Research interests

– Catalytic synthesis of high-performance polymeric materials (polyoxazolidinones)

– Removal of additives from end-of-life polyurethanes

– Green chemistry

– Heterogeneous catalysis

– C-H amination of arenes

Curriculum vitae and education

August 2023 – present

Postdoctoral Fellow in the CAT Catalytic Center at ITMC, RWTH-Aachen, Germany

October 2018 – May 2023

Ph.D. Student at the Centre for Membrane Separations, Adsorption, Catalysis and Spectroscopy for Sustainable Solutions (cMACS) at KU Leuven, Belgium

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Dirk De Vos; co-supervisor: Prof. Dr. Dimitrios Sakellariou

Area: (Transition-)metal catalysed electrophilic C-H amination of simple arenes

September 2016 – July 2018

Master of Science in Bioscience Engineering: Catalytic Technology at KU Leuven, Belgium

September 2013 – July 2016

Bachelor of Science in Bioscience Engineering; Option Catalytic Technology at KU Leuven, Belgium

Selected publications

01) Evidence for regioselective Pt(II)-mediated hydroxylation of long linear alkanes in acetic acid. M. Janssen, L. Van Emelen, C. Marquez, T. De Baerdemaeker, D. De Vos. Journal of Catalysis, 2018, 368, 345-353. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcat.2018.10.020

02) C–N coupling reactions with arenes through C–H activation: the state-of-the-art versus the principles of green chemistry. L. Van Emelen, M. Henrion, R. Lemmens, and D. De Vos. Catalysis Science & Technology, 2022, 12, 360-389. DOI: 10.1039/D1CY01827B

03) Cu-α-diimine Compounds Encapsulated in Porous Materials as Catalysts for Electrophilic Amination of Aromatic C−H Bonds. L. Van Emelen, V. Lemmens, C. Marquez, S. Van Minnebruggen, O.A. Usoltsev, A.L. Bugaev, K. Janssens, K.Y. Cheung, N. Van Velthoven and D. De Vos. Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2022, 14 (46), 51867-51880. DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c13980

04) Catalytic Tandem Dehydrochlorination-Hydrogenation of PVC towards Valorisation of Chlorinated Plastic Waste. G. O’Rourke, T. Hennebel, M. Stalpaert, A. Skorynina, A. Bugaev, K. Janssens, L. Van Emelen, V. Lemmens, R. De Oliveira Silva, C. Colemonts, P. Gabriels, D. Sakellariou and D. De Vos. Chemical Science, 2023, 14, 4401-4412. DOI: 10.1039/D3SC00945A

05) Lewis acid/acetic acid-catalysed electrophilic amidation of simple arenes with O-acetyl acetohydroxamic acid. L. Van Emelen, C. Marquez and D. De Vos. Journal of Catalysis, 2023, 425, 359-371. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcat.2023.06.036

06) Ligand-free Pd^II/Ag^I-catalysed electrophilic amidation of simple arenes with O-acetyl acetohydroxamic acid. L. Van Emelen, R. Lemmens, E. Kozyr, A. L. Bugaev, K. Janssens, R. de Oliveira-Silva, W. Stuyck, C. Marquez, H. Van Dessel, D. Sakellariou, D. E. De Vos. Catalysis Today, 2024, 437, 114748. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2024.114748

Awards + Scholarships

October 2018 – September 2022

FWO Ph.D. Fellowship Fundamental Research (grant nr. 1161019N)