Prof. Ganesan Mani

Prof. Ganesan Mani

Professor

Profile

Personal Website

Bio / CV

gmani@chem.iitkgp.ac.in

Office: Room no. - 504, Lab no. - Room 512, 5th Floor - Tower A, JCG-PCR Building, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India, 721 302.

Education

2004 - 2006: Postdoctoral Fellow, Western Michigan University, U.S.A; Mentor: Prof. S. Obare, Title: Metal nanoparticles synthesis and applications.

2002 - 2004: Postdoctoral Fellow, Texas A&M University, College Station, U.S.A; Mentor: Prof. F. P. Gabbai, Title: Olefin polymerization and Main Group Chemistry.

2000 - 2002: Postdoctoral Fellow, Purdue University, West Lafayette, U.S.A; Mentor: Prof. R. A. Walton, Title: Multiple bonded Re-Re compounds.

1999 - 2000: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada; Mentor: Prof. S. Gambarotta, Title: Lanthanides and early transition metals.

1992 - 1999: Ph. D. Advisor: Prof. S. S. Krishnamurthy. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. 

1990 - 1992: M. Sc., Chemistry, I-Class, Dept. of Chem., Bharathidasan University, India.

1987 - 1990: B. Sc., Chemistry, I-Class with distinction, A. V. C. College, Mayiladuthurai, India.

Experience

Jan. 2020 - Present: Professor, Department of Chemistry, IIT-Kharagpur. India.

2013 – Dec. 2019: Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, IIT-Kharagpur. India.

2007 - 2013: Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, IIT-Kharagpur. India.

2006 - 2007: Senior Scientist, Nanoco Technologies Ltd., Manchester, U.K. (Quantum dots syntheses and characterizations.

Research Statement

Our research focuses on synthesis, and structural characterization of judicially designed novel Main Group and Transition Metal Organometallic compounds, and exploring their catalytic and sensor properties. To this end, our initial efforts led to publish quite a few novel pyrrole-based PNP-, NNN-pincer type and other multidentate sigma and pi-donor ligand systems. Remarkably, some of these ligands were conveniently synthesized by simple and very high yield methods, which opened an arena yet to be developed like the Chemistry of Scorpionate ligand system. We currently develop ambiphilic ligands containing both electron donor (L-type) and acceptor (Z-type) atoms. Some of the late transition metal complexes bearing these ligands are structurally interesting and proven to be efficient catalysts for the Suzuki cross coupling in water and other catalysis reactions.

Through our research activity, students develop skills not only in unique Schlenk line synthetic and separation techniques, but also get familiar with modern characterization techniques such as multinuclear NMR and single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. In addition, we use FTIR, HRMS, UV-vis, GC-MS, and CHN analysis methods for our study.

