Chemistry
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Dr Beatriz Macia-Ruiz
Senior Lecturer in Organic Chemistry
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My profile
Biography
Beatriz Maciá graduated in Chemistry at the University of Alicante (Spain), and obtained her PhD in 2005 working in ‘Arene Catalyzed Lithiation Processes’ with Professor Miguel Yus at the same University. In 2006 she joined the group of Professor Ben L. Feringa in Groningen, The Netherlands, as a postdoctoral fellow, where she worked in asymmetric catalysis and molecular nanotechnology. From February 2010 to May 2012, she held an Assistant Professor position in the Department of Organic Chemistry at the University of Alicante where she started her independent research, focused on organic synthesis and asymmetric catalysis. In June 2012, Beatriz Maciá joined the School of Natural Sciences at Manchester Metropolitan University as a Lecturer in Organic Chemistry.
Awards:
June 2023: Student Union Teaching Award
Nov 2015: RS International Grant. Collaboration with University of Amsterdam.
May 2014: Royal Society of Chemistry – EPSRC 1st Grant Scheme.
May 2013: European Commission – Marie Curie Integration Career Scheme (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG).
June 2013: Research Accelerator Grant (Manchester Metropolitan University).
June 2003: University of Alicante - Master degree award (San Alberto Magno Prize).
2001- 2005: Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport - PhD Fellowship.
June 2001: Ministry of Culture, Education and Sciences. Generalitat Valenciana - Extraordinary Award for Bachelor in Chemistry.
June 2001: University of Alicante - Best Graduate Student Award.
2000- 2001: Spanish Ministry of Education and Science - Undergraduate Scholarship.
Interests and expertise
Asymmetric Catalysis
Organometallic Chemistry
Transition Metal Catalyzed C-C Bond Formation
Biocatalysis
Impact
In a world with increasing population and limited resources, the development of new synthetic chemical methods will be judged not only by their overall yield and product selectivity, but also by their ecological and economic footprint. Catalysis provides a means of achieving more efficient and environmentally friendly processes: the reaction is accelerated, the amount of energy required for the process is diminished and fewer wasteful by-products are obtained. Overall, catalysis plays an important role in saving energy, time and costs in chemical processes. Moreover, in the particular case of enantioselective catalysis, the catalyst also provides the source of asymmetry needed to selectively synthetise one of the two possible non-superimposable mirror images of the product - the so-called enantiomers. The selective synthesis of enantiopure compounds is of vital importance in the preparation of a myriad of products in daily life, from pharmaceutical and agricultural products to polymers and smart materials.
Our research focuses on the development of robust catalytic methodologies for the preparation of enantiopure building blocks from cheap and readily available starting materials, using two different approaches: transition metal catalysis and biocatalysis.
Projects
1) Transition metal catalysis for the asymmetric formation of C-C bonds
2) Biocatalysis: Enzyme-catalysed transamination reactions for the synthesis of N-heterocyclic compounds
Teaching
I teach Organic Chemistry in the following units:
Atomic and Molecular Structure - Year 1
Inorganic and Organic Chemistry - Year 1
Laboratory Techniques 1a - Year 1
Laboratory Techniques 1b - Year 1
Advanced Organic Chemistry - Year 3
Advanced Topics in Green Chemistry - Year 3
Project and Personal Development - Year 3
Frontiers in Pharmaceutical Chemistry - Year 4
Further Topics in Analysis, Synthesis and Catalytic Chemistry - Year 4
Advanced Project and Personal Development - Year 4
How I’ll teach you:
Our workshops will be hands-on sessions, where I shortly introduce the topic, I perform one example of a problem, and we all work together through a collection of problems that I provide. In Moodle, students can access video lectures to watch before attending the workshops.
Research outputs
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Chapters in books
Maciá Ruiz, B. (2015) 'Formation of Quaternary Stereocentres by Copper-Catalysed Enantioselective Conjugate Addition Reaction.' In Harutyunyan, S.R. (ed.) Progress in Enantioselective Cu(I)-catalyzed Formation of Stereogenic Centers. Springer Verlag, pp. 41-98.
