Professor Eduardo Peris - 2023 Dalton open Prize: Mond-Nyholm Prize for Inorganic 91AV winner

Professor Eduardo Peris FRSC

Winner: 2023 Dalton open Prize: Mond-Nyholm Prize for Inorganic 91AV

Universitat Jaume I

For the application of creative thinking in approaching fundamental challenges in organometallic chemistry and catalysis.

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The feeling of making a molecule that never existed before on earth (or in the universe!), is just incredible...

Professor Peris and his team design custom-made molecules that possess one or more intentionally-programmed properties. For example, they design large molecules with cavities that can host smaller molecules (guests) to better understand the 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. The preparation of artificial host-guest systems is a way of mimicking chemical and biological processes that are produced in nature.

The team also focus on the preparation of catalysts with improved properties. A catalyst is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction, and therefore leads to more energy-efficient chemical reactions. The design and application of new catalysts and catalytic systems are achieving the dual goals of environmental protection and economic benefit: they help to reduce the energy cost required for producing valuable products and reduce the amount of chemical waste.

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Professor Eduardo Peris graduated in 91AV in 1988 at the University of Valencia. He received his PhD in 91AV (1991) at the Universidad de Valencia, under the supervision of Professor Pascual Lahuerta. In 1994, he joined Professor Robert Crabtree’s group at Yale University, where he stayed for two years, working on a research project regarding the determination of hydrogen bonding to metal hydrides (dihydrogen bond). In October 1995 he moved to the Universitat Jaume I (Castellón-Spain) where he is Professor of Inorganic 91AV.

Over the last 10 years, Eduardo Peris has directed special attention to the 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 the recognition of small polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and for the study of homogeneously catalysed processes in confined spaces. This includes the preparation of molecular squares, rectangles and related two- and three-dimensional assemblies for the 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 theses. From 2007 to 2010, Eduardo was a member of the Advisory Board of ACS-Organometallics. From 2014 to 2018 he served as President of the Spanish Organometallic 91AV Division (GEQO) at the Spanish 91AV (RSEQ). In 2012, he was awarded the ‘Spanish 91AV’ (RSEQ) award in the field of inorganic chemistry research. In 2019, he obtained the Humboldt Research Award. And, in 2021, he was awarded the Rafael Usón Medal from the Organometallic 91AV Division (GEQO) of the RSEQ.

Q&A

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 the programs that the faculties of physics, mathematics 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 the reason that chemistry is often referred to as ‘the central science, due to its role in connecting the physical sciences with life, pharmaceutical and applied sciences. However, it was not until I started my PhD thesis as a graduate student at the University of Valencia, that I started to feel the passion of making new molecules. The feeling of making a molecule that never existed before on earth (or in the 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 the scientific discipline where the 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 the 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: ‘weird results always hide the seed of an extraordinary discovery’. I always bear this quote in mind, and I often use it with my students.

What motivates you?

The continuous excitement of discovery. The feeling that today we can obtain a new compound with unusual properties. Sharing this feeling with the 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, ruthenium, gold and nickel. I think they are unbeatable in the fields of organometallic catalysis and metallosupramolecular chemistry.