Research TOP

Organic synthesis and transition metal catalysis (Pd, Ru) is the primary focus of the research group, that includs development of new and improved cataytic reactions, and new synthetic pathways in which transition metal catalysis are involved as an important part of a total synthesis.
We are particularly interested in the synthesis of N-heterocyclic compounds, such as benzo[c]cinnolines, carbazoles, and imidazoles with relevance in medicinal chemistry. The imidazole framework is of particular interest as this motif can be used as precursor for NHC ligands used in organometallics for various catalysts, for example for olefin metathesis, Suzuki cross-coupling, and oxidation catalysts.
Free organic radicals for synthetic applications, development of green chemistry methods for the oxidation reactions in organic synthesis has been an long standing research activity in the research group. This research activity involves also studies of antioxidants and development of new total syntheses of such compounds.
Development and investigation of continuous flow organic synthesis reactor systems is an important long standing project in the group. We have successfully developed a novel approach for flow chemistry that is realized in a milli-reactor platform that we have named multi-jet oscillation disk (MJOD) milli-reactor system.

Teaching TOP

Regular courses

• KJEM131 Organic Synthesis and Analysis
• KJEM232 Experimental Organic Synthesis
• KJEM233 Organic mass spectrometry (past)
• KJEM335 Physical Organic Chemistry (past)

Special Topic Courses

• Organometallic reactions in organic synthesis
• N-heterocyclic carbenes in synthesis
• Heterocyclic chemistry
• Free Radical Reactions in Synthetic Organic Chemistry
• Instrumental methods in organic synthesis
• Experimental Design and Modelling in Organic Synthesis

Recent publications TOP

Anna Tsoukala and Hans-René Bjørsvik.* Synthetic Route Discovery and Introductory Optimization of a Novel Process to Idebenone. Organic Process Research & Development. 2011, 15, 673–680.

Lucia Liguori and Hans-René Bjørsvik.* Multi-Jet Oscillating Disc milli-Reactor: A Novel Approach for Continuous Flow Organic Synthesis. Organic Process Research & Development 2011, 15, 997–1009.

Anna Tsoukala, Ludmila Peeva, Andrew G. Livingston, and Hans-René Bjørsvik.* Separation of reaction product and palladium catalyst after a Heck coupling reaction by means of organic solvent nanofiltration. ChemSusChem. 2012, 5, 188–193.

Raffaele Spaccini,Lucia Liguori,Carlo Punta, and Hans-René Bjørsvik* Organocatalyzed Epoxidation of Alkenes in Continuous Flow using a Multi-Jet Oscillating Disk Reactor. ChemSusChem. 2012, 5, 261-265.

Dagfinn Sleveland and Hans-René Bjørsvik.* Synthesis of Phenylboronic Acids in Continuous Flow by Means of a Multijet Oscillating Disc Reactor System Operating at Cryogenic Temperatures  Organic Process Research & Development 2012, 16, 1121–1130.

Lucia Liguori and Hans-Rene Bjørsvik. Extraction, Isolation, and Purification of Analytes from Samples of Marine Origin - A Multivariate Task. J. Chromatogr. B 2012, 910, 46–53.

Alexander H. Sandtorv and Hans-René Bjørsvik* Fast Halogenation of Some N-heterocycles by Means of N,N’-Dihalo-5,5-Dimethylhydantoin Advanced Catalysis and Synthesis 2013, 355, 499–507