Main Group Synthesis, Catalysis and Small Molecules Activation

Main group elements have proven to be indispensable tools in modern chemistry, playing crucial roles in the synthesis of novel compounds, catalysis, and small molecule activation. Our group is interested in designing novel Frustrated Lewis Pairs (FLPs) based on Group 13, 14 and 15 elements to activate small molecules like CO2, H2, N2, N2O, SO2, etc, and further convert them into value-added products under ambient conditions. We are also focused on developing a novel class of bench-stable Lewis acids for catalytic transformations. The use of main group compounds for such transformations is sustainable and can minimize waste and energy consumption associated with metal-based transformations, making it useful for both academic and industrial purposes.

The reversible Z-E photoisomerization of the azo group allows innumerable applications of aromatic azo compounds, including photoswitches, dyes, antibiotics and molecular machines. Our group is engaged in utilizing photoswitching behaviour of azoarenes to difunctionalize the N=N double bond to form N-X (X=P, B, Si) bonds under metal- or catalyst-free conditions.

Lewis Acid Main Group Chemistry

Boron Assisted Tri-Fluoromethylation Reaction

Incorporating a trifluoromethyl group to a molecule increases its electronegativity, lipophilicity, and metabolic stability, making it highly useful in pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. The difunctionalization of carbon-carbon olefinic bonds through trifluoromethylation, without relying on transition metals or additives, is an efficient way to introduce two functional groups across an olefinic bond at once, leading to highly functionalized molecules. Whereas the highly Lewis acidic boron reagent interacts with suitable molecules through the vacant pi orbital on the boron atom, leading to activation and subsequently facilitating the targeted organic transformation. Therefore, we are concentrating on boron-assisted simultaneous formation of C-CF3 and C-X (C/heteroatom) bonds on carbon-carbon olefinic bonds in a regioselective manner, without the use of transition metals or additives.

Chalcogen-Based Lewis acids Catalysts

In the area of Main-Group chemistry, chalcogens are increasingly studied for their potential as Lewis acids in various applications. One interesting feature of these elements is their ability to form chalcogen bonds, which are non-covalent interactions between an electron donor and a low-lying σ* orbital on the chalcogen atom. These electropositive regions on chalcogens can act as electron acceptor sites, which can be fine-tuned to function as Lewis acids. Our research focuses on developing chalcogen-based Lewis acids with redox-active backbones. By combining chalcogen bonding with redox chemistry, we aim to explore their use in activating bonds like C-F, C-Cl, C-S, etc., as well as in catalysis and anion-binding applications.

Development of Base Metal Catalyst for Organoborane Synthesis

Our research group focusses on the synthesis of organoborane compounds, which are of interest to chemical, medicinal, and materials scientists because of their stability and ability to undergo selective transformations into diverse functional groups through various established protocols. In our lab we strive to develop milder and effective methodologies to obtain valuable boronic esters, containing varied features. We use inexpensive and challenging substrates, available in feed stock in nature. We focus on developing new catalysts based on earth-abundant, environmentally friendly metals mostly based on Iron, Cobalt and Nickel. To effectively control the reactivity of these metals, we have designed new N-heterocyclic carbene ligands that finely tune the electronic properties of the catalytic center. This approach enables enhanced productivity and selectivity, particularly in the synthesis of organoboranes.

Synthesis and Applications of New Main Group Polymers

In recent years, extensive research has been carried out for the generation of main group materials particularly Group 13/15 materials via the transition-metal-catalyzed dehydrocoupling of amine-boranes and phosphine-boranes. Although dehydrocoupling reactions make use of easy-to-access main group substrates, a key challenge for the future is the development of catalytic processes that involve the elimination of species other than H2. Therefore, the first milestone of this project is to find a new synthetic route to polymeric main group materials based on P/B, P/Al N/Al and B-O-Si polymers with potentially unique properties via the dehalosilylcoupling of organoelement halides