Research Projects

Supramolecular self-assembly is the spontaneous assembly of small molecular components to form larger aggregates via reversible non-covalent binding. Such self-assembly approach generally leads to the formation of thermodynamically most stable architectures. Self-assembled 3D coordination architectures are very appealing since their formation and properties are controlled by specific directional information and functionalities encoded in the subunits. The aim of the proposed project is to design 3D discrete architectures having confined nanospace with special decoration for storing/stabilization of unusual conformations of organic compounds and for performing chemical reactions with special emphasis on achieving enantioselective transformations. Three-dimensional (3D) confined architectures have received huge appreciation in recent times from the scientific community due to their potential applications in catalysis, host-guest chemistry and catalysis. Use of such architectures in stabilization of reactive intermediates/ unusual conformers and enantioselective reactions is not well explored. Consequently, design and synthesis of multifunctional three-dimensional (3D) discrete molecular architectures have gained paramount attention in current scientific advancements for exploring the use of these systems for the above-mentioned reasons. This proposal aims to use metal-ligand coordination as driving for to construct three-dimensional architectures of Pd and Ir. The confined pocket of such newly designed architectures will be use to study the chemistry of some photo-/thermo-chromic compounds. Moreover, the confined pocket of some architectures will be decorated with certain chiral functional groups for performing enantioselective organic transformations in the confined nano-space of such molecular containers. Apart from these, efforts will be given to study encapsulation of a wide variety of guest molecules including photo-/light sensitive drugs.