Dr. Sebastian Beil - Electrosynthesis and Photocatalysis

Vita
B.Sc. Christian Albrechts University of Kiel (2010-2013)
M.Sc. Christian Albrechts University of Kiel (2013-2015)
Ph.D. Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz (2015-2019)
Postdoctoral Research Fellow University of Ulm (2019-2020)
Postdoctoral Research Fellow Princeton University, USA (2020-2021)
Assistant Professor University of Groningen, Netherlands (2021-2024)
Group Leader MPI CEC (since 2024)

 

Publications

Recent Publications

S. B. Beil, S. R. Waldvogel, Chem 2026, accepted; DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2025.102831.

S. B. Beil, Synlett 2026, 37, 76–80.

N. Wei, S. B. Beil, ChemPhotoChem 2025, 9, e202500241.

S. O. Simonetti, S. B. Beil, S. R. Waldvogel, ACS Electrochem. 2025, 1, 805–818.

A. Prudlik, M. A. Matei, A. Scherkus, J. I. Bardagi, S. B. Beil,* R. Francke, Green Chem. 2025, 27, 4280–4288.

Group members

PhD students

Rani Kumari
Tim Sander Stamp
Berjan Stouwie
Annemijn Michelle van Koten

Research in the team "Electrosynthesis and Photocatalysis"

Utilizing abundant and renewable feedstock and mild conditions will provide advanced building blocks for a sustainable future. In our curiosity-driven research we aim for using electrosynthesis and photocatalysis to obtain for instance non-natural amino acids, rare carbohydrates, and medicinally important heterocycles. In either case, we study electron transfer processes with the sophisticated toolbox provided by the institute. We are developing a clear understanding of underlying mechanisms by experimental and computational means respectively, with the aim of ultimately improving reproducibility within the community. Eventually, we aim for developing tools which can alter the redox properties of materials and within chemical reactions.

…at the interface (Electrosynthesis)

We are interested in expanding the utility of electrosynthetic reactions in mediated (red), as well as direct anodic oxidation reactions (blue). Likewise, cathodic reduction of bench-stable substrates is studied (green).

 

see (mediated oxidation):

  • ChemElectroChem 2025, 12, e202500140; DOI: 10.1002/celc.202500140
  • ACS Electrochem. 2025, 1, 1515–1522; DOI: 10.1021/acselectrochem.5c00111
  • Green Chem. 2025, 27, 4280–4288; 10.1039/D4GC06199C
  • ACS Catal. 2023, 13, 2335–2340; 10.1021/acscatal.2c06318


see (direct oxidation):

  • Org. Lett. 2022, 24, 3760–3765; 10.1021/acs.orglett.2c01084
  • RSC Adv. 2020, 10, 14249–14253; DOI: 10.1039/D0RA02673E
  • Electrochim. Acta 2019, 302, 310–315; DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2019.02.041
  • Org. Lett. 2018, 20, 4107–4110; DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.8b01664
  • Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2018, 57, 2450–2454; DOI: 10.1002/anie.201712718


see (reduction):

  • Org. Lett. 2026, accepted.
  • ACS Electrochem. 2025, 1, 805–818; 10.1021/acselectrochem.5c00081

…in homogeneous solution (Photocatalysis)

We are studying abundant functional handles as alcohols or carboxylic acids as valuable functionalities for the synthesis of building blocks both under metal-free and transition metal catalyzed conditions. Likewise, metal-based and purely organic photocatalysts are studied to broaden the synthetic toolbox toward bio-active compounds and waste stream valorization. Building on abundant first row transition metals, our focus lies on merging Cobalt, Nickel, and Copper catalysis with photocatalysis.

see:

  • ChemPhotoChem 2025, e202500241; DOI: 10.1002/cptc.202500241
  • JACS Au 2024, 4, 2746–2766; DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.4c00527
  • Chem. Eur. J. 2024, 30, e202400560; DOI: 10.1002/chem.202400560
  • Nature Catal. 2023, 6, 553–558; DOI: 10.1038/s41929-023-00980-x