@article {43446, title = {N-2 activation on Al metal clusters: catalyzing role of BN-doped graphene support}, journal = {Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics}, volume = {18}, year = {2016}, month = {OCT}, pages = {27721-27727}, abstract = {The successful sustenance of life demands an ambient abiotic process for N-2 activation and dissociation. The Bosch-Haber process remains the only abiotic and synthetic means for N-2 activation and its fixation. Metal nanoclusters have been recently reported for activating molecular nitrogen. Interestingly, the metal clusters explored so far for N-2 activation are free clusters and, hence, are practically not applicable by experimental chemists. Using density functional theory (DFT) based methodology, we propose a potential catalytic system for di-nitrogen activation, viz. supported Al clusters. Al clusters supported on BN doped graphene sheets are seen to activate N-2 molecule with a red shift in the N-N stretching frequency up to 874 cm(-1) with activation barriers as low as 1.14 eV.}, doi = {10.1039/c6cp03342c}, author = {Kumar, Deepak and Pal, Sourav and Krishnamurty, Sailaja} } @article {47638, title = {Ni(II)-catalyzed intramolecular C-H/C-H oxidative coupling: an efficient route to functionalized cycloindolones and indenoindolones}, journal = {ACS Catalysis}, volume = {11}, year = {2021}, month = {OCT }, pages = {12384-12393}, type = {Article}, abstract = {Nickel(II)-catalyzed intramolecular C(sp(2))-H/C(sp(3))-H and C(sp(2))-H/C(sp(2))-H oxidative couplings in indoles are achieved via chelation assistance. These reactions provide access to biologically relevant five- and six-membered substituted cyclopentaindolones, carbazolones, and indenoindolones in high yields and good chemoselectivity employing an air-stable and defined nickel catalyst, (bpy)Ni(OAc)(2). The oxidative cyclizations proceeded either through a six-membered or an unconventional seven-membered nickelacycle. An extensive mechanistic investigation by experiments and theoretical calculations revealed a facile indole{\textquoteright}s C(2)-H nickelation and a rate-limiting reductive elimination process. This intramolecular oxidative cyclization operates via a probable Ni(II)/Ni(III) pathway involving single-electron oxidation of nickel without the participation of a carbon-based radical.}, keywords = {C-H activation, cycloindolones, indenoindolones, indoles, Mechanism, Nickel, oxidative coupling}, issn = {2155-5435}, doi = {10.1021/acscatal.1c03314}, author = {Ankade, Shidheshwar B. and Samal, Pragnya Paramita and Soni, Vineeta and Gonnade, Rajesh G. and Krishnamurty, Sailaja and Punji, Benudhar} } @article {47447, title = {Nitrogen activation to reduction on a recyclable V-SAC/BN-graphene heterocatalyst sifted through dual and multiphilic descriptors}, journal = {Journal of Colloid and Interface Science}, volume = {600}, year = {2021}, month = {MAY}, pages = {480-491}, type = {Article}, abstract = {

Efficient reduction of nitrogen to ammonia at a minimal cost would require a recherche catalyst tailored by assimilating the inherent electronic and reactive nature of Single Atom Catalysts (SACs) on heteroatom doped-graphene. A full-scale DFT study accounting for disparate descriptions of atomic orbitals and representation of support, has been carried out to identify the most active and recyclable SAC/B-graphene composite as catalyst for Nitrogen Reduction Reaction (NRR). Dual and Multiphilic descriptors derived reactivity pattern of six different metal SACs V, Fe, Ni, Ru, W and Re on periodic and non-periodic paradigms of pristine and BN-pair doped graphene supports, align with the calculated chemisorption efficacy and activation of N2. The enzymatic route of nitrogen reduction on three most ideal metal SACs (V, W and Re) culminates Vanadium SAC, a relatively cheaper metal, anchored on BNring-graphene with an energy barrier of ⩽1.24 eV as a highly active and recyclable catalyst for NRR.

}, doi = {10.1016/j.jcis.2021.05.027}, author = {Maibam, Ashakiran and Krishnamurty, Sailaja} }