Dr. Muniyandi Sankaralingam, a DST Inspire Faculty Fellow has synthesised and explored the activity of several earth-abundant metal complexes like amine and imine-based copper (II) complexes using tridentate NNO donor ligands as mimics to various enzymes like phenoxazinone synthase, and lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases.

Biomimicking studies have always had a great impact as researchers draw inspiration from nature to develop catalysts and catalytic processes that mimic biological systems. By understanding its importance in chemical and pharmaceutical industries, Dr. Muniyandi Sankaralingam and his research group at NIT Calicut are designing, synthesising and exploring the activity of several earth-abundant metal complexes as mimics to various enzymes like phenoxazinone synthase, and lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases. Among these, the remarkable activity of copper complexes as mimics of phenoxazinone synthase is well explored and intrinsic studies have been made.

In a study published in the Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry and New Journal of Chemistry, Sankaralingam Assistant Professor at National Institute of Technology Calicut (NITC), Kozhikode and his group disclosed the synthesis and characterization of a series of amine and imine-based copper (II) complexes using tridentate NNO donor ligands. Interestingly, all the complexes exhibited remarkable reactivity in oxidising o-aminophenol as similar to the phenoxazinone synthase enzyme as functional models. Considerably, the reactivity of these complexes relies on the nature of the substituents over the ligand moieties as well as the incorporation of distinct auxiliary ligands.

They are also actively working on understanding the structure-function relations of the naturally available enzymes by designing new biomimetic small molecule model complexes and consistently delving into the uncharted territory of making better catalysts for mimicking natural processes, catalysis, clean energy, and health sciences. They are not only expanding the knowledge but also revolutionizing the methodology utilized to explore the field.

The research by the Inspire Faculty Fellow can help employ earth-abundant metal complexes as catalysts for industrially significant organic transformations, clean energy processes, and the healthcare sector.

Publication link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2023.112309; J. Inorg. Biochem. 2023, 247, 112309; https://doi.org/10.1039/D2NJ03934F; New J. Chem., 2022, 46, 21684–21694).