Leyva Pérez, Antonio

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Antonio Leyva Pérez is a Titular Scientist from the CSIC. He completed his doctorate under the supervision of Prof. Hermenegildo García in 2005, and stays with Prof. Steven L. Buchwald at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA, Boston, 2004) and with Prof. Steven V. Ley at the University of Cambridge (UK, 2005-2007). In 2008 he joined the group of Prof. Avelino Corma to develop sustainable reactions in organic chemistry through the design of catalysts. In 2016, he obtained a Distinguished Researcher contract and started his independent CSIC group named “Catalysis for Sustainable Organic Synthesis”. He has supervised 6 doctoral theses and several end-of-graduate/master projects, and published about 100 papers and 13 patents, many of them as the main author and in prestigious international journals such as Science and Nature Series, with an index h=40 (2022). Among other distinctions, he has received the Extraordinary Prize from the Polytechnic University of Valencia (2006) and a Ramón y Cajal contract (2013), and is PI of projects of the national plan and the fBBVA foundation.

Personal web page

Lhiaubet, Virginie Lyria

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Virginie Lhiaubet-Vallet graduated from the University Paul Sabatier (Toulouse, France); in 2001, she defended her Doctoral Thesis untitled “Mechanisms of DNA damage photosensitized by drugs derived from aromatic ketones” supervised by Nicole Paillous and Nadia Chouini-Lalanne. In 2001, she was granted with an Individual Marie Curie Fellowship to join Prof. M. A. Miranda’s group at the Institute of Chemical Technology (ITQ) as a postdoctoral researcher. In 2008, she obtained a ‘‘Ramón y Cajal’’ contract; and since 2016, she is a Tenured Scientist of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).

Her main research interests are:

  • Interaction between light and biomolecules (particularly DNA) to obtain information on the molecular processes responsible for photosensitivity and to design new photoprotection tools
  • Study of DNA photodamage formation and repair (such as thymine dimers)
  • Design of photocages based on prodrug/profilter systems to allow a controlled photorelease of photosensitizing drugs together with a solar filter acting as protecting shield

 

ORCID number: 0000-0002-8205-8892

The list of its scientific publications, as well as its index h, can be seen in this link

 

Her scientific career has been recognized internationally in 2007 by the “Young Investigator Award of the European Society for Photobiology”, an outstanding award given biennially by the society to a scientist under 35 years old. In addition, Dr. Lhiaubet has given 2 plenary lectures, 15 invited lectures and 14 oral communications. She has been PI of 7 projects, including national and international projects. She has been the supervisor of 4 theses and is currently supervising 2 others. She has also tutored 6 postdoctoral students and 9 short-stays of PhD or graduated students.

In addition, she is the author of 66 publications, being corresponding author of 19 of them. Since her doctoral thesis, her research has been centered on the study of DNA damage and photochemistry of drugs and biomolecules. Thus, she participated in central contributions such as (i) the reductive photocycloreversion of azetidines as a model of DNA repair by (6-4) photolyase (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, Chem. Eur. J. 2018) (ii) the discovery of the role of DNA lesions as intrinsic photosensitizer (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2013, ACS Chem. Biol. 2018), (iii) the study of np* higher excited states of thymine (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013), (iv) establishing the energy of the excited triplet state of thymine in DNA (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006), (v) demonstrating the stereoselective quenching of ketoprofen triplet excited state in the presence of thymine (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005), (vi) the use of triplet excited states as probes for protein binding sites (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004).

 

Most successful publications in the last 10 years:

