Asymmetric Electrochemistry in Flow
Asymmetric catalysis plays one of the most important roles in the modern organic chemistry providing methods for the synthesis of biologically active compounds and pharmaceuticals. Merging well-developed organocatalysis with electrochemistry opens new horizons for asymmetric transformation beyond the classical thermochemical activation. The approach is sustainable, since it employs harmless organocatalysts to induce chirality and uses electrons as traceless and green reagents to generate highly reactive radical species under mild conditions avoiding the utilization of highly toxic and wasteful RedOx chemicals. The efficiency and reliability of such reactions can be enhanced by performing reactions in continuous-flow mode. The candidate will have the opportunity to choose an activation mode of reactions that proceeds either through enamine, iminium ion or Breslow intermediate pathway. The PhD student will plan and conduct experiments in a chemistry laboratory, perform analytical studies and characterization of newly synthesized compounds. He/she will present his or her results at the regular group progress meetings and finally write a draft version of a manuscript. The PhD student will also be involved in the supervision of master's or bachelor's degree students.
APPLY HERE: https://taltech.glowbase.com/positions/1023
Maksim Ošeka (ORCID ID: 0000-0002-7095-4497) is an Assistant Professor at the Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech), Estonia. The Ošeka group’s research is focused on synergizing organic synthesis areas including photochemistry, electrochemistry, asymmetric organocatalysis, and flow chemistry. Maksim earned his PhD from TalTech in 2017 under the supervision of Professor Tõnis Kanger, specializing in asymmetric organocatalysis. As a visiting PhD student with the Melchiorre group at ICIQ in Spain, he contributed to developing a new photocatalytic enantioselective alkylation reaction. Maksim then pursued postdoctoral research under Professor Timothy Noël at Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands, working on electrochemical flow methods, before returning to TalTech in 2021 to launch his independent career.
Maksim has co-authored 19 articles in peer-reviewed journals and has been involved in 6 national and international research projects as a principal investigator with collaborators from Italy, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, Latvia, Norway, Finland and Sweden. He has supervised or co-supervised 5 PhD, one master’s and 8 bachelor students.
Current research focus: Organic Chemistry; Electrosynthesis; Flow chemistry; Organocatalysis; Photochemistry
Number of Publications: 19
Key Funding:
1) Starting grant from the Estonian Research Council (PSG828)
2) NordForsk grant AGRI-WASTE2H2 (ETAG24073)
3) Centre of Excellence grant from the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research (TK228U2)
Awards, memberships:
1) Head of Chemistry Division at the Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, TalTech
2) Member of the Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology council, TalTech
3) Substitute Member of the Estonian Research Council evaluation board
Links to accounts: Twitter, LinkedIn, Google Scholar
Timothy Noël (ORCID ID: 0000-0002-3107-6927) is a researcher in the field of synthetic organic chemistry and technology, with a particular interest in the delicate synergy between the two fields. In 2004, Tim earned his MSc degree in Industrial Chemical Engineering before pursuing his passion for synthetic organic chemistry, which led him to complete his PhD in the field at Ghent University in 2009. Following his PhD, he traveled across the Atlantic as a Fulbright Postdoctoral Fellow to work with Professor Stephen L. Buchwald at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he gained valuable experience and expertise in flow chemistry. Upon returning to Europe, he joined Eindhoven University of Technology as an Assistant Professor in 2012, and later became an Associate Professor in 2017. In 2020, Tim was promoted to Full Professor at the University of Amsterdam, where he is now the Chair of Flow Chemistry.
Timothy Noёl has co-authored more than 215 articles in peer-reviewed journals and his research in the area of flow chemistry was recognized with many prestigious awards and grants including ERC Consolidator Grant. Prof. Noёl has supervised more than 30 PhD students and 25 postdoctoral researchers.
Tõnis Kanger (ORCID ID: 0000-0001-5339-9682) is a Professor of Organic Synthesis at the Department of Chemistry & Biotechnology in TalTech. His scientific interests include catalytic asymmetric synthesis, atom- and step-efficient synthetic methods, multicomponent and cascade reactions, and, in particular, asymmetric organocatalysis. He is the author of over 100 articles and was twice awarded with the National Science Prize of Republic of Estonia in Chemistry & Molecular Biology (2004, 2016). Prof. Kanger has supervised 16 PhD students.
• Master’s degree in organic chemistry
• At least 6-month experience in an organic chemistry research group