1. Organometallics

2. Main Group Chemistry

Publications

Journal Publications

, "Molybdenum(0)-Catalyzed Tandem Cyclization Reactions of Aminoalkynes with Diketones for Multiply Substituted Azaheterocycles" Palash Mondal, Poulami Dutta, Ganesan Mani, The Journal of Organic Chemistry, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.joc.6c01148, 2026
, "Dipyrromethane-diphosphines: nickel and palladium complexes as catalysts for the selective hydroboration of CO2 to methoxyborane under mild conditions with mechanistic study" Rohit Gupta, Ashok Kumar and Ganesan Mani, RSC Advances, 2026, DOI: 10.1039/D6RA04348H, 2026
, "The Hydroboration of CO2 with 9-BBN to Methoxyborane Catalyzed by Pincer Carbene Palladium(II) and Nickel(II) Thiolates with High Turnover Numbers." Kumar, K.; Gupta, R.; Mani, G. Organometallics, 2026, 45, 410–423., 2026
, "Synthesis and Structural Characterizations of Self-Assembled Silver(I) Complexes of the Pyrazole Ligands: Effect of anion and VT NMR Study." Mondal, M.; Mani, G. Polyhedron, 2026, 284, 117910., 2026
, "The DMSO-Catalyzed CO2 Reduction with 9-BBN as a Source for the Selective N-Formylation, Room Temperature N-Methylation of Amines, N-Hydroxymethylation of Heterocycles, and C–N Couplings." Kumar, A.; Gupta, R.; Mani, G. J. Org. Chem. 2025, 90, 10316–10331, 2025
, "Mo(0) carbonyl complexes bearing the bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazole) ligand: Catalysis of the regioselective [2+2+2] cycloaddition of terminal alkynes to synthesize 1,3,5-isomer." Mondal, P.; Dutta, P.; Mani, G. Dalton Trans., 2025, 54, 2654-2663, 2025
, "DMSO-catalyzed CO2 reduction with 9-BBN: selective formation of either formoxy- or methoxyborane under mild conditions and C-methylenation of indoles." Kumar, A.; Gupta, R.; Subramaniyan, V.; Mani, G. Catal. Sci. Technol, 2025, 15, 678-688, 2025
, "Selective synthesis of the missing tiara-like Ni10, Ni5 and Ni6 thiolates by the C-S bond cleavage of bis(thioether) molecules with DFT study" Debnath, S.; Giri, S.; Mani, G. Dalton Trans., 2024, 53, 14875-14886, 2024
, "Copper(I) Complexes Bearing the Pyrrole-Bridged S,N and N-Donor Ligands as Catalysts for the Tandem Hydroamination-Alkynylation: Effect of Anions on Product Formation" Mondal, M.; Mani, G. Dalton Trans., 2024, 53, 13996 - 14010, 2023
, "Dipyrromethane–diphosphine:the effect of meso substituents on the formation of nickel complexes and on their performance in the transfer hydrogenation of ketones" Gupta, R.; Kumar, A.; and Mani, G. Dalton Trans. 2023, 52, 18332-18341, 2023
, "PCP Pincer Carbene Nickel(II) Chloride, Hydride, and Thiolate Complexes: Hydrosilylation of Aldehyde, Ketone, and Nitroarene by the Thiolate Complex" Kumar, A.; Gupta, R.; and Mani, G. Organometallics 2023, 42, 732?744, 2023
, "Four- and five-coordinate nickel(II) complexes bearing new diphosphine-phosphonite and triphosphine-phosphite ligands: catalysts for N-alkylation of amines." Panigrahi, D.; Mondal, M.; Mani, G. RSC Adv., 2022, 12, 4510-4520, 2022
, "Synthesis, structural characterization, and bonding analysis of two-coordinate copper(I) and silver(I) complexes of the pyrrole-based bis(phosphinimine): new metal-pyrrole ring ? interactions" Dalton Trans., 2021, 50, 8036-8044., 2021
, "Synthesis and Structural Characterizations of Pd(II) Complexes Bearing the New Hexahydropyrimidine and Tetrahydropyrimidinium Based Bis(pyrazole) Ligands with DFT Studies" J. Mol. Struc., 2021, 1231, 129949, 2021
, "Versatility of the bis(iminopyrrolylmethyl)amine ligand: tautomerism, protonation, helical chirality, and secondary coordination sphere with halogen bonds in the formation of copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes" Dalton Trans., 2020, 49, 13840, 2020
, "New Spiro-borane and Spiro-borate Derived from Dipyrromethane and their H/D Exchange Properties" Polyhedron, 2020, 186, 114612, 2020
