Job Offers

Artificial Intelligence meets Asymmetric Catalysis: a new pathway for catalyst optimization and discovery

The aim of the planned research is the artificial intelligence-assisted design and then experimental verification of new chiral Lewis acids containing zinc and magnesium ions as catalysts in selected organic reactions, in particular in the asymmetric reduction of the carbonyl group. Computer aided design of catalysts will require the analysis of data collected by our team during many years of work in the field of asymmetric synthesis and analysis of literature data. The aim of the research is also to implement a substantial database of results (both positive and negative) obtained in the course of previous research to solve the problems encountered at that time.

Description of tasks:

Background: Analysis of data collected in our team and analysis of literature data. Synthesis of catalysts. Performing catalytic reactions with zinc- and magnesium-based catalysts and discovery new catalytic reactions based on AI data analysis. Preparation of reports and manuscripts.

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Terms of employment: stipend (including employer’s costs) 5,000 PLN per month (~4,200 PLN gross), scholarship paid from grant for 30 months

Benefits: private medical care package, access to the dormitory for PhD students

Career development opportunities:

• work in dynamic team,
• access to research infrastructure,
• professional development in the field of asymmetric synthesis,
• the possibility of cooperation with foreign research centers,
• the possibility of further professional development at the IOC PAS

Project manager: prof. Jacek Młynarski

e-mail: jacek.mlynarski@icho.edu.pl

“Stereoselective dearomatization of nonactivated arenes via an „alkene walk” pathway: Rapid access to high-added value poly- and spirocyclic systems from readily available aromatic compounds”

The aim of this research proposal is to establish a new methodology for the stereoselective dearomatization of nonactivated arenes via the virtually unexplored retro-ene reaction of in situ generated benzylic diazenes (a so called “alkene walk” process), and subsequent transformation of the so formed active polyene species into chiral poly- and spirocyclic molecules. As a result, a new and versatile tool for the synthesis of high-value organic molecules from cheap and readily available benzylic alcohols, halides, aldehydes (in combination with organometallics) and monosilyl diazenes will be added to the organic chemist’s toolbox. Moreover, the possibility of synthesis of advanced polyaromatic systems via an additional re-aromatization process will be tested.

Stereoselective dearomatizations, especially in non-activated arenes, allowing conversion of readily available planar aromatic compounds into three-dimensionally complex molecules with precise control of reaction site, regio- and stereoselectivity has long been an exciting challenge in organic synthesis. Due to their high resonance stabilization energy, dearomatizations of nonactivated arenes usually require the use of stoichiometric amounts of expensive and toxic transition metal activators or elevated temperatures and harsh reaction conditions. This makes achieving high stereoselectivity in these processes very difficult. In our approach aromatic substrates are initially transformed into highly active polyenes which can then further derivatized using the broad spectrum of well-established stereoselective reactions of alkenes and dienes conducted under mild reaction conditions, resulting in highly stereoselective dearomatizations. Further advantages of the method include high availability of substrates (in the case of chiral derivatives in both enantiomeric forms in high optical purity) and high chemo- and stereodiversity of the obtained products.

The candidate will be responsible for synthesizing of the starting materials and polyene intermediates, followed by an studies on their selective of transformations into variety of poly- and spirocyclic systems using selected literature protocols. The candidate will also be responsible for recording and interpreting spectral data, designing experiments, and preparing reports and materials for publications. Complementary theoretical studies on reaction mechanisms may be performed by the candidate or as part of a collaboration, depending on the scholar’s interests.

The PhD candidate will also participate in the Institute scientific life by attending to group and institute seminars and lectures. The PhD candidate will also attend to advanced course devoted to modern organic chemistry and spectroscopy.

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Terms of employment: scholarship for 48 months – stipend (including employer’s costs) 5,000 PLN per month (~4200 PLN gross) paid from NSC grant

Benefits: private medical care package, co-financing of sports cards, possibility of accommodation at the Doctoral Hotel

Career development opportunities:

• work in young and dynamic research group;
• access to modern research infrastructure of IOC PAS, including NMR, MS;
• access to modern laboratory equipment, including a glovebox chamber, a microwave synthesizer, mills for mechanochemistry, high-pressure apparatus, flash chromatographs, HPLC chromatographes, GC & GCMS chromatographes, polarimeter.
• professional development in the field stereoselective organic synthesis
• opportunity to participate in national and international scientific conferences and workshops;
• opportunity for further professional development in IOC PAS.

Project manager: dr hab. Bartosz Zambroń

Phone: +48 22 343 2141

e-mail: bartosz.zambron@icho.edu.pl