Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/S73853/01
Title:	A combined interdisciplinary & fundamental study of enantioselectivity in heterogeneous catalysis
Principal Investigator:	Attard, Professor GA
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Chemistry
Organisation:	Cardiff University
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 October 2004	Ends:	30 June 2008	Value (£):	368,097
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Asymmetric Chemistry Catalysis & Applied Catalysis Chemical Structure
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Chemicals Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
Related Grants:
Panel History:	Panel Date Panel Name Outcome 24 Sep 2003 Chemistry Prioritisation Panel (Science) Deferred
Summary on Grant Application Form
A new model for the enantioselective hydrogenation of alpha-ketoesters is presented based on the selective blocking of chiral kink sites by a surface poison generated in situ by polymerisation reactions occurring at the catalyst surface which are in competition with dean-off reactions associated with adsorbed chiral modifiers and achiral modifiers such as quinuclidine. The present proposal will examine the veracity of this model together with presently accepted reaction mechanisms. It will do this by utilising a combined surface sciencelelectrochemical/spectroscopic and heterogeneous catalytic approach. The surface coverage and molecular structure of adsorbed catalytic intermediates under reaction conditions of 1 bar pressure will be measured using a dedicated wall jet/Raman spectrometer. A unique feature of the work will be the synthesis of surface modified supported catalysts in which surface composition and structure are well-defined. Hence correlations between activity / selectivity at 30 bar may be related readily to atomic and molecular aspects of the catalyst surface. Since selective blocking of step, kink and terrace sites is possible, a definitive answer to the question of chiral kinks and/or docking mechanisms as agents of enantioselectivity should be achievable. Preliminary data in support of the former is presented .
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