Breakthrough catalyst design for carbon–sulfur (C–S) bond formation selected as the August cover of the leading journal Small (IF 12.1; top 9.34%)

Daejeon, Korea — TheEN Co., Ltd. announced that a joint research paper by Prof. Sung-Tak Kim—CEO of TheEN and Professor in the Department of Applied Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Chungnam National University—and Prof. Kolleboyina Jayaramulu (Indian Institute of Technology, India) has been published in the August issue of Small and distinguished as the journal’s cover article.

The study presents a next-generation design strategy for catalysts that promote carbon–sulfur (C–S) coupling reactions, a foundational step in the synthesis of anticancer, antibiotic, and antiviral drugs as well as advanced functional materials. Overcoming long-standing limitations in catalyst selectivity and stability that have constrained industrial deployment, the team conducted a comprehensive analysis of state-of-the-art catalytic systems—metal nanoparticles, metal oxides, single-atom catalysts, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), and graphene—and employed density functional theory (DFT) calculations to elucidate reaction mechanisms and derive actionable design rules.

Prof. Kim said, “This work proposes a new catalytic strategy that addresses key challenges in C–S bond formation through international collaboration. Building on our global research network, we will continue to create academic and industrial value across energy transition, eco-friendly chemical materials, and sustainable pharmaceutical synthesis.”

This research was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) under the project “Development of integrated demonstration technologies for producing bio-naphtha/lubricant base oils from biogas derived from organic waste resources.”