Asymmetric Co-Catalytic Cycloadditions
The chemical community seeks more efficient, eco-friendly synthetic methods. Cycloadditions have traditionally been among the most efficient approaches to synthesizing ring systems, which are commonly found in bioactive compounds and thus relevant for the pharmaceutical industry. Many of these cycloadditons can be carried out with the aid of organocatalysis. The field employs renewable and less toxic small organic molecules as catalysts, in lieu of traditional transition metals. We aim to develop novel asymmetric co-catalytic cycloadditions via organocatalysis as the combination of more than one catalytic activation mode can lead to unprecedented reactivities or more efficient reaction paths. The prospective PhD candidate can either explore standard or higher-order cycloadditions. The latter have been less explored, yet they hold tremendous potential due to the vast range of cyclic systems that can be synthesized. To aid in the development of these reactions and in elucidating their mechanisms, we plan to use computational chemistry.
The bulk of the work is related to practical synthetic chemistry in a laboratory setting. However, we expect the candidate to also learn and use computational chemistry techniques in parallel. This would provide the PhD candidate with a broader range of skills in a world that demands more interdisciplinary research to tackle complex issues. Competence in both areas provides deeper insights that are hard to gain from just one field alone. Thus, the candidate will be uniquely positioned for career prospects in both academic and industrial environments.
Mikk Kaasik (ORCID ID: 0000-0003-1141-3604) completed his PhD in 2020 from Prof. Tõnis Kanger's research group at TalTech, focusing on azolium-based halogen bond (XB) donors and novel bifunctional XB donors. Expanding his horizons internationally, Mikk pursued an Erasmus placement at KTH, Sweden, during his MSc studies. Further enriching his academic experience, he spent eight months as a visiting researcher at the University of Cologne (2018-2019), working with Dr. Martin Breugst. In 2021 he started as a postdoctoral researcher at Aarhus University under the supervision of Prof. Karl Anker Jørgensen. Mikk explored novel approaches to carry out asymmetric cocatalytic and organocatalytic cyclization reactions. In late 2023 he returned to TalTech and established his own independent research group. Currently he is supervising 2 PhD students.
Current research focus: Organic chemistry, organocatalysis, co-catalysis, borane Lewis acids, asymmetric synthesis
Number of Publications: 11
Key Funding: PSG951, Merging Organocatalysis with Borane Catalysis in Asymmetric Synthesis (Estonian Research Council, 2024-2028)
TK228U4, Centre of Excellence in Circular Economy for Strategic Mineral and Carbon Resources (Estonian Research Council, 2024-2030)
STP48, A novel cocatalytic approach for asymmetric synthesis (Estonian Research Council, 2024)
Awards, memberships: member of The Estonian Chemical Society
Karl Anker Jørgensen (ORCID ID: 0000-0002-3482-6236) obtained a Ph.D. from Aarhus University in 1984 under the supervision of Prof. Sven-Olov Lawesson. This was followed up by a fruitful postdoctoral position in Nobel Laureate Prof. Roald Hoffmann's group at Cornell University, USA. In 1985 he returned home and established his own research group in Aarhus. From the early 1990s, Karl Anker Jørgensen turned his research activities to asymmetric catalysis focusing on chiral Lewis acid catalysis. In 2001, Karl Anker's research interests changed to organocatalysis and since then he has made a strong international fingerprint to this highly competitive research field. His research is focused on asymmetric organocatalysis, primarily on aminocatalysis; cycloaddition reactions, recently especially on higher-order cycloadditions. Over his career, he has published more than 100 peer-reviewed publications in high-ranking journals. He has been the member of the board of both the companies AURIGA and Cheminova. He is currently a member of the The Royal Danish Academy of Sciences, Academy of Technical Sciences, and Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. On average at least 2 PhD students graduate yearly from his group. Currently he is supervising 5 PhD students.
Mario Öeren (ORCID ID: 0000-0003-4292-5557) obtained his PhD in computational chemistry from the TalTech in 2015. During his PhD he focused on the interpretation of complex IR and VCD spectra, and characterising weak non-covalent interactions governing the stability and specificity of host–guest complexes. In 2017, Mario joined Optibrium (UK), a company that develops software for small molecule design, optimisation, and data analysis. At Optibrium, his research focuses on predictive metabolism models, combining data-driven QSAR and machine learning approaches with ligand-based methods that account for chemical reactivity and site accessibility.
His expertise lies primarily in computational chemistry, cheminformatics and machine learning. He is proficient in Python and contributed to the development of the software at Optibrium. He has co-authored 17 peer-reviewed publications. Mario has supervised six undergraduates and half of those projects resulted in peer-reviewed papers. In addition, he has co-supervised an industrial PhD student jointly affiliated with Optibrium and the University of Cambridge, currently he is co-supervising 1 PhD student.
Strong knowledge of organic chemistry and sufficient knowledge of typical analytical methods used in this field. Work experience in a research laboratory. While not required, experience or interest in computational chemistry is viewed as a strong asset. Intellectual curiosity, perseverance, integrity, and a genuine enthusiasm for learning are key qualities for this role. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a readiness to work independently in designing and conducting experiments, while also collaborating effectively within larger team settings. Strong communication skills—particularly the ability to clearly communicate research to diverse audiences—are an asset.