Synthetic Methodology and New Building blocks


The Synthetic Methodology group, created at IQAC-CSIC in 2018, aims to developing state-of-the-art synthetic tools to reinforce and complement IQAC's ability to rapidly address societal challenges. The group is led by Dr. Aexandr Shafir, who after completing his doctorate and post-doctorate stages in the USA (Berkeley, MIT), developed his research career in Spain, first at the UAB (Barcelona), and then as Group Leader at ICIQ (Tarragona), prior to joining CSIC. The group aims to develop new classes of reactions and reagents to enable the formation of C-C and C-heteroatom bonds. Currently, one of our main goals consists of the selective C-H functionalization of haloarenes to access new bifunctional aromatic halarenes building blocks. These approches including new types of metal-free group transfer, as well as metal-catalyzed directed coupling reactions. We are aided in our research by tools ranging from physical (multinuclear NMR, X-Ray) to computational (DFT) techniques.

Main specialization

Área de investigación:
Disciplina ERC:
  • PE - DOMAIN PHYSICAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
  • PE5 Synthetic Chemistry and Materials
Industrial Leadership:
  • 5. Advanced Manufacturing and Processing
  • 5.3. Sustainable and low-carbon technologies in energy-intensive process industries
Societal Challenges:
  • 2. Food security, sustainable agriculture, marine and maritime research and the bioeconomy.
  • 2.2. Sustainable and competitive agri-food sector for a safe and healthy diet