Interview with Arjan W. Kleij

Arjan W. Kleij

Arjan W. Kleij (1971) received his MSc and PhD in organometallic chemistry from the University of Utrecht under the supervision of Gerard van Koten. He then moved to industry, working first at Avantium (pharma division) and later at Hexion Specialty Chemicals (epoxy resin division). He was a postdoc with Javier de Mendoza (UAM, Madrid, Spain) and Joost Reek (University of Amsterdam), working in the areas of supramolecular chemistry and catalysis. He received a TALENT fellowship from NWO in 2000, and he was named ICREA Junior Fellow in 2006. In October of the same year, he was offered a position as Group Leader at ICIQ and was promoted to ICREA Professor in 2011. He featured recently in the “Author Profile” section of Angewandte Chemie (DOI: 10.1002/anie.201711677). Arjan has authored around 180 international journal publications and 4 patent applications, with the total citations >10 000. His current h-index is around 56. He has been a guest editor for various journals including Catalysis Science & Technology and Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis, and recently joined Organic Chemistry Frontiers as an Associate Editor. He is the chair of the Carbon Dioxide Conversion Catalysis (CDCC) conference series, and in 2019 he also chaired the 4^th EuCheMS Congress on Green and Sustainable Chemistry in Tarragona. His main research interests are in the area of small molecule valorization catalysis, development of new reactivity using organic carbonates as modular scaffolds, and the use of renewable compounds and monomers in stereo-selective transformations The Kleij group has worked for many years on non-reductive transformations of carbon dioxide using metal- and organo-catalysis approaches. In this regard, a key focus has been on the use of sustainable metals such as Al and Fe in the formation of functional heterocycles from CO2 and small cyclic ethers, with demonstrated potential in the areas of fine chemical, pharmaceutical and polymer science. The discovery of Al(III) centered aminotriphenolate catalysts as one of the most versatile systems known to date for non-reductive CO2 conversion has been paramount to various recent developments in the group including halide-free CO2 coupling reactions, biopolymer synthesis, and diastereo- and enantio-selective synthesis of important scaffolds with a high synthetic value.

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What inspired you to choose science and eventually become a chemist in the first place?

I think it was because of a strong fascination for science fuelled by curiosity, and having experimentation available to discover the “unknown”. In a broader sense and more projected onto chemistry, I always highly appreciated the art of creating new molecules and functions. In this way, I can really see a parallel between contemporary artists and chemists, and the precise control we can exercise as synthetic chemists to design functional molecules.

What do you consider to be the main potential areas for future development in the field of small molecule synthesis and conversion?

Well, chemistry in the area of small molecule activation has progressed phenomenally and catalysis is certainly one of the key technologies to valorize such molecules that are sometimes even considered to be waste. I foresee great potential in merging green chemistry concepts (such as the realization of a circular economy) and the organic chemistry of small molecule conversions like for CO₂. In addition, small molecule synthesis from waste plastics can also be a highly rewarding and innovative task within the context of organic chemistry. As such, it may alleviate the problems that we are currently facing with plastic pollution and micro-plastics in particular.

How do you define ‘a successful scientist’ and suggest to achieve it?

Success in my view is best defined as a discovery that radically changes the way scientists conceive existing paradigms. I always state to younger colleagues that if each scientist could make just one such career discovery, the world would be a much better place. On a personal level, I also get a lot of positive energy from the education of younger people and seeing them growing into mature scientists. Success is not limited to executing science but also includes passing on the knowledge you have gained over the years and hoping that someone will use it for a major discovery at some point in time.

What do you think is the most interesting part of your research work?

The most attractive aspect is getting confronted with the unexpected: what is more beautiful than being informed by a grad student or postdoc about a completely new transformation, mechanism or application? Crucial in this respect are the many informal discussions that I have with my team, and the ideas that are generated because of it, thereby pushing the boundaries of our imagination.

How does being a scientist allow you to explore other interests in life?

