The Department of Chemistry is organising a Guest Lecture on “Sustainable Catalysis for Molecular Complexity: From Selective C–H Functionalization to Biomolecular Modification” on April 07, 2026. The lecture will be delivered by Dr Suman Dana, Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Switzerland. The talk will be convened by Dr Sabyasachi Chakrabortty, Associate Professor & HoD, Department of Chemistry, Faculty Advisor, Energy, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research (CIDR).
Abstract
Catalysis remains central in organic synthesis, enabling selective synthetic transformations under relatively milder conditions. Today’s global challenges demand not only efficient synthetic methodologies but also approaches that address resource-economy, waste minimization, energy efficiency, and overall sustainability. Thus, devising novel catalytic tools to enable precise synthesis of complex organic architectures, without compromising the reactivity and selectivity, is highly desirable. In this presentation, I will reflect on my decade-long journey dedicated to the development of these cutting-edge synthetic tools. First, the significance of transition-metal catalyzed C−H activations will be discussed as an alluring retrosynthetic tool for diversifying simple progenitors into value-added organic molecules. Specific highlight of this topic will be the development of Ru(II)-catalyzed cross-dehydrogenative dimerization of aromatic carboxylic acids, harnessing non-covalent interactions. Subsequently, the importance of metallaelectro-catalyzed C−H activations and asymmetric organic electrosynthesis will be emphasized. Then the pioneering contributions in the realm of enantioselective 3d metallaelectro-catalyzed C−H activation reactions and chiral oxazoline ligand development will be deliberated. The discussion will then shift towards the strategic application of C–H activation strategies for the asymmetric synthesis of novel chiral molecules. Finally, I will provide a glimpse of how catalysis can enable translational applications for the modification of DNA/RNA backbones, thereby advancing the discovery of novel nucleic acid therapeutics. Throughout this journey, key mechanistic features and the sustainability aspects will be elaborated.