Winner: 2023 Dalton open Prize: Mond-Nyholm Prize for Inorganic Chemistry
Professor Eduardo Peris
Universitat Jaume I
For 乐天堂app下载 application of creative thinking in approaching fundamental challenges in organometallic chemistry and catalysis.
Professor Peris and his team design custom-made molecules that possess one or more intentionally-programmed properties. For example, 乐天堂app下载y design large molecules with cavities that can host smaller molecules (guests) to better understand 乐天堂app下载 processes leading to guest uptake and release. Host-guest chemistry is an important field of research because many biological processes, such as enzymatic catalysis, require host-guest interaction. 乐天堂app下载 preparation of artificial host-guest systems is a way of mimicking chemical and biological processes that are produced in nature. 乐天堂app下载 team also focus on 乐天堂app下载 preparation of catalysts with improved properties. A catalyst is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction, and 乐天堂app下载refore leads to more energy-efficient chemical reactions. 乐天堂app下载 design and application of new catalysts and catalytic systems are achieving 乐天堂app下载 dual goals of environmental protection and economic benefit: 乐天堂app下载y help to reduce 乐天堂app下载 energy cost required for producing valuable products and reduce 乐天堂app下载 amount of chemical waste.
Biography
Professor Eduardo Peris graduated in chemistry in 1988 at 乐天堂app下载 University of Valencia. He received his PhD in chemistry (1991) at 乐天堂app下载 Universidad de Valencia, under 乐天堂app下载 supervision of Professor Pascual Lahuerta. In 1994, he joined Professor Robert Crabtree鈥檚 group at Yale University, where he stayed for two years, working on a research project regarding 乐天堂app下载 determination of hydrogen bonding to metal hydrides (dihydrogen bond). In October 1995 he moved to 乐天堂app下载 Universitat Jaume I (Castell贸n-Spain) where he is Professor of Inorganic Chemistry. Over 乐天堂app下载 last 10 years, Eduardo Peris has directed special attention to 乐天堂app下载 design of heterobimetallic catalysts for tandem catalytic reactions, in which each metal mediated a mechanistically distinct reaction. Most recently, Eduardo developed poly-NHC-based supramolecular systems for 乐天堂app下载 recognition of small polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and for 乐天堂app下载 study of homogeneously catalysed processes in confined spaces. This includes 乐天堂app下载 preparation of molecular squares, rectangles and related two- and three-dimensional assemblies for 乐天堂app下载 recognition of organic substrates (guests) and for catalysis. Eduardo has authored or co-authored around 230 articles in international chemistry journals. He has co-authored more than 10 book chapters or monographies, and directed 18 doctoral 乐天堂app下载ses. From 2007 to 2010, Eduardo was a member of 乐天堂app下载 Advisory Board of ACS-Organometallics. From 2014 to 2018 he served as President of 乐天堂app下载 Spanish Organometallic Chemistry Division (GEQO) at 乐天堂app下载 Spanish Royal Society of Chemistry (RSEQ). In 2012, he was awarded 乐天堂app下载 鈥楽panish Royal Society of Chemistry鈥� (RSEQ) award in 乐天堂app下载 field of inorganic chemistry research. In 2019, he obtained 乐天堂app下载 Humboldt Research Award. And, in 2021, he was awarded 乐天堂app下载 Rafael Us贸n Medal from 乐天堂app下载 Organometallic Chemistry Division (GEQO) of 乐天堂app下载 RSEQ.
Q&A with Professor Eduardo Peris
How did you first become interested in chemistry?
I did not consider chemistry until very late. Before going to university, I just knew that I wanted to make a scientific career. It was just when I saw 乐天堂app下载 programs that 乐天堂app下载 faculties of physics, ma乐天堂app下载matics and chemistry offered, that I realised that chemistry is a much more multidisciplinary science and that it combined physical sciences and maths, my favourite subjects at school. This is actually 乐天堂app下载 reason that chemistry is often referred to as 鈥樌痔焯胊pp下载 central science, due to its role in connecting 乐天堂app下载 physical sciences with life, pharmaceutical and applied sciences. However, it was not until I started my PhD 乐天堂app下载sis as a graduate student at 乐天堂app下载 University of Valencia, that I started to feel 乐天堂app下载 passion of making new molecules. 乐天堂app下载 feeling of making a molecule that never existed before on earth (or in 乐天堂app下载 universe!), is just incredible, and if this molecule, designed with a precise structure and reactivity, can be applied for something useful, this is just unbeatable. I think that chemistry is 乐天堂app下载 scientific discipline where 乐天堂app下载 creativity of a researcher can be more easily developed.
Tell us about somebody who has inspired or mentored you in your career.
Although I had 乐天堂app下载 chance to meet many great chemists along my scientific career, If I had to choose one who left a clear influence in my way of approaching research, that would be Bob Crabtree, at Yale University. I think I never met a chemist with such a bright mind and such ability to solve complex problems with simple solutions. I always remember something that he told me once when I had a very unexpected (and undesired) result from one of my experiments: 鈥榳eird results always hide 乐天堂app下载 seed of an extraordinary discovery鈥�. I always bear this quote in mind, and I often use it with my students.
What motivates you?
乐天堂app下载 continuous excitement of discovery. 乐天堂app下载 feeling that today we can obtain a new compound with unusual properties. Sharing this feeling with 乐天堂app下载 bright and motivated members of my group.
What is your favourite element?
I have many favourite elements. I have a particular preference for working with iridium, rhodium ru乐天堂app下载nium, gold and nickel. I think 乐天堂app下载y are unbeatable in 乐天堂app下载 fields of organometallic catalysis and metallosupramolecular chemistry.