  1. A. B. Fraga-Timiraos, A. Francés-Monerris, G. M. Rodríguez-Muñiz, M. Navarrete-Miguel, M. A. Miranda, D. Roca-Sanjuan, V. Lhiaubet-Vallet “Experimental and theoretical study on the cycloreversion of a nucleobase-derived azetidine by photoinduced electron transfer” Chem. Eur. J. in press, doi: 10.1002/chem.201803298
  2. M.-D. Li, Z. Yan, R. Zhu, D. Lee Phillips, I. Aparici-Espert, V. Lhiaubet-Vallet, M. A. Miranda “Enhanced drug photosafety by interchromophoric interaction due to intramolecular charge separation” Chem. Eur. J. (2018) 24, 6654.
  3. I. Aparici-Espert, G. Garcia-Lainez, I. Andreu, M. A. Miranda, V. Lhiaubet-Vallet “Oxidatively generated lesions as internal photosensitizers for pyrimidine dimerization in DNA” ACS Chem. Biol. (2018), 13, 542.
  4. I. Aparici-Espert, M. C. Cuquerella, C. Paris, V. Lhiaubet-Vallet, M. A. Miranda “Photocages for protection and controlled release of bioactive compounds” Chem. Commun., (2016), 52, 14215.
  5. A. B. Fraga-Timiraos, V. Lhiaubet-Vallet, M. A. Miranda “Repair of a dimeric azetidine related to thymine–cytosine (6-4) photoproduct by electron transfer photoreduction” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. (2016) 55, 6037.
  6. I. Aparici-Espert, A. Francés-Monerris, G. M. Rodríguez-Muñiz, D. Roca-Sanjuán, V. Lhiaubet-Vallet, Miguel A. Miranda “A combined experimental and theoretical approach to the photogeneration of 5,6-dihydropyrimidin-5-yl radicals in non aqueous media” J. Org. Chem. (2016), 81, 4031.
  7. V. Vendrell-Criado, G. Rodríguez-Muñiz, M. C. Cuquerella, V. Lhiaubet-Vallet, M. A. Miranda* “Photosensitization of DNA by 5-methyl-2-pyrimidone deoxyribonucleoside: (6-4) photoproduct as a possible Trojan horse” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. (2013) 52, 6476.
  8. V. Vendrell-Criado, G. Rodríguez-Muñiz, M. Yamaji, V. Lhiaubet-Vallet, M. C. Cuquerella, M. A. Miranda “Two-photon chemistry from upper triplet states of thymine” J. Am. Chem. Soc. (2013) 135, 16714.
  9. G. Rodriguez-Muñiz, M. L. Marin, V. Lhiaubet-Vallet, M. A. Miranda “Reactivity of nucleosides with hydroxyl radical in non-aqueous medium” Chem. Eur. J. (2012) 18, 8024.
  10. M. C. Cuquerella, V. Lhiaubet-Vallet, J. Cadet, M. A. Miranda “Benzophenone photosensitized DNA damage” Acc. Chem. Res. (2012) 45, 1558.

 

 

 

Llabrés i Xamena, Francesc X.

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Francesc X. Llabrés i Xamena (Xesc) was born in Alaró (Mallorca). He received his PhD in Chemistry in 2000 from the University of the Balearic Islands (Spain) working with Prof. C. Otero in the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of zeolites. After a 2-years post-doctoral stage at the University of Turin with Prof. A. Zecchina, a short stay as invited researcher at Polimeri Europa (ENI) in Novara, and one year at the University of Padua with Prof. G. Granozzi, he joined the group of Prof. A. Corma at the ITQ in 2004 as a Ramón y Cajal Fellow. In 2010 he was appointed as Tenured Scientist of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) at the ITQ.

His current research interests are in the preparation of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and the study of their applications, including heterogeneous catalysis.

He has co-authored over 70 scientific papers, 6 patents, 5 book chapters, and has edited a book for the RSC Catalysis Series on the catalytic properties of MOFs.

With a h index of 40 and over 13000 citations, Xesc is a Highly Cited Researcher (among the top 1%) in the area of CHEMISTRY.

Among other prizes and recognitions, Xesc has been distinguished with the Alpha Gold award 2009 of the Spanish Ceramic and Glass Society and the Duran Farrell Award of Technological Research of the Technical University of Catalonia and Gas Natural Fenosa.

(Further information can be found in his personal website: http://personales.upv.es/fllabres/)

López Nieto, José Manuel

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Born in Madrid in 1957, he studied chemistry at the Faculty of Science of the Universidad Autónoma of Madrid (Spain) where he graduated in 1979. He obtained his PhD Degree in oxidation catalysis at the same university in 1985, with his research work done at Institute of Catalysis, CSIC, in Madrid. During 1987-1988, he was a postdoctoral position at the Bologna University with Prof. Trifiró. In 1989 he was appointed Tenured Scientist at Institute of Catalysis. He moved in 1990 to the Institute of Chemical Technology (ITQ) sited in Valencia. In 1997 he was named Research Scientist of CSIC and in 2004 was promoted to Research Professor of CSIC. López Nieto has focused his activity on the synthesis and characterization of mixed metal oxides, with redox and/or acid characteristics, to be used as catalysts for selective activation of hydrocarbons with especial attention on the partial oxidation and ammoxidation of paraffins and olefins. He is also involved in the synthesis of metal containing porous materials as catalysts in redox and acid catalysis. He has educated 8 PhD students and 5 postdoctoral fellows. He is the author of more than 130 scientific papers in the field of heterogeneous catalysis. He has filed 6 international patents, written 5 chapters of books and presented numerous communications in international Congress. Since 2006 is Editor of the journal Applied Catalysis A: General. From January 2006 is Editor of Applied Catalysis A: General. He is coordinator of Interuniversitary Master on Sustainable Chemistry at the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia from 2006. From 2009 is a Spanish Council Member at the International Association of Catalysis Societies (IACS).

