Matteo Costantini joins the Department of Chemistry to advance sustainable synthetic methods

Matteo Costantini conducts research in organic chemistry at the Department of Chemistry at Stockholm University. Photo: Department of Chemistry

Matteo was born and raised in northern Italy and completed his undergraduate studies in Organic and Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Milan. He then moved to Stockholm University for his doctoral studies under the supervision of Dr. Abraham Mendoza (now at the Institute of Molecular Science in Valencia), where he developed new synthetic methods for enantiopure cyclopropanes using a redox-active carbene reagent.

Following his PhD, he joined Professor Phil Baran’s research group at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, as a Wenner-Gren Fellow. There, his research focused on electrosynthetic methodologies and their application in the total synthesis of complex natural products. A subsequent research stay at Stockholm University in the group of Professor Miguel Rivero-Crespo further expanded his expertise, particularly in organocatalytic cascade reactions.

Driving innovation in sustainable synthesis

At the Department of Chemistry, Matteo leads a research group focused on developing synthetic strategies based on single-electron logic. His work aims to design main-group reagents and catalysts capable of selectively activating functionalities traditionally considered inert.

By integrating sustainable technologies such as electrochemistry and photochemistry, the research has broad applications in medicinal chemistry, materials science, and catalysis. At the same time, the group seeks to uncover the fundamental mechanisms underlying these transformations.

The long-term ambition is to enable efficient molecular manufacturing from unconventional starting materials, including waste streams, and to develop methodologies that can be implemented in greener industrial processes. Close connections with fields such as materials chemistry and biochemistry further ensure that these methods are applicable to a wide range of scientific challenges.

Matteo highlights that Stockholm University’s strong commitment to sustainability provides an ideal environment for his research. The Department of Chemistry’s long-standing tradition of scientific excellence, combined with interdisciplinary collaboration, creates unique opportunities to develop modern, sustainable solutions to enduring challenges in organic synthesis.

“I am excited to be part of the department’s research environment and to contribute to the development of sustainable solutions to enduring challenges in organic synthesis. I am also particularly looking forward to mentoring the next generation of chemists and collaborating with colleagues across disciplines,” says Matteo Costantini.

Link to Matteo Costantini´s profile page

Link to Matteo Costantini´s research group