FLUMORE · Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques for Understanding Mechanisms of Organic Reactions

Organic synthesis in water offers the opportunity to replace hazardous and polluting petroleum-based solvents. While the addition ofsurfactants holds promise for enabling organic reactions in aqueous media, optimization is limited by an incomplete understandingof the underlying mechanisms. The FLUMORE project is tailored to overcome this limitation by developing new advancedfluorescence microscopy techniques to study cross-coupling reactions in water–surfactant media. Fluorescence microscopy provideshigh spatiotemporal resolution and the sensitivity to characterize the reaction medium in synthetic conditions, that are incompatiblewith traditional analytical techniques. The project involves two years at the University of California Irvine under the supervision ofProf. Blum, the world expert on investigating organic synthesis using confocal and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM)followed by one year at the University of Parma, leveraging the expertise of Prof. Sissa in optical spectroscopy and fluorescent organicnanoparticles.Powerful imaging tools (Förster Resonance Energy Transfer, fluorescence anisotropy, multiphoton microscopy) will be coupled withFLIM and applied for the first time to organic-reaction imaging. This approach will enable unprecedented detection of intermediates,localization of reactants and catalysts, and 3D mapping of ongoing reactions. In turn, this will reduce catalyst loading, facilitatesurfactant selection, and optimize synthetic procedures to improve yields and rates.This expertise is novel in Europe and will boost the carrier prospects of Dr. Delledonne, as he pursues a tenure-track research position.He will receive excellent training in FLIM and organic synthesis, complemented by a secondment focused on optimizing preparativeaqueous processes. The research outcomes will impact both academia and industry, reducing the environmental impact andenhancing the safety of the widely employed cross-coupling reactions.