Individual project
COLDOC - Cold Organic Chemistry
Funder: European Research Council
Period: 2022-2027
URI: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101054751
Abstract:
Investigating organic chemical reactions at low temperatures
Reactions have physicochemical barriers that impede their progress. Catalysts are ubiquitously used to overcome many of these. Heat is also often applied to speed up reactions thanks to the increased motion of particles and their increasing number of collisions. In the far reaches of space and extreme cold, organic molecules are formed without this assistance. One theory is that a combination of quantum-mechanical tunnelling (QMT) and novel reactions with exceptionally low barriers could be the key. The EU-funded COLDOC project is evaluating this hypothesis through investigations that will reveal how QMT controls chemical reactivity and selectivity. This will be complemented by organic synthesis under cryogenic conditions for select compounds of interest.
Investigating organic chemical reactions at low temperatures
Reactions have physicochemical barriers that impede their progress. Catalysts are ubiquitously used to overcome many of these. Heat is also often applied to speed up reactions thanks to the increased motion of particles and their increasing number of collisions. In the far reaches of space and extreme cold, organic molecules are formed without this assistance. One theory is that a combination of quantum-mechanical tunnelling (QMT) and novel reactions with exceptionally low barriers could be the key. The EU-funded COLDOC project is evaluating this hypothesis through investigations that will reveal how QMT controls chemical reactivity and selectivity. This will be complemented by organic synthesis under cryogenic conditions for select compounds of interest.
