a knowledge-driven approach to

sustainable asymmetric catalysis

Welcome to Companyó Lab site –
We are a young research group based at the Section of Organic Chemistry of the University of Barcelona
Companyó Lab

Our lab is committed to address the key global challenge of sustainability by contributing to the generation of more efficient, greener and sustainable chemical processes. 

We focus on the synergistic combination of diverse sustainable catalytic tools, including organocatalysis (the use of small chiral organic molecules as catalysts), photocatalysis (the use of the energy of light to mediate chemical reactions), and electrocatalysis (the direct use of electrons as mass-free reagents to trigger red-ox events) to develop new activation strategies and reaction paradigms in  asymmetric catalysis. Our goal is to design, develop, and optimise new catalytic systems by relying on a knowledge-driven approach, that maximises the use of relevant quantitative mechanistic information while at the same time minimising the common empirical optimisation processes based on extensive screenings.

If interested in joining our research group, provide CV and a cover letter to Xavier at x.companyo@ub.edu

– news and highlights –

feb 2024 |

We have new group members – Vyali Georgian Moldoveanu (visiting PhD student from Sapienza Università di Roma, Italy), Geraldo Augusto Pereira (visiting PhD student from INCQS Fiocruz, Brasil),  Metin Cakiroglu (visiting Master student from the University of Hamburg, Germany), and Claudia Barroso (TFG student form the UB). Welcome to the lab!

jan 2024 |

Gerard has successfully defended his Bachelor’s thesis, achieving a well-deserved grade of Excellent. We congratulate him and wish him all the best for the future!
nov 2023 |
New picture of the group
Companyo Lab – Sustainable Asymmetric Catalysis

oct 2023 |

We have two new group members – Gerard Insausti has started his Bachelor’s thesis (TFG) and Simon Derichs (master student from RTWH Aahen University, Germany) his research internship.

sep 2023 |

Ward Vermeer, visiting Bachelor student from Avans Hogeschool (The Netherlands), has started his internship in our lab. Welkom Ward!

jul 2023 |

Alvaro and Paula have successfully defended their Bachelor’s and Master’s theses respectively. Now, a well-deserved summer holiday and we look forward to seeing you in September for more exciting chemistry. Congratulations!

jun 2023 |

Jordi has won the Best Poster Communication prize at the Perspective in Synthetic Methodologhy Symposium of the XXXIX Bienal Meeting of the Spanish Chemical Society (RSEQ) 2023.

jun 2023 |

Our paper “Catalytic Asymmetric Defluorinative Allylation of Silyl Enol Ethers” has been selected as ChemSci Pick of the Week as well as HOT article. Thank you to the Editorial Borad of Chemical Science – we are very happy! 

may 2023 |

Xavier has received a Consolidación Investigadora grant from the State Research Agency (AEI) of the Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN) to develop reductive electrocatalytic asymmetric transformations. A two-year postdoctoral position will be advertised soon – Stay tuned!

may 2023 |

The paper “Catalytic Asymmetric Defluorinative Allylation of Silyl Enol Ethers” is now published in Chemical Science – The exploitation of an intermolecular Si–F interaction between the substrates, together with chiral Lewis-base catalysis, allows the regio-, diastereo- and enantioselective allylation of ketone-derived silyl enol ethers with allyl fluorides. Congratulations again Jordi for this beautiful first PhD paper!
mar 2023 |
Alvaro García has started his Bachelor’s thesis (TFG) in our group. Welcome to the lab Alvaro!

feb 2023 |

The first PhD work of Jordi is out in ChemRxiv. It describes a new asymmetric defluorinative methodology able to construct alpha-Allyl Ketones bearing two contiguous stereocenters. The catalytic protocol leverages a  Si–F interaction crucial to promote the intended reactivity and to control the selectivity of the transformation. Congratulations to Jordi and Javi!

feb 2023 |

Artur has succesfully defended his Bachelor’s thesis, performed in collaboration with HDOS Innova SL, obtaining the maximum qualification of Excellent with Honours. Congratulations for the hard work Artur, very well deserved!

jan 2023 |

Paula Rodríguez has started her Master’s thesis in our lab.  Welcome back Paula, let’s crash all the wonderful electrocatalysts out!

jan 2023 |

Our research group has been recognised as “Consolidated Research Group of the Generalitat de Catalunya (SGR–CAt 2021)” within the Sustainable Organic Synthesis Research Group – SOSyn by AGAUR.

oct 2022 |

Federico Mascetti, visiting student from the University of Bologna, has started his research stage in our group. Benvenuto Federico!
sep 2022 |
Martí Gisbert and Jordi Duran are the first PhD students in the group. Artur Donlo has started his Bachelor’s thesis (TFG) in a joint project with HDOS Innova SL (FBG 311924). Welcome and best of luck!

jul 2022 |

Paula and Jordi successfully defended their Bachelor’s and Master’s theses respectively, both of them obtaining the maximum grade of excellent with honours. In addition, Paula has received the prize Best TFG in Chemistry 2021/22 awarded by the Catalan Society of Chemistry (SCQ). Congratulations to both!

jun 2022 |

We have signed a scientific-transfer project with the company HDOS Innova SL (FBG 331746) to investigate the synthesis and optimisation of new ruthenium complexes for dye sensitised solar cells (DSSC).

may 2022 |

Manon Soulier, visting student from Sigma Clermont, and He Chen, visiting student from the University of Paris-Saclay, have started their research stage in our labs.
mar 2022 |
Paula Rodríguez has started her Bachelor’s thesis in our group. Welcome Paula!
feb 2022 |
Jordi Duran has started his Master’s thesis in our group. Welcome back to the lab Jordi
jan 2022 |
David has defended his Bachelor’s thesis successfully. Congratulations and all the best luck!
nov 2021 |
Jordi has been awarded with a Master+UB fellowship to carry out his master’s thesis in our group.

oct 2021 |

Four-year PhD position available to develop novel asymmetric electroorganocatalytic methodologies – FPI 2021 fellowship, reference: PID2020-116859GA-I00.
sep 2021 |
David Valcarreras has started his Bachelor’s thesis (TFG) in our research group.

jun 2021 |

We have received a grant from the State Research Agency (AEI) of the Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN) to investigate novel sustainable asymmetric methodologies by means of electrochemical methods.  Fully funded open positions will be soon advertised. Stay tuned!

jun 2021 |

Jordi successfully defended his Bachelor’s thesis, obtaining the maximum grade of excellent with honours. Congratulations!

– funding –

 PID2020-116859GA-I00