Our research focuses on Organometallic Chemistry and Catalysis, including the synthesis, characterization, reactivity, and applications of organometallic compounds. We aim to develop more efficient and sustainable processes of interest in organic synthesis, as well as useful products for technical applications such as chemical hydrogen generation and storage.
In particular, we design transition metal complexes with polydentate ligands for use in C–H bond activation, C–C coupling, and (de)hydrogenation reactions, among other uncommon chemical transformations. We also work on the preparation of metal nanoparticles stabilized by different organic ligands and their use in various catalytic reactions of interest. Another prominent research line involves the development of heterogeneous catalysts to transform high molecular weight alkanes, such as those found in plastic waste, into lighter molecules via cross-metathesis, contributing to advanced and sustainable recycling.
Our group is part of the ORFEO-CINQA network (“Center for Innovation in Advanced Chemistry”, a Virtual Research Center that brings together 12 groups from universities and CSIC centers across Spain. Its goal is to collaboratively address challenges at the intersection of different areas of chemistry. The acronym ORFEO is linked to the CONSOLIDER-INGENIO 2010 research program project: Development of organometallic entities for the selective functionalization of organic molecules.
Main research areas
1. Transition metal complexes with pincer-type ligands in (de)hydrogenation reactions. Reactivity studies, reaction mechanisms, and catalytic applications.
2. Preparation and characterization of metal nanoparticles stabilized by various ligands. Catalytic applications.
3. Heterogeneous catalysts for the transformation of plastic waste into lighter molecules via cross-metathesis. Advanced and sustainable recycling.
- Oxidation of Alcohols to Carboxylates with N2O Catalyzed by Ruthenium(II)-CNC Complexes. J. Bermejo, L. L. Santos, E. Álvarez. J. López‐Serrano, A. Suárez. ACS Catalysis 2025, 15, 11530-11543. https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.5c02021.
- Selective H/D exchange in E-H (E = Si, Ge, Sn) bonds catalyzed by 1,2,3-triazolylidene-stabilized nickel nanoparticles. P. Molinillo, A. Gálvez del Portigo, M. Puyo, F. Vattier, A. M. Beltrán, N. Rendón, P. Lara, A. Suárez. Inorganic Chemistry 2025, 64, 8125−8134. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.5c00216.
- Nitrous oxide activation by picoline-derived Ni-CNP hydrides. J. Bermejo, I. Ortega-Lepe, L. L. Santos, N. Rendón, J. López-Serrano, E. Álvarez, A. Suárez. Chemical Communications 2024, 60,1575. https://doi.org/10.1039/d3nr02637j.
- New insights for valorization of polyolefins/light alkanes: catalytic dehydrogenation of n-alkanes by immobilized pincer–iridium complexes. I. Centeno-Vega, C. Megías-Sayago, S. Ivanova. Dalton Transactions 2024, 53, 11216–11227. https://doi.org/10.1039/d4dt00847b.
- Ruthenium nanoparticles stabilized by 1,2,3-triazolylidene ligands in the hydrogen isotope exchange of E-H bonds (E = B, Si, Ge, Sn) using deuterium gas. P. Molinilllo, M. Puyo, F. Vattier, B. Lacroix, N. Rendón, P. Lara, A. Suárez. Nanoscale 2023, 15, 14488. https://doi.org/10.1039/d3nr02637j.
- Alkane metathesis over immobilized pincer-ligated iridium complexes: Effect of support nature. C. Megías-Sayago, I. Centeno-Vega, L. F. Bobadilla, S. Ivanova, N. Rendón, A. Suarez. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental 2023, 338, 123002. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2023.123002.
- Catalytic Nitrous Oxide Reduction with H2 Mediated by Pincer Ir Complexes. I. Ortega-Lepe, P. Sánchez, L. L. Santos, P. Lara, N. Rendón, J. López-Serrano, V. Salazar Pereda, E. Álvarez, M. Paneque, A. Suarez. Inorganic Chemistry 2022, 60, 18590-18600. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c02963.
- Reduction of N2O with Hydrosilanes Catalysed by RuSNS Nanoparticles. P. Molinillo, B. Lacroix, F. Vattier, N. Rendón, A. Suárez, P. Lara. Chemical Communications. 2022, 58, 7176-7179. https://doi.org/10.1039/d2cc01470j.
