Multicatalysis & Catalytic Reaction Networks

Catalytic reactions are often represented as individual catalytic cycles leading from a substrate to a product. In practice, however, catalytic systems may contain multiple interconnected processes involving catalysts, intermediates, reversible transformations and competing pathways.

We investigate how such systems can be deliberately constructed and controlled. Our central interest is in catalytic reaction networks in which several pathways operate simultaneously and compete for shared substrates or intermediates. In these systems, the product distribution may be determined not only by the intrinsic selectivity of an individual catalyst, but also by the relative rates and connectivity of reactions across the entire network. This approach creates opportunities to access transformations that are difficult to achieve through a single catalytic cycle. It can enable the functionalisation of otherwise unreactive molecular positions, redirect established reactivity and provide divergent access to different products from common starting materials by changing how the catalytic system operates.

Our work has demonstrated these principles through multicatalytic and relay-catalytic transformations of alcohols and amines, dynamic kinetic resolution integrated with relay catalysis, and responsive networks of interconnected catalytic reactions. Our long-term ambition is to understand how the organisation and dynamics of interconnected catalytic pathways determine reaction outcomes, and to use this understanding to achieve greater control over chemical synthesis.

REPRESENATIVE PUBLICATIONS

  • D. Lichosyt, Y. Zhang, K. Hurej and P. Dydio, Dual-catalytic transition metal systems for functionalization of unreactive sites of molecules, Nature Catalysis 2019, 2, 114–122 (link).
  • G. Kurpik, A. Walczak, P. Dydio and A. R. Stefankiewicz, Multi-Stimuli-Responsive Network of Multicatalytic Reactions Using a Single Palladium/Platinum Catalyst, Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2024, 63, e202404684 (link).
  • B. Lainer, S. Li, F. Mammadova and P. Dydio, A Merger of Relay Catalysis with Dynamic Kinetic Resolution Enables Enantioselective β-C(sp3)–H Arylation of Alcohols, Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2024, 63, e202408418 (link).
  • S. Li, S. Yahaya, J. Bojanowski, G. Ragazzon and P. Dydio, Dual Relay Rh/Pd Catalysis Enables β-C(sp3)–H Arylation of α-Substituted Amines, Chemical Science 2025, 16, 4167–4174 (link).
  • K. Das, N. Kuznik and P. Dydio, Dehomologative C–C Borylation of Aldehydes and Alcohols via a Rh-Catalyzed Dehydroformylation–Borylation Relay, Journal of the American Chemical Society 2025, 147, 16735–16741 (link).