Recipient organisationUniversity of YorkSource-published name: University of York
Funding£542K
PeriodSept 2025 — Sept 2028
In plain English
AI plain-English summary
Making fleeting chemical intermediates visible in real time could transform how industry manufactures plastics, fuels, and pharmaceuticals. The problem is that alkenes and alkynes—molecules used to make everything from plastic bottles to cancer drugs—are so reactive that they generate unwanted side products during manufacturing, wasting material and energy. Traditional NMR scanners cannot detect the short-lived intermediate molecules that determine whether a reaction goes efficiently or goes astray. This project uses hyperpolarisation techniques (H-PHIP and SABRE) to boost NMR sensitivity, creating alkenes and alkynes in highly magnetic states that reveal those intermediates as they form. If successful, the method could allow chemists to pinpoint exactly why a catalytic reaction wastes material, then adjust conditions to reduce that waste. With over 600 million tons of alkenes and alkynes processed annually, even a 0.1% improvement in yield per process could cut tens of thousands of tons of waste. The work is fundamental science—it does not promise a new drug or plastic tomorrow. But understanding reaction mechanisms at this level has historically led to cleaner industrial processes, and the SABRE technique itself may eventually enable low-cost, portable NMR sensors for environmental monitoring or medical diagnostics.
View original technical description
This fundamental research seeks to address a key challenge in catalytic reactions involving alkenes and alkynes, which are fundamental to the production of essential industrial products like plastics, fuels, and pharmaceuticals. Although alkenes and alkynes serve as versatile building blocks, their high reactivity often leads to unwanted side reactions, reducing efficiency and generating waste. Addressing this problem is crucial for improving both the sustainability and economic viability of these industrial processes. Traditional NMR methods struggle to detect the transient intermediates in catalytic reactions, which are crucial for understanding and optimizing these reactions. The study's core innovation lies in leveraging hyperpolarisation techniques—specifically, Hydrogenative Parahydrogen Induced Polarisation (H-PHIP) and Signal Amplification By Reversible Exchange (SABRE)—in conjunction with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Hyperpolarisation via parahydrogen offers a transformative approach by creating alkenes and alkynes in highly sensitive magnetic states, to enable the detection of fleeting intermediates in real-time. This insight will clarify reaction mechanisms and pinpoint factors that drive catalytic efficiency. If successful, the ability to detect and understand intermediates in catalytic cycles could lead in the future to optimized reaction conditions and significantly reduce waste. Given that over 600 million tons of alkenes and alkynes are processed annually, even marginal improvements in yield (e.g., 0.1%) could translate into tens of thousands of tons of waste reduction per process. The insights from this project have the potential to drive future substantial gains in industrial efficiency, ultimately paving the way for more sustainable catalytic processes and less environmental impact. The 36-month work plan is organised into four work packages (WPs), each addressing a distinct aspect of the project: WP1: Preparing Hyperpolarised Alkenes and Alkynes – The project will start with synthesising and preparing hyperpolarised reagents. WP2: Optimising Spin-Order Transfer and NMR Detection – This phase will focus on refining the technique to maximise sensitivity and accuracy of NMR-based intermediate detection. WP3: Tracking Catalytic Cycles – The third phase will apply the hyperpolarised probes to monitor a catalytic cycle, thereby assessing the methods utility for understanding and improving catalytic reactions. WP4: Expanding Applications in Chemical Transformations – Finally, the research will study various chemical transformations using hyperpolarised reagents to detect and analyse intermediates, driving insight into reaction efficiency and illustrate a potential route to future waste reduction. In addition to the potential to enhance reaction efficiency, this fundamental research aims to create significant impact within the UK’s Catalysis Hub, driving future innovation across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and broader chemical manufacturing sectors. The project will yield key publications that will enrich scientific understanding of reaction monitoring methods and set new standards. Through a comprehensive dissemination strategy, including presentations, collaborative visits, and a workshop, the project will engage a diverse audience within catalysis and synthetic chemistry, encompassing both academic researchers and industry professionals. This engagement will be essential for ensuring the translation and widespread adoption of the developed technology, and maximizing its future economic and industrial impact. Beyond catalysis, the applications of SABRE-enhanced NMR extend to trace chemical analysis, diagnostic data collection, photochemistry and quantum computing. There is also an opportunity to explore SABRE-enhanced low-field NMR for accessible, lower-cost applications, such as field-deployable sensors for environmental and geological studies. By expanding the potential uses of SABRE-NMR, this research could catalyse advancements across multiple fields, underscoring its versatility and long-term value in science and industry.
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