Tortajada Group

Dr. Andreu Tortajada Navarro graduated in Chemistry from the University of Valencia in 2015, when he moved to Tarragona to work under the supervision of Professor Ruben Martin in the development of Nickel catalyzed transformations. In July 2021, he joined the group of Professor Eva Hevia at the University of Bern to work on cooperative bimetallic chemistry, with a focus on their catalytic applications. In 2024 he got an Ambizione Project from the Swiss National Science Foundation and started their independent research career at the University of Fribourg in 2025, where he is exploring the use of abundant metals in catalytic applications. Outside the lab, I enjoy teaching and practicing step aerobics, singing in a choir and travelling.

• Research Interest

  Our research interest focuses on the development and application of Earth-abundant transition metals in catalysis, particularly in organic transformation for preparing high added-value products. The main goals include:

  1. Sustainable Chemistry: The research aims to move towards a circular economy and more sustainable chemical processes by reducing reliance on precious transition metals. This shift seeks to use Earth-abundant metals that are more environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and offer unique reactivity.
  2. Understanding Earth-Abundant Transition Metals: There is a particular focus on developing a deeper mechanistic understanding of Earth-abundant transition metals, especially in low oxidation states. These metals have diverse redox behaviors and the potential for catalytic applications, but their reactivity and complex structure need further exploration.
  3. New Catalytic Applications and Chemical Space: The research will explore how low oxidation state metal complexes can activate poorly reactive substrates like simple alkenes or ethers, enabling the formation of more complex chemical structures. This includes the design of new catalysts for organic reactions that form valuable structures.
• Selected Publications
  1. M.S. Tschopp, A.W. Platten, E. Hevia, A. Tortajada*, "Development of Sterically Hindered and Basic Sodium Amides for Catalytic Hydrogen Isotope Exchange", Eur. J. Inorg. Chem  2024, e202400200.
     
     
  2. Tortajada, G.L Righetti, A. McGinley, M. Mu, M. Garcia-Melchor,* E. Hevia*, "Alkene Isomerisation Catalysed by a Superbasic Sodium Amide", Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, 62, e202407262.
     
     
  3. Tortajada, E. Hevia*, "Room-Temperature Intermolecular Hydroamination of Vinylarenes Catalyzed by Alkali-Metal Ferrate Complexes", ACS Org. Inorg. Au 2024 , https://doi.org/10.1021/acsorginorgau.4c00066.
     
     
  4. Tortajada, L. Bole, M. Mu, M. Standford, M. Peñas-Defrutos, M. Garcia-Melchor,* E. Hevia*, "Sodium Mediated Deprotonative Borylation of Arenes Using Sterically Demanding B(CH₂SiMe₃)₃: Unlocking Polybasic Behaviour and Competing Lateral Borane Sodiation", Chem. Sci., 2023, 14, 6538-6545.
     
     
  5. Tortajada, E. Hevia*, "Perdeuteration of Arenes via Hydrogen Isotope Exchange Catalyzed by the Superbasic Sodium Amide Donor Species NaTMP·PMDETA", Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 20237–20242.