Research
Organometallics, polymers and catalysis.
Organometallic chemistry for polymer synthesis and catalysis, homogeneous catalysis, CO₂ sequestration, chemical process development and heterogeneous catalysis.
Research thrusts
Six lines of enquiry, one question.
How precisely can a metal center and its ligand environment be tuned to control what a polymer becomes — its tacticity, its degradability, and the waste stream it is built from?
Ring-Opening Polymerization
Transition-metal organometallics and simple metal salts as catalysts for the ROP of cyclic esters and lactides, resolving how ancillary ligands on the metal center govern polymerization behavior and tacticity.
Read more → 02Metal-Free Catalysis
Phosphorus(V) compounds as metal-free initiators for cyclic ester and lactide polymerization — removing metal residues from biomedical-grade polyesters.
Read more → 03CO₂ Sequestration & Utilization
Ring-opening copolymerization of epoxides with CO₂ and with cyclic anhydrides, converting a waste greenhouse gas into aliphatic polycarbonates.
Read more → 04Olefin Polymerization
Design and synthesis of new non-metallocene pre-catalysts for olefin polymerization, extending control over polymer architecture.
Read more → 05Wealth From Waste
L/D-lactide recovered from bio-derived lactic acid sourced from food waste, closing the loop between waste streams and biodegradable plastics.
Read more → 06Biodegradable Polymers in Medicine
Polyester carriers and biogenic metal nanoparticles developed for drug delivery, in collaboration with biotechnology groups.
Read more →Third-party funding
8 funded programs.
Supported by DST, CSIR, the UGC–Israel Science Foundation, SERB, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation and industry.
| Project | Agency | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Improved methodology for potassium chlorate production | Vaigai Industries, Tamil Nadu | August 2005-Jan 2006 |
| Metallo- Phosphonamides and Phosphonates: Synthesis, Structural Characterization and Some Exploratory Investigations | Department of Science and Technology | April 2006-March 2009 |
| Dialkylhypophosphonates and Pyrophosphonic acids: New Precursors to Metallophosphonate Derivatives | Council of Scientific and Industrial Research | June 2006-May 2009 |
| Group 4 metal complexes derived from Schiff’s base and amide ligand scaffolds: synthesis, characterization and polymerization studies | Department of Science and Technology | April 2010-March 2013 |
| Polymerization of Cyclic Esters using Activated Monomer Mechanism | Council of Scientific and Industrial Research | December 2010-December 2013 |
| New Catalysts for Sustainable Polymers and Copolymers | University Grants Commission India and Israel Science Foundation | September 2018-April 2022 |
| Chiral metal catalysts towards the synthesis of biodegradable polymers and co-polymers | Department of Science and Technology (SERB) | December 2022-December 2025 |
| Harnessing Privileged Chiral Ligands for High-Performance Sustainable Polymers | Anusandhan National Research Foundation | February 2026-January 2029 |
Intellectual property
16 patents.
Filed and granted in India, the United States and via PCT — covering catalysts for poly(lactide) synthesis, metal-free polyester routes, CO₂-to-polycarbonate organocatalysts and PBAT manufacture.
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15
A Method of Synthesis of PBAT Using Group 4 and Group 13 initiators
Indian Pat. Appl. 2024, Filed.
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14
The ROCOP of epoxide and CO₂ to generate aliphatic polycarbonates using simple Organocatalyst
Indian Pat. Appl. 2024, IN202441026250. (Approved)
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13
Synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity of THF coordinated monomeric Group 13 metal isopropoxide isopropanol adduct
Indian Pat. Appl. 2024, IN202441006651. (Approved)
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12
Metal-free polyester based nano-drug carrier
Indian Pat. Appl. 2019, IN 201841019915 A 20191129. (Approved)
Collaborate with us.
We work with academic groups and industry on catalysis for sustainable polymers, CO₂ utilization and process development.