, "Synthesis, X?Ray Structures, and Fluxional Properties of Symmetrical, Asymmetrical Binuclear and Cubane Type Copper(I) Complexes Bearing the Pyrrole-Based P, N-Hetero Donor Ligand" ChemistrySelect, 2020, 5, 5006-5012, 2020
, "Mannich Reaction of Pyrrole and Dimethylpyrrole with Monoamines and Diamines" Tetrahedron Lett., 2019, 60, 151247, 2019
, "Mixed Ligand Cu(II) Complexes: Square Pyramidal vs Trigonal Bipyramidal with the Pyrrole-based Dipodal Ligand Having Hydrogen Bond Acceptors" J. Mol. Struct., 2019, 1195, 1-9, 2019
, "Crystal Structure and DFT Analyses of a Penta-coordinated PCP Pincer Nickel(II) Complex." Acta Cryst. 2019, C75, 734–739, 2019
Das, S.; Subramaniyan, V.; Mani, G., "Nickel(II) and Palladium(II) Complexes Bearing an Unsymmetrical Pyrrole-based PNN Pincer and their Norbornene Polymerization Behaviors Versus the Symmetrical NNN and PNP Pincers" Inorg. Chem., 2019, 58, 3444–3456, 2019
Mani, G.; Subramaniyan, V., "Homoleptic and Heteroleptic Copper(I) Complexes Bearing Diimine-Diphosphine Ligands, Chapter 8 in ‘Copper(I) Chemistry of Phosphines, Functionalized Phosphines and Phosphorus Heterocycles’" Elsevier Publications, 2019, 237-258, 2019
Subramaniyan, V.; Dutta, B.; Govindaraj, A.; Mani, G., "Facile Synthesis of Pd(II) and Ni(II) Pincer Carbene Complexes by the Double C-H Bond Activation of a New Hexahydropyrimidine-Based Bis(phosphine): Catalysis of C-N Couplings" Dalton Transactions, 2019, 48, 7203 - 7210, 2019
Subramaniyan, V.; Mani, G. , "Synthesis, Reactions, and Structures of Heterocycle-Tethered Boranes and Their Precursors" Organometallics, 2018, 37, 127?135., 2018
Kumar, S.; Jana, O.; Subramaniyan, V.; Mani, G. , "The `Reverse Transmetalation` Reaction of the Pyrrole-Based PNP Pincer Ni(II) Complexes: X-ray Structures of Binuclear Silver(I) and Thiocyanate Nickel(II) Complexes." Inorg. Chim. Acta. 2018, 480, 113., 2018
Jana, O.; Mani, G., "Enantiomers and Structural Isomers of Sodium and Palladium Complexes Bearing ortho-Bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolylmethyl)phenolate: Fluxional Propertyand Highly Active Catalysts for Norbornene Polymerization." Inorg. Chem. 2018, 57, 7735- 7747., 2018
Jha,V. K.; Mani, G.; Davuluri, Y. R;. Anoop, A., "The pyrrole ring n2-hapticity bridged binuclear tricarbonyl Mo(0) and W(0) complexes: catalysis of regioselective hydroamination reactions and DFT calculations" Dalton Trans., 2017, 46, 1840-1847., 2017
Jana, O.; Mani, G., "New types of Cu and Ag clusters supported by the pyrrole-based NNN-pincer type ligand" New J.Chem., 2017, 41, 9361., 2017
Kumar, R.; Paul, T.; Jana, O.; Mani, G. , "Regioselective Mannich bases of pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde and binuclear copper(II) complexes of bis(iminopyrrolyl) ligand containing the piperazine ring" Inorg. Chim. Acta. 2016, 445, 70-78., 2016
Guchhait, T.; Mani, G.; Schulzke, C. , "Synthesis and structural characterization of anion complexes with azacalix[2]dipyrrolylmethane: effect of anion charge on the conformation of the macrocycle" Dalton Trans. 2016, 45, 11781 - 11790., 2016
Kumar, R.; Mani, G. , "Exhibition of the Bronsted acid-base character of a Schiff base in palladium(II) complex formation: lithium complexation, fluxional properties and catalysis of Suzuki reactions in water " Dalton Trans., 2015, 44, 6896–6908., 2015
Guchhait, T.; Barua, B.; Biswas, A.; Basak, B.; Mani, G. , "Synthesis and structural characterization of silver(I), copper(I) coordination polymers and a helicate palladium(II) complex of dipyrrolylmethane-based dipyrazole ligands: the effect of meso substituents on structural formation" Dalton Trans., 2015, 44, 9091-9102., 2015
Jana, D.; Das, S.; Mani, G. , "Self Assembled Macrobicycle and Tricycle Cages Containing Pyrrole Rings by Dynamic Covalent Chemistry Method" J. Incl. Phenom. Macrocycl. Chem. 2015, 82, 461-470., 2015
