Inspiration: There are plethora of metalloenzyme in biological world performing biochemical reactions efficiently and selectively. The primary reaction center, called as active site, contains metal ion ligated by amino acid residues. Metal play’s central role in execution of the chemical reaction whereas amino acid residues modulate the reactivity by steric and electronic control. Notably, nature uses earth abundant transition metals (e.g. Fe, Mn, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn etc.) and small molecules (O2, CO2, H2, N2, H2O, H2O2, H2S, NH3, NO, NO2-, NO3- etc.) as co-substrate to construct chemical processes.
Embedded Files
Bioinorganic/small molecule activation/nanocluster/catalysis: Inspired by the natural systems, we are motivated to design and synthesize metal complexes of earth abundant metals (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu) using noble ligand motifs to perform various organic transformation and energy relevant small molecule activation. Various spectroscopic tools (NMR, UV-vis, EPR, IR, GC, ESI-Mass, Potentiostat etc.) will be employed to characterize and evaluate the catalytic performances of the system. Further, a detail mechanistic investigation will allow us to translate acquired information to develop a new model catalysts of metal nanoclusters (NCs). Due to its ultra-nano size (< 2 nm), NCs shows molecule like properties with a discrete energy level, unlike nanoparticles (NPs). Also, compared to conventional catalysts of NPs, metal NCs have well-defined structures in both the arrangement of metal atoms in the core as well as the ligand-binding modes on the surface. Hence, it provides unprecedented opportunities for understanding catalytic mechanisms at the atomic level and bridge the knowledge gap between homogeneous model catalysts and real-world nano catalysts.
Researcher will get exposure to learn following professional and scientific skills: -
Research expertise in bio-inorganic, inorganic, organometallics, nanocluster.
Multi-steps organic, metal-complex, and atom-precise nanocluster synthesis.
Use of Schlenk line and glove box to handle air and moisture sensitive reagents and reactions steps.
Isotopic labeling experiments.
Energy relevant small molecules (O2, CO2, H2O) activation by transition metal complex.
Extensive working experience in chemical, electrochemical, and photochemical reactions.
Learning of chemical kinetics using UV-vis spectrometer.
Scientific writing and oral communication skill.
Mentorship to undergraduate students.
Hands-on experience in UV-vis spectrophotometer, potentiostat, NMR, GC-MS, IR etc.
Purification of organic compounds by chromatographic techniques and their structural elucidation by various spectroscopic tools.
Mechanistic studies for catalytic reactions (generation and characterization of reactive intermediates).
Page updated
Report abuse