Small, gaseous molecules represent the most important building blocks in many biological
systems. Employing these building blocks, complex compounds such as amino acids, sugars
DNA and proteins can be gained. However, these molecules represent (very) inert gases such
as nitrogen but also carbon dioxide. In order to convert these molecules into a valuable form,
the presence of a catalyst is required. In biological systems, such as bacteria and plants, this
transformation is achieved via a fine-tuned interaction of (transition)metals and acids in an
aqueous media under very mild conditions.
Over the past decades, attempts have been made to study and mimic the reactivity of diverse
biological systems. In the field of activating of carbon dioxide many of these investigations
were based on the use of noble metals. Although good results have been achieved, questions
about sustainability arise when using precious metals, as these metals are rather rare and their
production consumes a lot of energy. In the field of nitrogen activation, researchers have
focused on the element molybdenum for decades and, more recently, on iron. Even if a lot of
progress has been made in the field of nitrogen activation in recent years, the potential in this
area seems not to be fully reached.
This project deals with the activation of gaseous dinitrogen and carbon dioxide in order to
convert them into valuable platform chemicals such as ammonia, formic acid or methanol. This
is to be achieved with the aid of the base element manganese in combination with boron-based
acids. The efficient use of manganese-based catalysts for the production of formic acid and
methanol has already been described over the last few years. In the course of this project, the
reactivities for the production of methanol from carbon dioxide shall to be increased and a
potential conversion carbon dioxide into methane will be investigated.
In the field of dinitrogen activation by manganese-based catalysts, fundamental work is initially
required, since there is barely preliminary work present. Subsequently, the conversion of
dinitrogen to ammonia or other relevant nitrogen-based compounds shall be realized.