As a scientist, I have a certain liberty to use part of my time in a flexible way and thus to organize my day/week how I see fit. This means I can participate in other interesting events, such as joining as an expert a debate competition among high school students on the use of plastics, and spend time with my family at times typically reserved for work.

What are your suggestions for the younger generation to encourage them to consider a career in science?

I think a career in science offers a way to merge creativity and a solution-orientation mind and offers the possibility to work together with other bright minds to overcome multifaceted challenges we are dealing with now and will face in the future. Additionally, if you like to discuss and apply science both theoretically and practically, then a future as scientist is more than worth the investment.

How do you feel about your role as an Associate Editor of Organic Chemistry Frontiers?

I feel really excited to be part of a fantastic team of professionals allowing me to be able to contribute to the success of this ambitious journal. While being one of the Associate Editors, I feel that I can truly use my experience to attain the high quality publishing standards, and of course contribute to a further growth of the journal.

References

1. L. Hu, A. Cai, Z. Wu, A. W. Kleij and G. Huang, A Mechanistic Analysis of the Pd-Catalyzed Formation of Branched Allylic Amines reveals the Origin of the Regio- and Enantioselectivity through a Unique Inner-Sphere Pathway, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed., 2019, 58, 14694–14702.
2. R. Huang, J. Rintjema, J. González Fabra, E. Martín, E. C. Escudero-Adán, C. Bo, A. Urakawa and A. W. Kleij, Deciphering Key Intermediates in the Transformation of Carbon Dioxide into Heterocyclic Products, Nat. Catal., 2019, 2, 62–70.
3. S. Sopeña, M. Cozzolino, C. Maquilón, M. Martínez Belmonte, E. C. Escudero-Adán and A. W. Kleij, Organocatalyzed Domino [3 + 2] Cycloaddition/Payne-Type Rearrangement using Carbon Dioxide and Epoxy Alcohols, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed., 2018, 57, 11203–11207.
4. N. Kindermann, A. Cristòfol and A. W. Kleij, Access to Biorenewable Polycarbonates with Unusual Glass-Transition Temperature (Tg) Modulation, ACS Catal., 2017, 7, 3860–3863.
5. A. Cai, W. Guo, L. Martínez-Rodríguez and A. W. Kleij, Palladium-Catalyzed Regio- and Enantio-Selective Synthesis of Allylic Amines Featuring Tetrasubstituted Tertiary Carbons, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2016, 138, 14194–14197.
6. J. Rintjema, R. Epping, G. Fiorani, E. Martín, E. C. Escudero-Adán and A. W. Kleij, Substrate Controlled Product Divergence in CO₂ Conversion to Heterocyclic Products, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed., 2016, 55, 3972–3976.
7. J. Rintjema, W. Guo, E. Martin, E. C. Escudero-Adán and A. W. Kleij, Highly Chemo-Selective Catalytic Coupling of Substituted Oxetanes and Carbon Dioxide, Chem. – Eur. J., 2015, 21, 10754–10762.
8. V. Laserna, G. Fiorani, C. J. Whiteoak, E. Martin, E. Escudero-Adán and A. W. Kleij, Carbon Dioxide as a Protecting Group: Highly Efficient and Selective Catalytic Access to Cyclic cis-Diol Scaffolds, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed., 2014, 53, 10416–10419.
9. M. V. Escárcega-Bobadilla, G. A. Zelada-Guillén, S. V. Pyrlin, M. Wegrzyn, M. M. D. Ramos, E. Giménez, A. Stewart, G. Maier and A. W. Kleij, Nanorings and Rods Interconnected by Self-Assembly Mimicking an Artificial Network of Neurons, Nat. Commun., 2013, 4, 2648.
10. C. J. Whiteoak, N. Kielland, V. Laserna, E. C. Escudero-Adán, E. Martin and A. W. Kleij, A Powerful Aluminum Catalyst for the Synthesis of Highly Functional Organic Carbonates, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2013, 135, 1228–1231.

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