Bioinspired Inorganic Chemistry

The basic theme of our research is to comprehend the yet unclear details pertaining to a number of crucial biological catalytic systems by utilizing suitable model compounds, and to interrogate how such comprehension may be sensibly applied to alleviate some of the paramount challenges we face today. Numerous examples exist where model systems have pioneered fruitful biochemical research in the absence of biological insights, exhibiting the remarkable potential of bioinspired model systems. Hence, we use the principles of synthetic organic, inorganic, and physical-inorganic chemistries to design new ligands and corresponding metal complexes that can provide as yet unknown reactivities, stabilize proposed intermediates, and address fundamental queries regarding structure-function relationships of various metalloenzymes. We use various spectroscopic methods (e.g. EPR, resonance Raman, Mössbauer, variable temperature UV-vis and NMR etc.) as part of our research program, and researchers will gain broad experience and achieve expertise across disciplines, with a foundation based upon inorganic chemistry, and extensions into organic and biological chemistries with industrial/medicinal/biotechnological application.