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Journal articles
Alonso, D.A., Maciá, B., Pastor, I.M., Baeza, A. (2023) 'Recent advances on the catalytic asymmetric allylic α-alkylation of carbonyl derivatives using free allylic alcohols.' ACS Organic and Inorganic Au,
Vaccari, J., González-Soria, M.J., Carter, N., Maciá, B. (2021) 'Catalytic Enantioselective Addition of Alkylzirconium Reagents to Aliphatic Aldehydes.' Molecules, 26(15) pp. 4471-4471.
Taday, F., Ryan, J., Argent, S.P., Caprio, V., Maciá, B., O'Reilly, E. (2020) 'Asymmetric Construction of Alkaloids Employing a Key ω-Transaminase Cascade.' Chemistry - A European Journal, 26(17) pp. 3729-3732.
Eastman, H., Ryan, J., Caprio, V., Maciá, B., O'Reilly, E. (2019) 'Alcohol Dehydrogenase Triggered Oxa‐Michael Reaction for the Asymmetric Synthesis of Disubstituted Tetrahydropyrans and Tetrahydrofurans.' ChemCatChem, 11(16) pp. 3760-3762.
Hudson, A.D., Ueta, J.T., Battell, W., Jamieson, O., Dunbar, T., Maciá, B., Peeters, M., Solà, R. (2019) 'Synthesis of Optimized Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for the Isolation and Detection of Antidepressants via HPLC.' Biomimetics, 4(1) pp. 18-18.
Flores-Ferrándiz, J., Carter, N., González-Soria, M.J., Wasinska, M., Gill, D., Maciá, B., Caprio, V. (2018) 'Stereoselective synthesis of 1,3-disubstituted dihydroisoquinolines vial-phenylalanine-derived dihydroisoquinoline N-oxides..' Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 16(38) pp. 6961-6968.
Solà, R., Veguillas, M., González-Soria, M.J., Carter, N., Fernández-Ibáñez, M.A., Maciá, B. (2018) 'Catalytic enantioselective addition of organozirconium reagents to aldehydes.' Molecules, 23(4)
Naksomboon, K., Álvarez-Casao, Y., Uiterweerd, M., Westerveld, N., Maciá, B., Fernández-Ibáñez, M.Á. (2018) 'S,O-ligand-promoted palladium-catalyzed C-H olefination of arenes with allylic substrates.' Tetrahedron Letters, 59(4) pp. 379-382.
Solà, R., Sutcliffe, O.B., Banks, C.E., Maciá, B. (2017) 'Ball mill and microwave assisted synthetic routes to Fluoxetine.' Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy, 5pp. 14-21.
Naksomboon, K., Valderas, C., Maciá, B., Fernández-Ibáñez, M. (2017) 'Synthesis of α-Substituted Diphenylphosphinocarboxylic Acids and Their Palladium Complexes.' Synlett, 28(2) pp. 221-224.
Ryan, J., Šiaučiulis, M., Gomm, A., Maciá, B., O’Reilly, E., Caprio, V. (2016) 'Transaminase Triggered Aza-Michael Approach for the Enantioselective Synthesis of Piperidine Scaffolds.' Journal of the American Chemical Society, 138(49) pp. 15798-15800.
Veguillas, M., Solà, R., Fernández-Ibañez, M., Maciá, B. (2016) 'Catalytic enantioselective addition of methyltriisopropoxititanium to aldehydes.' Tetrahedron Asymmetry, 27(14-15) pp. 643-648.
Collados, J.F., Solaì, R., Harutyunyan, S.R., Maciá, B. (2016) 'Catalytic Synthesis of Enantiopure Chiral Alcohols via Addition of Grignard Reagents to Carbonyl Compounds.' ACS Catalysis, 6(3) pp. 1952-1970.