Kumar, S.; Mani, G. , "Synthesis and structural characterization of chromium(III) complexes bearing 3,5-dimethylpyrazolate ligand" Polyhedron, 2015, 99, 47-52., 2015
Kumar, S.; Mani, G.; Dutta, D.; Mishra, S. , "Structural Diversity of Copper(I) Complexes Formed by Pyrrole- and Dipyrrolylmethane-Based Diphosphine Ligands with Cu–X···HN Hydrogen Bonds" Inorg. Chem. 2014, 53, 700–709., 2014
Ghorai, D.; Mani, G. , "Single-Step Substitution of all the alpha, beta-Positions in Pyrrole: Choice of Binuclear versus Multinuclear Complex of the Novel Polydentate Ligand" Inorg. Chem., 2014, 53, 4117-4129., 2014
Ghorai, D.; Mani, G. , "Unsubstituted quinoidal pyrrole and its reaction with oxygen, charge transfer and palladium(II) complexes via DDQ oxidation" RSC Adv., 2014, 4, 45603-45611., 2014
Guchhait, T.; Jha, V. K.; Mani, G. , "The syn and anti isomers of the porphyrinogen-like precursor of calix[4]phyrin: isolation, X-ray structure, anion binding and fluoride-ionmediated proton–deuterium exchange studies" Org. Biomol. Chem., 2013, 11, 2818-2826., 2013
Jana, D.; Mani, G.; Schulzke, C. , "Synthesis of Novel Polyazacryptands for Recognition of Tetrahedral Oxoanions and Their X-ray Structures" Inorg. Chem. 2013, 52, 6427–6439., 2013
Ghorai, D.; Kumar, S.; Mani, G. , "Mononuclear, helical binuclear palladium and lithium complexes bearing a new pyrrole-based NNN-pincer ligand: fluxional property " Dalton Trans. 2012, 41, 9503-9512., 2012
Kumar, R.; Guchhait, T.; Mani, G. , "Synthesis and X-ray Structures of Novel Macrocycles and Macrobicycles Containing N,N-Di(pyrrolylmethyl)-N-methylamine Moiety: Preliminary Anion Binding Study " Inorg. Chem. 2012, 51, 9029–9038., 2012
Guchhait, T.; Mani, G.; Schulzke, C.; Anoop, A. , "A Tripyrrolylmethane-Based Macrobicyclic Triazacryptand: X-ray Structure, Size-Selective Anion Binding, and Fluoride-Ion-Mediated Proton–Deuterium Exchange Studies " Inorg. Chem. 2012, 51, 11635–11644., 2012
Kumar, S.; Mani, G.; Mondal, S.; Chattaraj, P. K. , "Pyrrole-Based New Diphosphines: Pd and Ni Complexes Bearing the PNP Pincer Ligand" Inorg. Chem. 2012, 51, 12527-12539., 2012
Ghorai, D.; Mani, G. , "Synthesis and structural characterization of Pd(II) complexes containing 2,6-bis[(dimethylamino)methyl]-4-methylphenolate ligand " Inorg. Chim. Acta. 2011, 372, 412-416., 2011
Guchhait, T.; Mani, G. , "Dipyrrolylmethane-based Macrobicyclic Azacryptand: Synthesis, X-ray Structures, Conformational and Anion Binding Properties " J. Org. Chem. 2011, 76, 10114-10121., 2011
Mani, G.; Jana, D.; Kumar, R.; Ghorai, D. , "Azatripyrrolic and Azatetrapyrrolic Macrocycles from the Mannich Reaction of Pyrrole: Receptors for Anions, " Org. Lett. 2010, 12, 3212– 3215., 2010
Mani, G.; Guchhait, T.; Kumar, R.; Kumar, S. , "Macrocyclic and Acyclic Molecules Synthesized from Dipyrrolylmethanes: Receptors for Anions, " Org. Lett. 2010, 12, 3910– 3213., 2010
Ganesan, M,; Freemantle, R. G.; Obare, S. O., , "Monodisperse Thioether- Stabilized Palladium Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Reactivity, " Chem. Mater., 2007, 19, 3464-3471., 2007
Ganesan, M, Krishnamurthy S.S, Nethaji M.,, "Di- and tri-nuclear molybdenum-palladiumcomplexes bearing strong pi-acceptor" J. Organomet. Chem. 2005, 690, 1080-1091., 2005
Ganesan, M.; Gabbai, F.P. , "Synthesis, structure and catalytic properties of [Cp*Cr(C6F5)(Bn)(THF)] toward ethylene in the presence of AlEt3 " J. Organomet. Chem. 2005, 690, 5145-5149., 2005
Ganesan, M.; Gabbaï, F.P. , "A neutral chromium(III) catalyst for the living "Aufbaureaktion" Angew. " Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 2004, 43, 2263-2266., 2004
Ganesan, M.; Gabbai, F.P. , "[Cp*Cr(C6F5)(Me)(Py)] as a Living Chromium(III) Catalyst for the "Aufbaureaktion" " Organometallics, 2004, 23, 4608-4613., 2004

