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Main Group Chemistry Lab

IISER Thiruvananthapuram

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Research

Our research focuses on understanding the structure and bonding in reactive main group compounds, stabilization of unusual coordinate modes, activation of inert chemical bonds, and Lewis acid catalysis. Curiosity-driven research in isolating reactive main group cations comprising magnesium, zinc, aluminum, antimony, and bismuth has led us to explore their potential as Lewis acids in catalytic transformations.

   News & Events

  • Congratulations Suban for his recent publication in Nature Communications!

  • Congratulations Poorna and Sheetal for their recent publication in European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry! 

  • Congratulations Dr. Sheetal Kathayat Bisht and Dr. Suban Kundu on defending your thesis.

  • Dr. Amiya K Sahoo has joined the lab as post doctoral fellow in October 2025. Welcome aboard!

  • Congratulations Annabel and Devika for their recent publication in Chemical Communications.

  • Subhajit Chakraborty has joined the lab as new PhD in August 2025!

  • Anchal, Dilana and Dheeraj has joined our lab to pursue major project. Welcome on board!

  • Congratulations Deepti and Annabel for their recent publication in Nature Synthesis!

Latest Publications

Isolation and reactivity of sodium benzyl cations

 The use of sodium tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate along with mesityllithium has not only provided a new and efficient route to access highly reactive organometallic mixture that can deprotonate benzylic C―H bonds, but also to facilitate the isolation of the distinct examples of cationic sodium benzyl species, which are otherwise not accessible by straightforward synthetic routes using the combination of RLi/NaOR. Tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate plays a crucial role in the reaction mixtures to form the stable anion [(TpMe2)2Na]− to charge balance the cationic sodium benzyl species opening new avenues in exploration of reactive organosodium compounds in chemical transformations.

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