Actual members

Agustín MORALES – PhD student CCIMC (Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions)

After studying a BSc in Chemistry at the University of Seville for three years, I enrolled a two-year French-Spanish program. After that time, I have been awarded with two master degrees on Chemical Engineering and, Molecular and Supramolecular Chemistry by the European School of Chemistry, Polymers and Materials Science (ECPM), as well as a MSc in Advanced Studies in Chemistry by the University of Seville. Within this program, I have also had the opportunity ofdoing a research internship at BASF for 4 months in Ludwigshafen am Rhein (Germany).

I then came back to Seville to do my master thesis at the Institute of Chemical Research (IIQ) under the supervision of Dr Campos. I delved into the beauty of organometallic chemistry through amazing Transition Metals Only Frustrated Lewis Pairs (TMOFLP) and unconventional metallic centres for the activation of small molecules.

In 2020, I began my doctoral studies under the supervision of Dr Bontemps and Dr Baslé from the Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination and, Prof. Dr. Agustí Lledós from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Spain) with an ITN-Marie Curie Fellowship. These studies comprise the synthesis, reactivity and computational studies of N-heterocyclic carbene-based systems, towards CO2 and C-H bonds via photochemical reactions. The aim of this project is to produce catalytically high value-added carboxylic acids from inexpensive hydrocarbons.

Aurèle Camy, PhD student - Paul Sabatier University of Toulouse

After a Bachelor degree of Organic Chemistry and a Master degree in Green Chemistry at Toulouse University, followed by a six-months research internship in the Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination with Dr Olivier Baslé (Toulouse), in which I studied C-H bond activation by photocatalysis, I began my PhD studies under the supervision of Dr Sébastien Bontemps working on the design and the coordination of boron-based frameworks for the activation of small molecules.

Current research topics: Lewis Adducts, Boranes, Phosphines, Coordination on TM

aurele.camy@lcc-toulouse.fr

Former group members

Ramaraj Ayyappan grown up in Tamilnadu, INDIA. After completing B Sc Chemistry in Gandhigram Rural University, I went to Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore to pursue higher education in chemistry. I have completed Ph D in the area of small molecule activation under the guidance of Prof Balaji R Jagirdar. During my Ph D, I have studied activation of strong bonds in small molecules such as H₂, CH₄, R₃Si-H etc with low valent group VIII transition metal (Ru, Rh, Ir) complexes supported by pincer ligand (R-N(CH₂CH₂PPh₂)₂). Additionally, few metal hydride complexes were accessed synthetically and found to be catalysts for the reduction of CO₂, carbonyl and imine functionalities. Currently, I am working with Dr Sebastien as a Post-Doc in ‘Boron controlled CO₂ activation’ project.

ramaraj.ayyappan@lcc-toulouse.fr

Carlos Jarava was born in Valencia, Spain. He finished his Bachelor studies in Chemistry in 2011, in the Faculty of Chemistry of Ciudad Real. He then moved to Madrid, to perform a Master Degree in Applied Chemistry in Universidad Autonoma de Madrid. During his Master studies he worked under the supervision of Prof. José Alemán in organocatalysis. In 2014 he joined Prof. Mariola Tortosa research group as a Ph D student, working in the design and applications of unconventional borylation reactions. In 2018 he finished his Ph D in Organic Chemistry. Last January he moved to the LCC to work as a postdoctoral research associate. Carlos has a consolidated experience in asymmetric organo and organometallic catalysis, focused in copper-catalyzed borylations and organocatalyzed cyclizations. Currently he is working in CO₂ activation and carbohydrate synthesis.

carlos.jarava@lcc-toulouse.fr

Sarah Desmons, PhD Université Fédérale de Toulouse / Région Occitanie.

After a Bachelor degree of Sciences and a Master degree of Chemistry in Paris Descartes University and several research internships in Institut Pasteur with Dr Yves Janin (Paris), Columbia University with Pr Gerard Parkin (New York) and in Paris Descartes University, UMR 8601 with Dr Patricia Busca, I have moved to Toulouse as a PhD student under the supervision of Dr Sébastien Bontemps and Dr Régis Fauré (INSA, Toulouse) to work on the design of chemo-enzymatic catalyses for CO2 transformation.

sarah.desmons@lcc-toulouse.fr

Dan Zhang, PhD, CSC

I graduated from University of Science and Technology of China (USTC).
I got my bachelor degree in Physical Chemistry and my master degree in Polymer Chemistry.
In this group, I am studying Organometallic Chemistry applied to CO2 transformation.

dan.zhang@lcc-toulouse.fr

Angelica Mejia Fajardo, PhD, COLFUTURO

I am a Marine Biologist, M.Sc in Ocenography, interested in biogeochemical cycles and climat change especially in CO2. Inspired by nature transformation of CO2 into Carbohydrates, I started my PhD in LCC under the supervision of Sébastien Bontemps.

angelica.mejia@lcc-toulouse.fr

Current research topics: CO2, Lewis acid-base, Frustated Lewis pair, Kinetics.