitable for organic synthesis, also access to various chemical analysis methods (like NMR, HPLC, MS, IR, UV, FS, CD, VCD, SC-XRD and PXRD) is available in the group.
PhD student will spend some part of PhD period in lab of Tomislav Friščić in University of Birmingham, UK and have opportunity to do internship in Novartis Basel, CH.
Riina Aav (ORCID ID: 0000-0001-6571-7596) is a tenured professor at Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) Estonia, since 2018. Her scientific interests focus on mechanochemistry and design of macrocyclic molecules, studies of their formation, structure, chiroptical and supramolecular properties, and applications. She obtained PhD in 2005 at TalTech under supervision of Prof. Margus Lopp and Prof Tõnis Kanger. During her PhD studies worked in the group of Prof. A. Alexakis at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, and after graduation she spent one academic year in 2008-2009 as a Fulbright visiting scientist with Prof. S. E. Denmark at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), US. She has been a visiting professor in University of Lodž, Poland in 2018. Since 2011, she has been a grantee of several independent grants and have built up her own research group at TalTech. She serves as a vice-dean in R&D at School of Science. 13 MSc and 8 PhD theses were completed under her supervision and currently she is supervising over 10 PhD students.
Current research focus: mechanochemistry, chiral macrocycles, chirality induction, sensing, circular economy
Number of Publications: 60
Key Funding:
PRG2169, Self-assembled Chiral Hemicucurbiturils as a Versatile Platform for Supramolecular Sensing and Separation of Chiral Compounds
TK228, Centre of Excellence in Circular Economy for Strategic Mineral and Carbon Resources SOURCES
HORIZON-RIA 101057286, Innovative Mechanochemical Processes to synthesize green ACTIVE pharmaceutical ingredients VHE22039
Awards, memberships, etc:
2024 Order of the White Star, 4th Class, of the Republic of Estonia
2024 Researcher of the Year at Tallinn University of Technology
2022 Teacher of the Year in TalTech
Tomislav Friščić (ORCID ID: 0000-0002-3921-7915) is a Professor and Leverhulme International Chair in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. He is an expert in solid-state chemistry, and pursues the applications and fundamental understanding of solid-state reactivity, such as mechanochemistry, photochemistry, thermochemistry, and more with the ultimate aim to establish a new, more efficient and environmentally-friendly system of chemical and materials synthesis. His work often involves industry partners in the pharmaceuticals, mining, metals and advanced materials space, and he is a co-founder of two start-up companies.
He has co-authored >300 research publications, book chapters and patent applications, and his group’s research has led to numerous awards, including the John C. Polanyi Award by the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada (2021), the “Spiridion Brusina” Medal of the Croatian Society for Natural Sciences (2021), the Award for Research Excellence in Materials Chemistry by the Canadian Society for Chemistry (2019), National Research Council Steacie Prize for Natural Sciences (2018), the RSC Harrison-Meldola Memorial Prize and Lectureship (2011) etc.
Dzmitry Kananovich (ORCID ID: 0000-0002-2664-4491) is a senior researcher at TalTech. He has supervised 3 PhD students, first PhD graduated in 2020. Dzmitrys' h-index is 12, he has 38 publications and 64% in Q1 level journals (Scopus). His reserach focus is on organic synthesis, organometallic chemistry, and sustainable and green chemistry.
- A master’s degree or equivalent in organic chemistry or in relevant field
- Strong knowledge of organic synthesis and NMR spectroscopy
- A clear interest in the topic of the position
- Excellent command of English
- Strong and demonstrable writing and analytical skills
- Capacity to work both as an independent researcher and as part of an international team
- Capacity and willingness to provide assistance in organizational tasks relevant to the project