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A new generation of high performing polymer electrolyte membranes with ultralow platinum group metal loading (in total 0.44 mgPGM cm− 2) has been developed and characterized. High performance was achieved for MEAs based on the short-side chain Aquivion membrane (E98-09S), stabilized Solvay ionomer (D98-06ASX), and optimized catalysts developed by CNR-ITAE (cathode 40% Pt on C and anode: Ir0.7Ru0.3OX). The high performance was verified on several scales ranging from small single cells (3–8 cm2) at CNR-ITAE and IRD to short three-cell stacks at ITM, the latter MEAs having an active area of 130 cm2. A 4000-h single cell steady-state test at 3 A cm− 2 shows that the degradation rate of the ultralow PGM MEAs is 8 μV/h. Minimal reversible degradation was recorded at 80°C although this is pronounced at low temperature (55°C). Current and thermal cycling proved to have limited impact on degradation.

Report on final MEA performance and stability properties

Publishable report on MEA development and characterisation

The synthesis of the alkaloid jamtine and the antidepressant paroxetine have been addressed by a strategy involving asymmetric desymmetrisation of prochiral imides by a chiral lithium amide base. A short reaction sequence, starting with a cyclohexane fused succinimide, led to the structures originally reported for the alkaloid jamtine and its derived N-oxide. The structures synthesised are shown not to correspond with those originally reported. A second sequence involves desymmetrisation of a 4-arylglutarimide, and provides a short enantioselective synthesis of the drug substance paroxetine.

A new asymmetric approach to the erythrinan alkaloid system is described, which involves chiral base desymmetrisation of a ring fused imide and a 6-exo-trig radical cyclisation as the key steps.

A new asymmetric total synthesis of the erythrinan alkaloid erysotramidine is described, which uses chiral base desymmetrisation, N-acyliminium addition, and 6-exo-trig radical cyclisation as the key steps.

The asymmetric desymmetrisation of certain 4-aryl substituted glutarimides has been accomplished with high levels of selectivity (up to 97% ee) by enolisation with a chiral bis-lithium amide base. The selectivity of the reaction is shown to be the result of asymmetric enolisation, followed by a kinetic resolution. One of the chiral imides synthesised was converted into the selective seratonin reuptake inhibitor (-)-paroxetine.