SYNTHETIC Inorganic and Bioinspired Transition Metal CHEMISTRY Group

Our research group focuses on developing "Bio-inspired Catalysts" for selective functionalization of hydrocarbon moiety and understanding the reaction mechanism by experimental and theoretical studies. Our group also involves in designing "Redox Catalysts".

Efficient and sustainable catalytic oxidative functionalization of unactivated saturated hydrocarbons yielding high commodity chemicals for application in energy, medicine and materials, remains a great modern challenge. Developing bio-inspired transition metal species (mono and multi-metallic) to understand biological reaction mechanisms and to design catalysts relevant to the current energy challenge is being aimed. 

   Naturally abundant first row transition metal complexes could be naturally facilitators to mild oxidative functionalization of hydrocarbons and could be potentially a cost effective and green solution to the hydrocarbon functionalization enigma - as long as sufficiently reactive and selective biocatalysts can be generated.

Use of redox-active ligands combined with transition-metal ions is a powerful strategy to promote multi-electron catalytic reactions. Here, the ligand actively participates in redox process, leading to efficient conversion of substrates to products.