Research
Pillars
Focused on Organic/Organometallic Chemistry and Sustainable Catalysis to address global energy and environmental challenges.
Laboratory Mission
We explore the frontiers of organometallic chemistry — designing molecular architectures that unlock new pathways for sustainable catalysis and selective organic transformations.
Our laboratory develops well-defined transition-metal catalytic systems spanning hydrogen generation, hydrogenation, photocatalysis, and C–H activation — bridging the gap between homogeneous precision and heterogeneous scalability.
Focus Areas
- Homogeneous Catalysis
- Heterogeneous Catalysis
- C-H Activation
- Hydrogen Generation
- Photocatalysis
Homogeneous Catalysis
Molecularly-defined pincer complexes and metal-ligand cooperation for selective transformations.
We design and develop well-defined transition-metal pincer complexes for C-C, C-N bond forming reactions, acceptorless dehydrogenation, hydrogenation, and borrowing hydrogen strategies using earth-abundant metals like Mn, Co, Ni, and Fe.
Representative Works
Soumya Sree Samal, Murugan Subaramanian, Ekambaram Balaraman. Nickel-Catalyzed Selective Monoamination of 1,2-Diols: An Affordable Approach to Amino Alcohols. Organic Letters, 2025. 27, 9599–9605
Ganesan Sivakumar, Abhijith Karattil Suresh, Debjani Nag, Pratik Swarup Dash, Ekambaram Balaraman. Catalysis-driven methane conversion to carbon and hydrogen. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2025. 121, 42–69
T. Nandakumar, Uma Dwivedi, Palmurukan M. Ramar, K. K. Pant, Sanat Kumar, Ekambaram Balaraman. Enhanced catalytic co-conversion of biomass and plastic volatiles using metal-enhanced HZSM-5 extrudates: a study on pyro-kinetic, synergistic, and thermodynamic efficacy. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 2025. 15, 20741–20763
Reshma Babu, Smruti Rekha Padhy, Ekambaram Balaraman. Efficient N-methylation of primary amides using methanol under Mn(I)-catalysis. Tetrahedron, 2025. 176, 134535
Heterogeneous Catalysis
Robust nanocatalysts and supported systems for sustainable industrial transformations.
Our group develops reusable heterogeneous nanocatalysts on graphene/carbon supports for hydrogen generation, CO2 conversion, biomass upgrading, photocatalysis, and co-pyrolysis of waste materials.
Representative Works
T. Nandakumar, Uma Dwivedi, Palmurukan M. Ramar, K. K. Pant, Sanat Kumar, Ekambaram Balaraman. Enhanced catalytic co-conversion of biomass and plastic volatiles using metal-enhanced HZSM-5 extrudates: a study on pyro-kinetic, synergistic, and thermodynamic efficacy. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 2025. 15, 20741–20763
T. Nandakumar, Subhan Kumar Pal, Ravikrishnan Vinu, Palmurukan M. Ramar, Kamal Kishore Pant, Sanat Kumar, Ekambaram Balaraman. Graphene-Encapsulated Transition Metal@N/C Catalysts for Catalytic Copyrolysis of Biomass and Waste Plastics: Production of Linear α-Olefins and Aromatics. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 2024. 12, 5283–5299
T. Nandakumar, Uma Dwivedi, K.K. Pant, Sanat Kumar, Ekambaram Balaraman. Wheat straw/HDPE co-reaction synergy and enriched production of aromatics and light olefins via catalytic co-pyrolysis over Mn, Ni, and Zn metal modified HZSM-5. Catalysis Today, 2023. 408, 111–126
Sultana Shaik, Rama Mohana Reddy Sirigireddy, Kumar Godugu, Venkatramu Vemula, Raghava Reddy Kakarla, Ekambaram Balaraman, Chinna Gangi Reddy Nallagondu, Tejraj M. Aminabhavi. SiO2-supported HClO4 catalyzed synthesis of (Z)-thiazolylhydrazonoindolin-2-ones and their electrochemical properties. Chemosphere, 2022. 309, 136667
Outcome & Impact
Advancing Science
Core Contribution
Development of diverse C-C and C-N bond-forming reactions via dehydrogenation strategies. These protocols are highly atom-efficient, eliminating hazardous waste.
Robust Nanocatalysis
Converting homogeneous catalytic systems into heterogeneous versions through stable supports. Our core-shell architectures represent a new frontier in 3d-transition-metal catalysis.