RESEARCH GROUP
Homogeneous Catalysis Lab

FUNDING

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Our work is devoted to the development of late transition-metal complexes as catalysts for transformations involving hydrocarbons. Several catalytic systems have been described for the selective modification of unsaturated and saturated substrates, with special emphasis in the use of alkanes and, ultimately, methane. This has been frequently achieved by means of the metal catalyzed transfer of carbene, nitrene or oxo units to the C-H bond. The use of non-conventional reaction media constitutes another characteristic in those transformations.  

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Intermolecular Allene Functionalization by Silver-Nitrene Catalysis
Rodríguez, Manuel R.; Besora, Maria; Molina, Francisco; Maseras, Feliu; Mar Diaz-Requejo, M.; Perez, Pedro J.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 13062-13071. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c04395

A Quantitative Model for Alkane Nucleophilicity Based on C-H Bond Structural/Topological Descriptors
Besora, Maria; Olmos, Andrea; Gava, Riccardo; Noverges, Barbara; Asensio, Gregorio; Caballero, Ana; Maseras, Feliu; Perez, Pedro J.
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 59, 3112-3116. DOI: 10.1002/anie.201914386.

Copper-Catalyzed N-F Bond Activation for Uniform Intramolecular C-H Amination Yielding Pyrrolidines and Piperidines
Bafaluy, Daniel; Maria Munoz-Molina, Jose; Funes-Ardoiz, Ignacio; Herold, Sebastian; de Aguirre, Adiran J.; Zhang, Hongwei; Maseras, Feliu; Belderrain, Tomas R.; Perez, Pedro J.; Muniz, Kilian
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 8912-8916. DOI: 10.1002/anie.201902716

Enantio- and Diastereoselective Cyclopropanation of 1-Alkenylboronates: Synthesis of 1-Boryl-2,3-Disubstituted Cyclopropanes
Carreras, Javier; Caballero, Ana; Perez, Pedro J.
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2018, 57, 2334-2338. DOI: 10.1002/anie.201710415

Measuring the Relative Reactivity of the Carbon-Hydrogen Bonds of Alkanes as Nucleophiles
Olmos, Andrea; Gava, Riccardo; Noverges, Barbara; Bellezza, Delia; Jacob, Kane; Besora, Maria; Sameera, W. M. Chamil; Etienne, Michel; Maseras, Feliu; Asensio, Gregorio; Caballero, Ana; Perez, Pedro J.
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2018, 57, 13848-13852. DOI: 10.1002/anie.201807448

Functional-Group-Tolerant, Silver-Catalyzed N-N Bond Formation by Nitrene Transfer to Amines
Maestre, Lourdes; Dorel, Ruth; Pablo, Oscar; Escofet, Imma; Sameera, W. M. C.; Alvarez, Eleuterio; Maseras, Feliu; Mar Diaz-Requejo, M.; Echavarren, Antonio M.; Perez, Pedro J.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 139, 2216-2223. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6b08219.

Catalytic Nitrene Transfer To Alkynes: A Novel and Versatile Route for the Synthesis of Sulfinamides and Isothiazoles
Rodriguez, Manuel R.; Beltran, Alvaro; Mudarra, Angel L.; Alvarez, Eleuterio; Maseras, Feliu; Mar Diaz-Requejo, M.; Perez, Pedro J.
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 12842-12847. DOI: 10.1002/anie.201705664.

Iron and Manganese Catalysts for the Selective Functionalization of Arene C(sp(2))-H Bonds by Carbene Insertion
Conde, Ana; Sabenya, Gerard; Rodriguez, Monica; Postils, Veronica; Luis, Josep M.; Diaz-Requejo, M. Mar; Costas, Miquel; Perez, Pedro J.
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 55, 6530-6534. DOI: 10.1002/anie.201601750

Chemo-, Regio-, and Stereoselective Silver-Catalyzed Aziridination of Dienes: Scope, Mechanistic Studies, and Ring-Opening Reactions
Llaveria, Josep; Beltran, Alvaro; Sameera, W. M. C.; Locati, Abel; Mar Diaz-Requejo, M.; Isabel Matheu, M.; Castillon, Sergio; Maseras, Feliu; Perez, Pedro J.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 5342-5350. DOI: 10.1021/ja412547r.