Marín García, María Luisa

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María Luisa Marin was born in Valencia, Spain, in 1968. She did her PhD at the University of Valencia working on the synthesis of natural products. In 1996, she moved to Imperial College where she spent two years as postdoctoral Pierre and Marie Curie fellow. In 1998, she moved to the Technical University of Valencia (UPV) and started working in the field of photochemistry, photophysics and photobiology.

Since 2001 she belongs to the Instituto de Tecnologia Quimica (UPV-CSIC). Recently, in February 2019, she was promoted to Full Professor at the Chemistry Department of the UPV.

Moreover, she collaborates with the group of Prof. J.C. Scaiano at the University of Ottawa where she has spent several periods since 2006. In 2013-2014, she was awarded for the competition of the Distinguished Visiting Researcher Program at the University of Ottawa.

M.L. Marin participates as teacher in postgraduate courses in the University of Valencia, University of Ottawa (2014) and Universidad Nacional de La Plata (Argentina) in 2014, 2017 and 2018.

Her current research interests are focussed on the mechanistic studies of different photochemical processes, and can be grouped in three main lines:

  1. Stereodifferenziation in photophysical and photochemical processes within supramolecular biomimetic systems.
  2. Mechanistic aspects of photocatalysis using organic photocatalysts.
  3. Photocatalytic degradation of aqueous contaminants.

Agustín Martínez Feliu

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Address: Instituto de Tecnología Química (ITQ)
Avenida de los Naranjos s/n
46022 Valencia, Spain

E-mail: amart@itq.upv.es
Phone: (+34) 963 877 808
ORCID: 0000-0002-9974-1567
Researcher ID: D-2644-2012

Agustín Martínez was born in Alzira (Valencia, Spain) in 1961 and received the degree in Chemistry at the University of Valencia in 1984. His Ph.D. studies were performed at the Instituto de Catálisis y Petroleoquímica (ICP-CSIC) in Madrid under the guidance of Prof. Avelino Corma in the subject of zeolite catalysts for catalytic cracking. He received the Ph.D. degree in 1990. During the period of 1988-1990 he was working at the R&D Centre of the refining company CEPSA in Madrid. In 1991, he got a permanent position at the ITQ and in 2009 was promoted to full Research Professor at CSIC.

His researches mainly dealt with the development of more efficient and environmentally friendly heterogeneous catalysts for producing fine chemicals, petrochemicals, and clean fuels. Currently, his research interests are mostly focused on developing and gaining fundamental understanding on catalysts for the valorization of C1 molecules, including the direct conversion of natural gas (methane), synthesis gas (Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, DME synthesis, C2+ oxygenates), and CO2 to value-added chemicals and synthetic fuels.

Agustín Martínez has led several national and UE projects and has participated in different R&D contracts with major chemical-refining companies, among which Repsol (Spain), Eni (Italy), IFP (France), Rhodia (France), Conoco-Philips (USA), Lurgi (Germany), Petrobras (Brasil), Abengoa Biotechnology (Spain), Novargi (Spain), and Sener (Spain) are worth to be mentioned. He is co-author of about 120 articles published in peer-reviewed international scientific journals and more than 10 chapters in scientific books and encyclopedias. His publications have received near 9.000 citations, with an h-index of 51 (Scopus source). He is also co-inventor of 12 issued patents and presented more than 120 contributions in national and international congresses and meetings, including several Plenary Lectures and Keynotes.

Currently, he is member of the Catalysis Committee of the International Zeolite Association (IZA) and is one of the two delegates of the Spanish Catalysis Society in the International Association of Catalysis Societies (IACS).

In 2000, Agustín Martínez was awarded the National CSIC-Volkswagen Prize for Young Researchers (under 40) by his outstanding contributions in the field of environmentally friendly transportation fuels.

