Research at ICT
Rational Ligand Design for Efficient and Sustainable Palladium Cataltysis
Our developed water-soluble ligand KapdiPhos ( 4-((1R,3R,5S,7R)-1,3,5-Triaza-7-phosphaadamantan-1-ium-1-yl)butane-1-sulfonate or PTABS) in combination with Pd precursor has proved to be highly efficient in catalyzing room temperature amination, low temperature etherification and thioethrification of chloroheteroarenes. Low temperature and pressure carboamidation of DMT protected nucleosides also can be achieved.
KapdiPhos (PATBS) is now available commercially from Strem Chemicals Inc. https://www.strem.com/catalog/v/15-5715/phosphorus_1430837-91-4
Novel C-C Bond Forming Technologies
C-C bond forming technologies via transition-metal catalyzed processes has undergone a rapid change in the past few decades with the introduction of efficient catalysts exhibiting unique reactivity. Keeping with this theme we are interested in developing catalyst systems that could allow us to explore newer methods for C-C bond formation. This could either be achieved with homogeneous/heterogeneous or nano(colloidal) catalysis.
Fluorescent Nucleosides as Biological Probes
Multifunctional nucleosides, nucleotides or oligonucleotides have proved to be molecules of synthetic and biological importance given their applications as antivirals, anticancer drugs and as fluorescent biological probes. An exponential rise in the synthesis of nucleoside-based therapeutic drugs has been brought about by efficient metal-catalyzed cross-coupling functionalization strategies for both purines and pyrimidines. In particular, palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling processes have contributed immensely to the growth of this field. Amongst others, palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura, Sonogashira and Heck reactions have proved to be powerful tools in the hands of synthetic chemists facilitating greener and sustainable solutions for the modification of such structural motifs.