The scientific objectives of the Molecular Activation Laboratory are part of a fundamental research approach aimed at developing more sustainable molecular synthesis and its applications. This approach is based on the implementation of new activation processes, notably by photochemistry or mechanochemistry, in order to promote new reactivities. The main areas of investigation are organometallic catalysis, organocatalysis, radical chemistry and heterochemistry, with a particular focus on the chemistry of organosilyl derivatives. The new processes developed can be applied to the synthesis of functional molecules such as natural products and analogues, or substrates with interesting biological and/or physical properties. Drawing on our own expertise and on a solid network of national and international collaborations, in-depth mechanistic studies involving physico-chemical analyses and theoretical calculations are pursued, enabling the optimization of new transformations. These are intensified by the use of flow chemistry.
We are also interested in naonsciences and the development of new synthesis methods for functionalized metal nanoparticles.
The main target audience for our activities is the academic research community, for the fundamental aspect of our work, and the chemical industry, for societal applications.
Caption to the illustration at the top of the page: Purification of a nickel complex by column chromatography