 

List of 15 most relevant scientific contributions (from newest to oldest)

  1. S. Escorihuela, F. Toldra-Raig, S. Escolástico, R. Murciano, A. Martínez, J.M. Serra, Copper Surface-alloying of H2-permeable Pd-based membrane for integration in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reactors, Journal of Membrane Science 619 (2021) 118516.
  2. F. Bertella, C.W. Lopes, A.C. Foucher, G. Agostini, P. Concepción, E.A. Stach, A. Martínez, Insights into the promotion with Ru of Co/TiO2 Fischer-Tropsch catalysts: An in situ spectroscopic study, ACS Catalysis 10 (2020) 6042-6057.
  3. S. Mohammadnasabomran, A. Tavsoli, Y. Zamani, C. Márquez-Álvarez, J. Pérez-Pariente, A. Martínez, Influence of amines in the synthesis of mesotructured aluminas and assessment as supports for Co-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalysts, Fuel Processing Technology 205 (2020) 106433.
  4. M. Shamzhy, M. Opanasenko, P. Concepción, A. Martínez, New trends in tailoring active sites in zeolite-based catalysts, Chemical Society Reviews 40 (2019) 1095-1149.
  5. G.M. Cabello González, R. Murciano, A.L. Villanueva Perales, A. Martínez, F. Vidal-Barrero, M. Campoy, Ethanol conversion into 1,3-butadiene over a mixed Hf-Zn catalyst. Effect of reaction conditions and wáter content in ethanol, Fuel Processing Technology 193 (2019) 263-272.
  6. S. Moussa, P. Concepción, M.A. Arribas, A. Martínez, Nature of Active Nickel Sites and Initiation Mechanism for Ethylene Oligomerization on Heterogeneous Ni-beta Catalysts, ACS Catalysis 8 (2018) 3903-3912.
  7. S.H. Morejudo, R. Zanón, S. Escolástico, I. Yuste-Tirados, H. Malerød-Fjeld, P.K. Vestre, W.G. Coors, A. Martínez, T. Norby, J.M. Serra, C. Kjølseth, Direct conversion of methane to aromatics in a catalytic co-ionic membrane reactor, Science 353 (2016) 563-566.
  8. S. Moussa, M.A. Arribas, P. Concepción, A. Martínez, Heterogeneous oligomerization of ethylene to liquids on bifunctional Ni-based catalysts: The influence of support properties on nickel speciation and catalytic performance, Catalysis Today 277 (2016) 78-88.
  9. A. Martínez, M.A. Arribas, S.B.C. Pergher, Bifunctional noble metal/zeolite catalysts for upgrading low-quality diesel fractions via selective opening of naphthenic rings, Catalysis Science and Technology 6 (2016) 2528-2542.
  10. G. Prieto, M.I.S. De Mello, P. Concepción, R. Murciano, S.B.C. Pergher, A. Martínez, Cobalt-catalyzed Fischer-Tropsch synthesis: Chemical nature of the oxide support as a performance descriptor, ACS Catalysis 5 (2015) 3323-3335.
  11. A. García-Trenco, A. Martínez, Direct synthesis of DME from syngas on hybrid CuZnAl/ZSM-5 catalysts: New insights into the role of zeolite acidity, Applied Catalysis A: General 411 (2012) 170-179.
  12. G. Prieto, A. Martínez, P. Concepción, R. Moreno-Tost, Cobalt particle size effects in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis: Structural and in situ spectroscopic characterization on reverse micellar-synthesized Co/ITQ-2 model catalysts, Journal of Catalysis 266 (2009) 129-144.
  13. A. Martínez, C. López, F. Márquez, I. Díaz, Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis of Hydrocarbons over Mesoporous Co/SBA-15 Catalysts: The Influence of Metal Loading, Cobalt Precursor, and Promoters, Journal of Catalysis 220 (2003) 486-499.
  14. A. Corma, A. Martínez, V. Martínez-Soria, J.B. Montón, Hydrocracking of Vacuum Gas-Oil on the Novel Mesoporous MCM-41 Aluminosilicate Catalyst, Journal of Catalysis 153 (1995) 25-31.
  15. A. Corma, A. Martínez, Chemistry, Catalysts and Processes for Isoparaffin-Olefin Alkylation: Actual Situation and Future Trends, Catalysis Reviews – Science & Engineering 35 (1993) 483-570.

 

Competitive R&D Projects (last 10 years)

National

2019-2022. Conversión directa de CO2 en portadores de energía química utilizando reactores electrocatalíticos de membrana. CICYT (TRI2018-102161-B-I00).

2015-2018. Almacenamiento de energía vía reducción de CO2 a combustibles y productos químicos. CICYT (ENE2014-57651-R).

2011-2013. Catalizadores avanzados para la conversión de gas de síntesis en combustibles. CICYT (CTQ2010-17988).