Veguillas, M., Solà, R., Shaw, L., Maciá, B. (2016) 'Catalytic Asymmetric Addition of Organolithium Reagents to Aldehydes.' European Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2016(9) pp. 1788-1794.
Fernández-Mateos, E., Maciá, B., Yus, M. (2014) 'Catalytic Enantioselective Addition of Aryl Grignard Reagents to Ketones.' European Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2014(29) pp. 6519-6526.
Fernández-Mateos, E., Maciá, B., Yus, M. (2014) 'Catalytic enantioselective addition of aryl grignard reagents to ketones.' European Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2014(29) pp. 6519-6526.
Fernández-Ibáñez, M.A., Maciá, B., Alonso, D.A., Pastor, I.M. (2013) 'Recent Advances in the Catalytic Enantioselective Reformatsky Reaction.' European Journal of Organic Chemistry,
Fernández-Ibañez, M.A., Maciá, B., Alonso, D.A., Pastor, I.M. (2013) 'Palladium and organocatalysis: An excellent recipe for asymmetric synthesis.' Molecules, 18(9) pp. 10108-10121.
Fernández-Ibáñez, M.A., Maciá, B., Alonso, D.A., Pastor, I.M. (2013) 'Recent advances in the catalytic enantioselective Reformatsky reaction.' European Journal of Organic Chemistry, (31) pp. 7028-7034.
Fernández-Mateos, E., Maciá, B., Yus, M. (2013) 'Catalytic enantioselective addition of alkyl grignard reagents to aliphatic aldehydes.' Advanced Synthesis and Catalysis, 355(7) pp. 1249-1254.
Fernández-Mateos, E., Maciá, B., Yus, M. (2013) 'Catalytic Enantioselective Addition of Alkyl Grignard Reagents to Aliphatic Aldehydes.' Advanced Synthesis and Catalysis, 342(8)
Fernandez-Mateos, E., Macia, B., Yus, M. (2012) 'Catalytic Asymmetric Addition of Alkyllithium Reagents to Aromatic Aldehydes.' EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, 2012(20) pp. 3732-3736.
Fernandez-Mateos, E., Macia, B., Yus, M. (2012) 'Catalytic enantioselective addition of organoaluminum reagents to aldehydes.' TETRAHEDRON-ASYMMETRY, 23(10) pp. 789-794.
Fernandez-Mateos, E., Macia, B., Ramon, D.J., Yus, M. (2011) 'Catalytic Enantioselective Addition of MeMgBr and Other Grignard Reagents to Aldehydes.' EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, 2011(34) pp. 6851-6855.
Kudernac, T., Ruangsupapichat, N., Parschau, M., Maciá, B., Katsonis, N., Harutyunyan, S.R., Ernst, K.H., Feringa, B.L. (2011) 'Electrically driven directional motion of a four-wheeled molecule on a metal surface.' Nature, 479(7372) pp. 208-211.
Coleman, A.C., Beierle, J.M., Stuart, M.C.A., Maciá, B., Caroli, G., Mika, J.T., van Dijken, D.J., Chen, J., Browne, W.R., Feringa, B.L. (2011) 'Light-induced disassembly of self-assembled vesicle-capped nanotubes observed in real time..' Nat Nanotechnol, 6(9) pp. 547-552.
den Hartog, T., Rudolph, A., Maciá, B., Minnaard, A.J., Feringa, B.L. (2010) 'Copper-Catalyzed Enantioselective Synthesis of trans-1-Alkyl-2-substituted Cyclopropanes via Tandem Conjugate Addition−Intramolecular Enolate Trapping.' Journal of the American Chemical Society, 132(41) pp. 14349-14351.
Fernández-Ibáñez, M.A., Maciá, B., Minnaard, A., Feringa, B. (2010) 'Catalytic enantioselective reformatsky reaction with aldehydes.' Chemtracts, 23(5) pp. 215-218.
den Hartog, T., Macia, B., Minnaard, A.J., Feringa, B.L. (2010) 'Copper-Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation of Halocrotonates: Efficient Synthesis of Versatile Chiral Multifunctional Building Blocks.' ADVANCED SYNTHESIS & CATALYSIS, 352(6) pp. 999-1013.