A General Mechanism for the Copper- and Silver-Catalyzed Olefin Aziridination Reactions: Concomitant Involvement of the Singlet and Triplet Pathways
Maestre, Lourdes; Sameera, W. M. C.; Mar Diaz-Requejo, M.; Maseras, Feliu; Perez, Pedro J.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 1338-1348. DOI: 10.1021/ja307229e.

Introducing Copper as Catalyst for Oxidative Alkane Dehydrogenation
Conde, Ana; Vilella, Laia; Balcells, David; Diaz-Requejo, M. Mar; Lledos, Agusti; Perez, Pedro J.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 3887-3896. DOI: 10.1021/ja310866k

Silver-Catalyzed C-C Bond Formation Between Methane and Ethyl Diazoacetate in Supercritical CO2
Caballero, Ana; Despagnet-Ayoub, Emmanuelle; Mar Diaz-Requejo, M.; Diaz-Rodriguez, Alba; Elena Gonzalez-Nunez, Maria; Mello, Rossella; Munoz, Bianca K.; Ojo, Wilfried-Solo; Asensio, Gregorio; Etienne, Michel; Perez, Pedro J.
Science 2011, 332, 835-838. DOI: 10.1126/science.1204131

Regioselective Formation of 2,5-Disubstituted Oxazoles Via Copper(I)-Catalyzed Cycloaddition of Acyl Azides and 1-Alkynes
Cano, Israel; Alvarez, Eleuterio; Carmen Nicasio, M.; Perez, Pedro J.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 191-193. DOI: 10.1021/ja109732s

Selective Synthesis of N-Substituted 1,2-Dihydropyridines from Furans by Copper-Induced Concurrent Tandem Catalysis
Fructos, Manuel R.; Alvarez, Eleuterio; Mar Diaz-Requejo, M.; Perez, Pedro J.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 4600-4607. DOI: 10.1021/ja1006614

Efficient silver-catalyzed regio- and stereospecific aziridination of dienes
Llaveria, Josep; Beltran, Alvaro; Mar Diaz-Requejo, M.; Isabel Matheu, M.; Castillon, Sergio; Perez, Pedro J.
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010, 49, 7092-7095. DOI: 10.1002/anie.201003167.

MEMBERS

Tomás Rodríguez Belderrain
Professor of Inorganic Chemistry
+34 959 21 9955
trodri@ciqso.uhu.es

Degree in Chemistry – Universidad de Sevilla (1989)
Ph. D. Degree in Chemistry – Universidad de Sevilla (1994)
Post-Doctoral Researcher – CNR-ICCOM, Florencia, Italia (1995)
Post-Doctoral Researcher – Caltech, EEUU (1996-1997)
Profesor Asociado a Tiempo Parcial – Universidad de Huelva (11/1997- 02/1998)
Ayudante de Universidad – Universidad de Huelva (02/1998- 09/1998)
Profesor Asociado a Tiempo Completo – Universidad de Huelva (10/1998-05/2000)
Profesor Titular de Universidad – (05/2000-04/2011)
Catedrático – Universidad de Huelva (04/2011-Actualidad)

M. Mar Díaz Requejo
Professor of Inorganic Chemistry
+34 959 21 9950
mmdiaz@uhu.es

Degree in Chemistry – Universidad de Sevilla (1995)
Ph. D. Degree in Chemistry – Universidad de Huelva (2000)
Post-Doctoral Researcher – University of North Carolina (USA) (2001-2002)
Investigador “Ramón y Cajal” – Universidad de Huelva (2003-2006)
Profesora Contratada Doctora – Universidad de Huelva (2007-2008)
Profesora Titular de Universidad – Universidad de Huelva (2009-2016)
Catedrática de Universidad – Universidad de Huelva (desde 2017)

Ana Caballero Bevia
Senior Lecturer (Prof. Titular)
+34959219952
ana.caballero@ciqso.uhu.es

Degree in Chemistry – Universidad de Sevilla (1999)
Ph. D. Degree in Chemistry – Universidad de Huelva (2004)
Post-Doctoral Researcher – LCC, CNRS, Toulouse (France) (2005-2007)
Ramón y Cajal Researcher – Universidad de Huelva (2008)
Profesora Ayudante Doctora – Universidad de Huelva (2008-2011)
Profesora Contratada Doctora – Universidad de Huelva (2011-2018)
Profesora Titular – Universidad de Huelva (2018-present)