 

International

2021-2025. Project CO2SMOS (European Union). Advanced chemicals production from biogenic CO2 emissions for circular bio-based industries.

2019-2022. Project eCOCO2 (European Union). Direct electrocatalytic conversion of CO2 into chemical energy carriers in a co-ionic membrane reactor.

2014-2017. Project ELECTRA (European Union). High temperature electrolyser with novel proton ceramic tubular modules of superior efficiency, robustness, and lifetime economy.

2009-2014. Project OCMOL (European Union). Oxidative coupling of methane followed by oligomerization to liquids.

Martínez Sánchez, Cristina

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Cristina Martínez Sánchez was born in Enschede (The Netherlands) in 1967. In 1991 she obtained her bachelor in chemistry at the University of Valencia and her PhD in 1997 at the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia. In 2002 she joined the Institute of Chemical Technology (ITQ) as Specialized Research Technician of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and she promoted to Tenured Scientist in 2006.

Her principal research topics are focused on heterogeneous catalysis applied to refining and petrochemistry processes (catalytic cracking, hydrotreatment, aromatic alkylation and transalkylation, aliphatic alkylation) and to methane upgrading processes (methanol and dimethylether carbonylation, methane dehydroaromatization). She has co-authored 27 publications and 9 patents, 4 of them licensed to industrial partners, and has participated in research projects with national and international industries in the area.

She has co-directed 2 PhD thesis and several Final Degree Projects. She teaches the “Catalytic reactors design and laboratory analytical techniques” matter included in the Sustainable Chemistry Master of the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia.

Martínez Triguero, Joaquín

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Joaquín Martínez was born in Cuenca in 1966. Industrial Engineer specialist in Chemical Industries by the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia-UPV (1984-1991). He was a fellowship at the Mechanical Engineering and Materials department of the UPV (1992-1995) and obtained his Industrial Engineer PhD at UPV (2003). From 1995 to 2004 he joined the Institute of Chemical Technology (ITQ) as Specialized Research Technician of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and he promoted to Tenured Scientist in 2004.

His main research lines are: Refining and petrochemical catalysts and processes. Catalysts post-synthesis modifications. Catalytic processes with acid/base bifunctional catalysts. Pollutant elimination catalytic processes.

Member of the Spanish Society of Catalysis and of the Spanish Group of Zeolites.

Rey, Fernando

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Professor Fernando Rey (1963) received the degree in chemistry at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (1986). Their Ph.D. studies were performed at the Institute of Chemical Technology (ITQ) under supervision of Prof. Vicente Fornés obtaining his Ph.D Degree in 1992. The area of research of his Ph. D. Thesis was synthesis, characterization and catalytic applications of hydrotalcites. Subsequently, he joined the group of Prof. John M. Thomas from 1993 to 1995 at the Royal Institution of Great Britain as Post Doctoral fellow. During his Post doctoral stay, his research was focused on the development of new ‘in-situ’ characterization tools based on the employ of synchrotron radiation for the understanding behavior of micro- and mesoporous catalysts. He returned to the ITQ in 1995 and one year later he obtained a permanent position at that Institute. He was promoted to Research Professor of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in 2007. His current area of research is focused in the synthesis and deep characterization of micro and mesoporous materials with application in catalysis and adsorption. He is co-author of more than 155 papers in high impact Scientific Journals and numerous presentations in congresses, and currently his ‘h-index’ is 57. Also, he is co-inventor in more than 40 patents related to the synthesis of new porous materials and their application in different industrial processes. Some of these patents have been licensed to industries. In 2011, he was recipient of the 1st Award of ‘La Vanguardia de la Ciencia’ that recognized the best Spanish research scientific publication in 2010.

Miranda Alonso, Miguel Ángel

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Miguel A. Miranda is Professor of Organic Chemistry at the Universitat Politècnica de València (Spain). He studied Chemistry at the University of Valencia and obtained his PhD degree at the Autonomous University of Madrid in 1978, working at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). He spent post-doctoral periods at the University of Saarland and the University of Würzburg (Germany) and was Associate Professor at the University of Valencia before accepting his present position in 1990. The research interests of Miguel A. Miranda are mainly focused on photochemistry and photobiology. Miguel A. Miranda has received the Honda-Fujishima Lectureship Award of the Japanese Photochemistry Association (2007), the Janssen-Cilag Award for Organic Chemistry of the Spanish Royal Society of Chemistry (2008) and the Theodor Förster Memorial Lecturship Award of the German Chemical Society and the Bunsen Society of Physical Chemistry (2010). He is currently the President of the European Society for Photobiology.