Carlos Saá

Carlos Saá is a Full Professor at the University of Santiago de Compostela, affiliated with the Singular Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials (CIQUS). He earned his PhD in Chemistry from the same institution in 1985 and completed a NATO postdoctoral fellowship at UC Berkeley (1987–1988). His research group specializes in transition metal-catalyzed reactions for synthesizing bioactive molecules and functional materials.

Research Focus: Prof. Saá's work centers on developing novel catalytic methodologies in organic synthesis, with emphasis on:

• Metal-catalyzed C-H bond activation and functionalization.
• Cyclization reactions ([2+2+2], [4+2+2] cycloadditions) using Ru, Pd, Rh, and Os complexes.
• Stereoselective synthesis of nitrogen/oxygen heterocycles (e.g., benzazepines, benzodiazepines).
• Mechanistic studies combining experimental and computational approaches.

His research enables efficient routes to pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and advanced materials.

Publication Trends: Recent articles (2020–2025) highlight innovations in ruthenium-carbene chemistry, palladium-catalyzed annulations, and the synthesis of nonplanar polycyclic aromatics. Themes include oxidative coupling, tandem reactions, and stereodivergent synthesis, often leveraging DFT calculations to elucidate mechanisms.

Collaborations & Teams: Prof. Saá leads an active research group at CIQUS, collaborating internationally on projects involving organometallic catalysis. His team frequently presents work at major conferences (e.g., IUPAC Symposia, RSEQ meetings).