Manuel Romero Fructos-Vázquez
Senior Lecturer (Prof. Titular)
+34959219948
manuel.romero@ciqso.uhu.es

Degree in Chemistry – Universidad de Sevilla (2002)
Profesor Ayudante – Universidad de Huelva (2006-2008)
Ph. D. Degree in Chemistry – Universidad de Huelva (2007)
Post-Doctoral Researcher – University of Durham (2008-2009)
Profesor Ayudante Doctor – Universidad de Huelva (2009-2012)
Profesor Contratado Doctor – Universidad de Huelva (2012-2020)
Profesor Titular – Universidad de Huelva (2020-present)

José María Muñoz Molina
Senior Lecturer (Prof. Titular)
+34959219946
jose.molina@ciqso.uhu.es

Degree in Chemistry – Universidad de Sevilla (2005)
Ph. D. Degree in Chemistry – Universidad de Huelva (2010)
Post-Doctoral Researcher – MIT/ Caltech, USA (2011-2013)
Post-Doctoral Researcher – ICIQ (2013-2015)
Profesor Ayudante Doctor – Universidad de Huelva (2015-2020)
Profesor Contratado Doctor – Universidad de Huelva (2020-)

Sarah Ramos Izquierdo
PHD Student
+34959219970
sarah.ramos@ciqso.uhu.es
Ricardo José Maza Quiroga
PostDoctoral Researcher
+34959219970
ricardo.maza@ciqso.uhu.es
Iván González Fernández
PHD Student 
+34959219970
ivan.gonzalez@ciqso.uhu.es
Martina Casciotti
PhD Student
+34959219970
martina.casciotti@ciqso.uhu.es
Manuel Sánchez Gómez
PHD Student 
+34959219970
manuel.sanchez@ciqso.uhu.es
Jonathan Martínez Laguna
PostDoctoral Researcher
+34959219970
jonathan.martinez@ciqso.uhu.es
Jorge Pérez Ruíz
PhD Student
+34959219972
jorge.perez@ciqso.uhu.es
Rocío Martín Rodríguez
PhD Student
+34959219970
rocio.martin@ciqso.uhu.es

Educational Background

Degree in Chemistry Universidad de Sevilla, Spain, 1987
Ph.D. Universidad de Sevilla (Advisor: Ernesto Carmona), 1991
MEC-Fulbright Posdoctoral Fellow, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill  (Advisor: Maurice Brookhart), Chapel Hill

Awards/Recognitions/Fellowships

2020 Chemistry Europe Fellow
2018 Member of the Academia Europaea
2018 Research Award University of Huelva
2017 Distinguished Career Research Award, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Huelva
2016 Medal and Research Award of the Royal Spanish Chemical Society
2015 Homogeneous Catalysis Award of the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK).
2014 Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Spain
2014 Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK).
2007 Inorganic Chemistry Award, Royal Society of Chemistry of Spain.

Biographical Sketch

Pedro J. Pérez was born in Aroche (Huelva, Spain) in 1965. He received a Degree in Chemistry from Universidad de Sevilla in 1987 and later a Ph. D. degree from the same University in 1991 under the direction of Prof. Ernesto Carmona. As a Fulbright Scholar, he then joined Prof. Brookhart’s group at UNC-Chapel Hill (USA). He started (1993) an appointment as Assistant Professor at the Universidad de Huelva (Spain), where he has been promoted several times until the current Professorship in Inorganic Chemistry (since 2005).

Due to the unavailability of any infrastructure such as laboratories or equipment, toward research at the just created Universidad de Huelva, he had to start his independent career from scratch. Founder of the research group “Coordination and Organometallic Compounds toward Homogeneous Catalysis” in 1996 (now “Homogeneous Catalysis Laboratory”), he also was one of the founders of the Center for Research in Sustainable Chemistry (CIQSO), in 2010, and its first Director.

His main research focus has been on the development of catalytic systems for the valorisation of available raw materials, either saturated or unsaturated, with special emphasis in the highly inert alkanes CnH2n+2 through metal catalyzed carbon-hydrogen bond functionalization processes.