- Ammonia-Borane Dehydrogenation Catalyzed by Dual-Mode Proton-Responsive Ir-CNNH Complexes. I. Ortega-Lepe, A. Rossin, P. Sánchez, L. L. Santos, N. Rendón, E. Álvarez, J. López-Serrano, A. Suárez. Inorganic Chemistry 2021, 60, 18490-18502. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.1c03056.
- Selective, base-free hydrogenation of aldehydes catalyzed by Ir complexes based on proton-responsive lutidine-derived CNP ligands. P. Sánchez, M. Hernández-Juárez, N. Rendón, J. López-Serrano, E. Álvarez, M. Paneque, A. Suárez. Organometallics 2021, 40, 1314-1317. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.organomet.1c00109.
- Hydrogenation/dehydrogenation of N-heterocycles catalyzed by ruthenium complexes based on multimodal proton-responsive CNN(H) pincer ligands. P. Sánchez, M. Hernández-Juárez, N. Rendón, J. López-Serrano, L. L. Santos, E. Álvarez, M. Paneque, A. Suárez. Dalton Transactions 2020, 49, 9583-9587. https://doi.org/10.1039/d0dt02326d.
Development of catalytic systems for the formation of bonds between p-block elements
Project PID2022-136570OB-I00 funded by:
Funding Entity: Ministry of Science and Innovation.
Dates: 01/09/2023 – 31/08/2026.
Principal Investigators: Andrés Suárez Escobar (CSIC) and Patricia Lara Muñoz (US).
Catalytic solutions for hydrogen storage based on earth-abundant metals
Project TED2021-129181B-I00 funded by:
Funding Entity: Ministry of Science and Innovation.
Dates: 01/12/2022 – 30/09/2025.
Principal Investigators: Andrés L. Suárez Escobar (CSIC) / Nuria Rendón Márquez (US).
Sustainable catalysts based on earth-abundant metals for the selective hydrogenation of organic substrates
Project US-1380604 funded by:
Funding Entity: Regional Government of Andalusia.
Dates: 01/01/2022 – 31/12/2022. Principal Investigators: Nuria Rendón Márquez (US) / Andrés L. Suárez Escobar (CSIC).
Studies on nitrous oxide activation by organometallic complexes and development of catalysts for its removal and valorization
Project COOPB20604 funded by:
Funding Entity: CSIC.
Dates: 01/01/2021 – 31/12/2023.
Principal Investigator: Andrés L. Suárez Escobar (CSIC)
Upcycling plastic wastes: Biopolymers for a circular economy
Project BIOP – 101022598 funded by:
Program: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action Individual Fellowship.
Funding Entity: European Commission.
Dates: 01/09/2021 – 31/08/2023.
Researcher: Cristina Megías Sayago (US)
Organometallic systems for selective stoichiometric and catalytic transformations of unsaturated organic derivatives
Project PID2019-104159GB-I00 funded by:
Funding Entity: Ministry of Science and Innovation.
Dates: 01/06/2020 – 31/05/2023.
Principal Investigators: Nuria Rendón Márquez (US) / Andrés L. Suárez Escobar (CSIC).
Selective transformation of organic and organometallic molecules using metal species based on polydentate ligands
Project P18-FR-3208 funded by:
Funding Entity: Regional Government of Andalusia.
Dates: 01/01/2020 – 31/12/2022.
Principal Investigators: Margarita Paneque Sosa (CSIC) / Andrés L. Suárez Escobar (CSIC)
Towards a more sustainable chemistry: Design of catalysts for hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reactions, and study of new modes of C–H bond activation
Project CTQ2016-80814-R funded by:
Funding Entity: Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness.
Dates: 30/12/2016 – 29/12/2019.
Principal Investigators: Margarita Paneque Sosa (CSIC) / Andrés L. Suárez Escobar (CSIC)
Noble metal nanoparticles coated with terphenylphosphine ligands for H₂ generation from ammonia-borane and alcohols.
Inventors: A. Suárez Escobar, P. Lara Muñoz, K. Philippot (CSIC, University of Seville, and CNRS)
Application Number: EP16382444
Date: 23/09/2016