SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS AND CATALYSIS RESEARCH GROUP (SMCRG)

The technology for generating chiral molecules plays an important role in chemistry. Though there are number of successful homogeneous asymmetric catalysts have been developed, only limited numbers of them have been used in industry because of the intrinsic problems of homogeneous asymmetric catalysis, such as difficulty in product separation and purification, and recycling of the catalysts. The heterogeneous asymmetric catalysis most desirable approaches for the large-scale production of chiral compounds. However, most heterogeneous chiral catalysts are often snowed under by poor enantioselectivity that prevents the practical applications of asymmetric
catalysis.

The modification of active metal surfaces for creating a chiral microenvironment through adsorption of chiral molecules or surface is an efficient strategy for developing heterogeneous chiral catalysts. My group involves in development of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene, clays, zeolites and chiral polymers based metal confined chiral nano reactors and galleries for asymmetric transformation. The special incarceration effect of these materials generate independent chiral metal centres. Lead to high enantioselectivity for asymmetric hydrogenation, allylation and hydrovinylation of C=N and C=C at industrial scale.