An-Najah University Journal for Research – A Publishes Strasbourg Team’s Innovative Research on Green Catalysis
A research team led by Dr. Jean Djukic from the University of Strasbourg has introduced a novel method for synthesizing and applying cobalt nanoparticles in carbon–carbon bond formation. Their findings, published in the An-Najah University Journal for Research – A (Natural Sciences), demonstrate that these ultra-small nanoparticles—measuring just a few nanometers—are highly effective in promoting the Kumada–Corriu cross-coupling reaction, a cornerstone technique in modern organic synthesis.
This development carries significant implications for the future of sustainable chemistry. Conventional cross-coupling reactions depend heavily on costly and often toxic metals such as palladium and nickel. Cobalt, however, is abundant, less expensive, and more environmentally sustainable, positioning it as a promising alternative in the design of greener catalytic systems.
In their study, the Strasbourg team synthesized cobalt nanoparticles through the controlled breakdown of a cobaltacycle using a borohydride reagent. They then showcased the nanoparticles’ efficiency in producing unsymmetrical biaryls—key molecular structures widely used in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and advanced materials science.
The article appears in the special issue Sustainable Materials and Chemistry for Energy and Environmental Applications. The An-Najah University Journal for Research – A is published by An-Najah National University. It is a fully open-access journal, with no article processing charges, and is indexed in both DOAJ and Scopus, reflecting its growing international reach and academic impact.