Projects

ISRD
Client: IIT Kharagpur
PI: Ganesan Mani  |  Co-Consultant(s):
Synthesis and structural characterization of organolanthanide complexes and their applications
Client: DST, New Delhi
PI: Dr. Ganesan Mani  |  Co-Consultant(s):
Olefin Polymerization by Organolanthanide Catalysts
Client: CSIR, New Delhi
PI: Dr. Ganesan Mani  |  Co-Consultant(s):
Trivalent and Divalent Lanthanide Complexes Bearing Macrocyclic Ligands for Activation of CO2 and Catalyses.
Client: DST, New Delhi
PI: Dr. Ganesan Mani  |  Co-Consultant(s):
Group 10 Metal Complexes Bearing New NNN-Pincer Ligands for C-C Coupling Reactions.
Client: CSIR, New Delhi
PI: Dr. Ganesan Mani  |  Co-Consultant(s):
Design and Synthesis of Novel Pincer Ligands and Their Metal Complexes
Client: Reliance Industries Ltd.
PI: Dr. Ganesan Mani  |  Co-Consultant(s):
Transition Metal Complexes of Bidentate Pyrrole-based P- and N-Donor Ligands with Wide Bite Angles for Catalysis Reactions
Client: DST, New Delhi
PI: Dr. Ganesan Mani  |  Co-Consultant(s):
New Pyrrole Ring Bridged Phosphorus Containing Macrocycles with H-Bonding Functionality for Catalytic Conversion of CO2, and New Unsymmetrical NHC Phosphine, and Sulfonyl Pincer Metal Complexes for Polymerization of Polar Norbornenes.
Client: DST, New Delhi
PI: Dr. Ganesan Mani  |  Co-Consultant(s):
Complexes Containing Functionalized Pincer and Ambiphilic Ligands for Conversion of CO2 to valuable products without H2 Under Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Conditions
Client: STARS, Ministry of Education, Indian Institute of Science, MoE-STARS/STARS-2/2023-0130
PI: Dr. Ganesan Mani  |  Co-Consultant(s):

Awards and Recognition

No awards on record.

Courses Taught

1ST YEAR CHEMISTRY (Undergraduate) (CY11003)
1ST YEAR CHEMISTRY LAB (Undergraduate) (CY19003)
FUNDAMENTALS OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY (Undergraduate) (CY11005)
CHEMISTRY OF 3D ELEMENTS (Undergraduate) (CY20204)
CHEMISTRY OF MAIN GROUP ELEMENTS: RING, CHAINS, CLUSTERS (Undergraduate) (CY30201)
INORGANIC QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS LABORATORY (Undergraduate) (CY29204)
INORGANIC QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS (Undergraduate) (CY39202)
INORGANIC MATERIALS FOR INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION (Undergraduate) (CY30210)
PREPARATORY CHEMISTRY (Undergraduate) (CY00002)
ORGANOMETALLICS (Postgraduate) (CY40210)
SPECIAL TOPICS IN MAIN GROUP CHEMISTRY (Postgraduate) (CY60109)
METAL COMPLEXES IN CATALYSIS (Postgraduate) (CY61219)
ADVANCED INORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY (Postgraduate) (CY49203)

Patents

Catalyst composition, method of making same and its use in olefin oligomerization or polymerization. (2004) — Accept in US
Pyrrole-based Diphosphines and their Oxidized Products. (2019) — Accept in India
A METHOD FOR CONVERSION OF CARBON DIOXIDE TO METHANOL AND FORMIC ACID. (2025) — Accept in India

Research Group

Current Members

Anumita Hota
Anumita Hota
Working on metal complex chemistry
anumitahota202225@kgpianiitkgp.ac.in
Jyotirmayee Patra
Jyotirmayee Patra
Working on phosphine ligated metal complex chemistry
jyotirmayeepatra25@kgpian.iitkgp.ac.in
Manish Kumar
Manish Kumar
Working on organometallic chemistry of base metals
manish@chem.iitkgp.ac.in
Palash Mondal
Palash Mondal
Working on Molybdenum complex chemistry for organic transformation reactions
palashmondal@kgpian.iitkgp.ac.in
Poulami Dutta
Poulami Dutta
Working on Nickel and Copper metal chemistry for organic transformation reactions
duttapoulami96@kgpian.iitkgp.ac.in
Rohit Gupta
Rohit Gupta
Working on ligand design for base metal complexes and their application in organic transformation
rohitgupta@iitkgp.ac.in
Suparno Debnath
Suparno Debnath
Working on Nickel metal cluster chemistry for organic transformation reactions
suparnodeb_19@kgpian.iitkgp.ac.in