Chemical tools for a molecular cabinet

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29 April 2024

Ever tried to screw a cabinet together without a screwdriver? It is very difficult. In the lab, we don't assemble cabinets - we assemble molecules.

This enables us to make new substances such as pharmaceuticals or smart materials. Building molecules requires precisely joining the correct components, which requires the use of effective tools. But sometimes, we fail to connect certain parts because we lack the right tool - the right screwdriver. Chemists are constantly looking for new types of chemical tools.

Our research group develops flexible and robust methods - chemical tools - for the efficient and selective synthesis of complex small molecules, ranging from natural products to complex pharmaceuticals. Our synthetic efforts are strongly mechanism-driven, enabling the rational design of novel organic transformations.

Using a combination of state-of-the-art experimentation and quantum chemical computations, we aim to uncover the underlying origin of chemical reactivity. This enables us to rationally design novel chemical transformations. To develop powerful synthetic methodologies and catalysts to produce ever more complex and densely functionalized scaffolds and natural products.

See our research in a 1-minute clip: eye-openers.nl/en/seethecast/thomas-hansen

For more information about our research, contact [email protected] or go to socc.nl.