David Milstein

Current research interests of the Milstein group are directed at the design and applications of sustainable metal-catalyzed reactions, for green synthesis and energy applications. These studies include new approaches for the activation of strong chemical bonds; reactivity and catalytic activity of pincer-type complexes; metal-ligand cooperation in bond activation and catalysis; CO2 activation by metal complexes; acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling (ADC) reactions liberating hydrogen gas; low pressure hydrogenation of normally inert unsaturated bonds; hydrogen generation from sustainable resources; advanced biofuels; liquid-organic hydrogen carriers; and light-induced water splitting. In recent years, several fundamentally new environmentally benign homogeneously catalyzed reactions were developed, leading to green synthetic methodology, and to new directions towards sustainable energy. For example, a new amide bond-forming catalytic reaction was developed, involving dehydrogenative coupling of alcohols and amines with evolution of hydrogen gas; this green reaction has led to waste-free synthesis of amides, peptides and polyamides, as well as to new approaches to high capacity liquid organic hydrogen carrier systems (LOHCs).