Dr. Josep "Pep" Cornella

Dr. Josep "Pep" Cornella
Department of Organometallic Chemistry
Max Planck Institute for Coal Research
Printable Abstract

Innovation in Reagents and Catalysts: from fundamentals to immediate application – Part 2

We will present the efforts made by our research group in unlocking the ability of bismuth (Bi) to maneuver between different oxidation states in catalytic redox processes.^1-7 On of the main aspects discussed will be how this underrepresented element challenged the current dogmas of catalysis by emulating canonical organometallic steps of transition metals. A series of Bi complexes capable of revolving between oxidation states Bi(I)/Bi(III) and Bi(III)/Bi(V) have been unlocked and applied in various contexts of catalysis for organic synthesis. In addition, we will show how one-electron pathways are also accessible, thus providing a platform for SET processes capitalizing on the triad Bi(I)/Bi(II)/Bi(III). For all methodologies, a combination of rational ligand design with an in depth mechanistic analysis of all elementary steps proved crucial to unlock the catalytic properties of such an intriguing element of the periodic table.

Josep "Pep" Cornella

Josep Cornella (Pep) was born in La Bisbal del Penedès, a small town in south Catalunya. He graduated in chemistry in 2008 from the University of Barcelona and carried MSc studies in the Department of Organic Chemistry studying the chemistry of allylboron reagents.

After completing his masters thesis, he moved to the United Kingdom to pursue doctoral studies in the group of Prof. Igor Larrosa (QMUL). In early 2012, he earned his PhD working on the use of aromatic carboxylic acids as aryl donors in metal-catalyzed decarboxylative reactions. He then moved back to Catalunya, where he joined the group of Prof. Ruben Martin (ICIQ) as a Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow. There, he developed novel transformations involving Ni-catalyzed C–O bond activation and carbon dioxide insertion into organic molecules.

In 2015, Pep obtained a Beatriu de Pinós Fellowship to carry out further postdoctoral studies in the group of Prof. Phil S. Baran at The Scripps Research Institute, California, USA. During this time at Scripps, he worked on the discovery and implementation of new transformations based on the concept of “redox-active esters” as practical and readily available partners for Ni- and Fe-catalyzed C–C bond forming reactions.

In spring 2017, he was appointed as a Max Planck Group Leader in the Department of Organometallic Chemistry at the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany.  

In summer of the same year, he obtained a Max Planck Research Group Leader (MPRGL) position in the same Institute, to create and lead the Sustainable Catalysis Laboratory. 

References

1. For perspectives on polar and radical Bismuth Redox Catalysis: a) ACS. Catal. 2022, 12, 1382; b) Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2023, e202315046.
2. High-valent Bi(III)/Bi(V) redox catalysis: a) Science, 2020, 367, 313; b) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 11382; c) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 14489; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025,
3. Low-valent Bi(I)/Bi(III) redox catalysis: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, 141, 4235; b) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 19473; c) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 12487; d) Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2023, 62, e202313578; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, 64, e202417864. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 25409.
4. Redox neutral bismuth catalysis: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 21497; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 65, e202424698.
5. Bismuth Radical Redox Catalysis: a) Nat. Chem. 2023, 15, 1138; b) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 16535.
6. For articles merging light and Bi: a) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145, 18742; b) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145, 25538; c) Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, 64, e202418367; d) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 22140.
7. For intriguing organometallic bismuth complexes: a) Science, 2023, 380, 1043; b) Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2023, 62, e202302071; c) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145, 5618; d) Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, 64, e202415169; e) Nat. Chem. 2025, 17, 265.

Hosted by Professor Ian Tonks

Learn more about the Gassman Lectureship in Chemistry