Bos, P.H., Maciá, B., Fernández-Ibáñez, M.A., Minnaard, A.J., Feringa, B.L. (2010) 'Catalytic asymmetric conjugate addition of dialkylzinc reagents to alpha,beta-unsaturated sulfones..' Org Biomol Chem, 8(1) pp. 47-49.
Fernández‐Ibáñez, M.Á., Maciá, B., Pizzuti, M.G., Minnaard, A.J., Feringa, B.L. (2009) 'Catalytic Enantioselective Addition of Dialkylzinc Reagents to N‐Acylpyridinium Salts.' Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 48(49) pp. 9339-9341.
Fernández-Ibáñez, M.A., Maciá, B., Minnaard, A.J., Feringa, B.L. (2008) 'Catalytic enantioselective Reformatsky reaction with ortho-substituted diarylketones..' Org Lett, 10(18) pp. 4041-4044.
Macia, B., Fernandez-Ibanez, M.A., Mrsic, N., Minnaard, A.J., Feringa, B.L. (2008) 'Copper-catalyzed enantioselective conjugate addition of Grignard reagents to acyclic enones using monodentate phosphoramidite ligands.' TETRAHEDRON LETTERS, 49(11) pp. 1877-1880.
Fernández-Ibáñez, M.A., Maciá, B., Minnaard, A.J., Feringa, B.L. (2008) 'Catalytic enantioselective reformatsky reaction with aldehydes..' Angew Chem Int Ed Engl, 47(7) pp. 1317-1319.
Fernández-Ibáñez, M.A., Maciá, B., Minnaard, A.J., Feringa, B.L. (2008) 'Catalytic enantioselective Reformatsky reaction with ketones..' Chem Commun (Camb), (22) pp. 2571-2573.
Ruiz, B.M., Geurts, K., Fernandez-Ibanez, M.A., ter Horst, B., Minnaard, A.J., Feringa, B.L. (2007) 'Highly versatile enantioselective conjugate addition of Grignard reagents to alpha,beta-unsaturated thioesters.' ORGANIC LETTERS, 9(24) pp. 5123-5126.
Gomez, C., Macia, B., Lillo, V.J., Yus, M. (2006) '[1,2]-Wittig rearrangement from chloromethyl ethers.' TETRAHEDRON, 62(42) pp. 9832-9839.
Gomez, C., Macia, B., Soler, T., Yus, M. (2005) 'Bis(chloromethyl) sulfone and sulfoxide as precursors of the corresponding alpha,alpha-dianionic synthons by a chlorine-lithium exchange.' SYNTHESIS-STUTTGART, (18) pp. 3095-3102.
Gomez, C., Macia, B., Yus, M. (2005) 'DTBB-catalysed lithiation of 1,2-bis(phenylsulfanyl)ethene: does 1-lithio-2-phenylsulfanylethene really exist?.' TETRAHEDRON, 61(39) pp. 9325-9330.
Macia, B., Gomez, C., Yus, M. (2005) '[2,3]-Wittig rearrangement by a chlorine-lithium exchange.' TETRAHEDRON LETTERS, 46(36) pp. 6101-6104.
Yus, M., Macia, B., Gomez, C., Soler, T., Falvello, L.R., Fanwick, P.E. (2005) 'Reductive ring opening of cis- and trans-2,3-diphenyloxirane: a common intermediate.' TETRAHEDRON, 61(15) pp. 3865-3871.
Gomez, C., Macia, B., Yus, M. (2004) 'DTBB-catalyzed lithiation of 2,6-bis(chloromethyl) pyridine.' ARKIVOC, pp. 10-20.
Yus, M., Macia, B., Gomez, C. (2003) '1,3-dichloro-2-butene: a useful precursor for the 2-butene-1,3-dianion and its corresponding 1,3-dipolar synthon.' TETRAHEDRON, 59(28) pp. 5183-5192.