Chemical Synthesis | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Chemical Synthesis program (Funding Opportunity Number PD 09 6878) supports fundamental research aimed at pushing the boundaries of how chemists build molecules and materials at the molecular level. The core purpose of the opportunity is to fund the development of new and more efficient synthetic methodologies, along with the synthesis of complex and/or especially challenging targets. In practice, the program is looking for proposals where the central intellectual contribution is advances in synthesis itself, such as creating new reactions, new strategies for assembling difficult structures, or new tools that make synthesis more selective, practical, or broadly enabling.

A key theme in the solicitation is novelty and impact of the synthetic targets and methods. Typical targets include previously unknown structures, structures with unusual or useful properties, or structures that open doors to discovering and understanding new chemical phenomena. NSF highlights several representative areas that fit well: designing innovative reagents; developing catalysts for synthetic transformations (with the emphasis on enabling new transformations rather than primarily dissecting catalytic mechanism); discovering entirely new synthetic methods; target-oriented synthesis where the synthetic campaign itself yields broadly useful strategies; green synthesis; and the synthesis of new organic, organometallic, and inorganic structures. The program framing makes clear that NSF expects this work to create fundamental knowledge that strengthens the foundations of chemical synthesis and, over time, supports transformative technologies and new directions in basic research.

The opportunity also explicitly encourages proposals that address sustainability-related national needs. NSF signals interest in synthetic approaches that rely on earth-abundant and lower-cost elements and feedstocks, that reduce waste or improve energy efficiency, or that enable practical alternatives to petroleum-derived building blocks. Examples called out include developing new methods that use inexpensive, widely available chemicals; conducting fundamental studies that advance understanding of rare earth elements (which can have strategic importance and supply risk); and converting non-petroleum resources into useful starting materials or intermediates. For projects with a significant sustainable chemistry emphasis, applicants are encouraged to flag that focus directly in the proposal title by using the format "SusChEM: Name of Your Proposal," aligning with NSF's SusChEM emphasis area guidance.

Just as important as what the program funds is what it does not. The Chemical Synthesis program does not support projects where the primary goal is to study the properties of the target compounds or systems, even if substantial synthesis is required to make them. In other words, synthesis needs to be the main scientific objective rather than mainly a means to enable downstream property measurements. The announcement also provides routing guidance to help applicants choose the correct NSF home: proposals centered on synthesizing nanostructures, supramolecular assemblies, or polymers should be directed to the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry program, and proposals that include synthesis but are mainly focused on mechanistic studies of catalytic reactions are better suited for the Chemical Catalysis program.

Administratively, this is an NSF discretionary grant opportunity in the Science and Technology/Research and Development category within the Mathematical and Physical Sciences directorate (CFDA 47.049). Cost sharing is not required. The opportunity historically anticipated around 50 awards. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any eligible entity type, subject to any specific clarifications in the full text). The posting information reflects that this program description originated in 2009 and used recurring Chemistry (CHE) submission windows over multiple years; the record shows a current closing date of September 30, 2015, with an archive date of October 30, 2019, which generally indicates the specific Grants.gov listing is no longer active in that exact form even though the underlying NSF program may continue under updated solicitations or program descriptions.

For access or submission issues, the notice points applicants to NSF Grants.gov support (grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov). For program fit, the practical takeaway is that competitive submissions should clearly articulate a synthesis-centered intellectual advance, demonstrate why the new methodology or target is genuinely challenging or enabling, and, where relevant, explain how the approach improves sustainability through feedstock choice, reagent and catalyst design, waste reduction, or other chemistry-driven environmental benefits.

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