Dr. Sukanta Mandal

Dr. Sukanta Mandal

Associate Professor

Profile

Personal Website

sukanta.mandal@chem.iitkgp.ac.in

Office: 505, Lab: 511, Tower A, JCG-PCR Science Block, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur-721302, West Bengal, India.

Education

<h2><strong>Ph.D. (IIT Kanpur)</strong></h2>

Experience

<h2><strong>Doctoral Study</strong></h2>

<p><strong>Dec. 2003 - Jan 2009: IIT Kanpur (Supervisor: Prof. Rabindranath Mukherjee)</strong></p>

<h2><strong>Post-Doctoral Research Experience:</strong></h2>

<ul>
<li><strong>2009-2011: Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ), Tarragona, Spain (Supervisor: Prof. Antoni Llobet)</strong></li>
<li><strong>2011-2013:&nbsp;Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea (Supervisors: Prof. Antoni Llobet, Prof. Shunichi Fukuzumi, Prof. Wonwoo Nam)</strong></li>
</ul>

<h2><strong>Academic Positions Hold:</strong></h2>

<ul>
<li><strong>Associate&nbsp;Professor (from 15th February, 2024 to present): Department of Chemistry, IIT Kharagpur</strong></li>
<li><strong>Assistant Professor Grade I (from 18th February, 2015 to 14th February, 2024): Department of Chemistry, IIT Kharagpur</strong></li>
<li><strong>Assistant Professor (from 1st December, 2014 to 30th January, 2015): Department of Chemistry, NIT Patna</strong></li>
<li><strong>DST-INSPIRE Faculty (from 20th August, 2013 to 31st October, 2014): Department of Chemistry, Assam University, Silchar</strong></li>
</ul>

Research Statement

The Mother Nature has designed a wide range of metalloenzymes to perform a chemical reaction in a very selective and efficient manner. The study of structural and functional aspects of the metalloenzymes by mimicking their active-site structures with small synthetic model compounds is an interesting area of research. Our research group is focused to develop transition metal coordination compounds which are used in various catalytic reactions having biological and technological importance. The objective is to understand the reaction mechanism of the catalytic processes at the molecular level. The mechanistic investigations are carried out by the combined use of spectroscopy, electrochemistry, kinetic and computational studies. The group is currently involved in the followings research areas:
(1) Synthetic Bioinorganic Model Chemistry
(2) Bioinspired Redox Catalysis Using Transition Metal Complexes
(3) Water Splitting Chemistry Towards Artificial Photosynthesis.

1. Research Statement

<p>Mother Nature has designed a wide range of metalloenzymes to perform chemical reactions selectively and efficiently. The study of structural and functional aspects of metalloenzymes by mimicking their active-site structures with small synthetic model compounds is an exciting area of research. Our research group focuses on developing advanced catalysts based on transition metal ions for various catalytic reactions of biological and technological importance. Our studies aim to understand the reaction mechanism of the catalytic processes at the molecular level. The mechanistic investigations are followed using combined spectroscopy, electrochemistry, kinetics, and computational studies. The group is currently involved in the followings research areas:<br /> (1) Synthetic Bioinorganic Model Chemistry<br /> (2) Bioinspired Redox Catalysis Using Transition Metal Complexes<br /> (3) Water Splitting Chemistry Towards Artificial Photosynthesis.</p>

Publications

Journal Publications

(25) Kannan Sree Vidya, Ganesh Yamuna, Nattamai Bhuvanesh, Ayyan Ghosh, Sreeja Dasgupta, Sukanta Mandal, Rajkumar Vasanthkumar, Pakiaraj Gurusaravanan, and Karuppasamy Sundaravel*, "Impact of ligand steric hindrance on phenoxazinone synthase-like reactivity and antibacterial activity of cobalt(III) complexes of N2O donor ligands" New J. Chem., DOI: 10.1039/D5NJ00515A, 2025
(24) A.K. Das, S. Mandal, N. Mukhopadhyay, F. Lloret, R. Mukherjee*, "Carboxylato-bridged linear trinuclear copper(II) ferromagnetic complexes" Inorg. Chim. Acta, 577, 122501, 2025
(23) Mofijul Molla, Anannya Saha, Suman K. Barman and Sukanta Mandal*, "Monomeric Fe(III)-Hydroxo and Fe(III)-Aqua Complexes Display Oxidative Asynchronous Hydrogen Atom Abstraction Reactivity" Chemistry- A European Journal, 30, e202401163, 2024
(22) Nirmalya Podder, Anannya Saha, Suman K. Barman and Sukanta Mandal*, "Flavonol dioxygenation catalysed by cobalt(II) complexes supported with 3N(COO) and 4N donor ligands: a comparative study to assess the carboxylate effects on quercetin 2,4-dioxygenase-like reactivity" Dalton Trans., 52, 11465 - 11480, 2023
(21) Nirmalya Podder and Sukanta Mandal*, "The effects of metal cofactors on the reactivity of quercetin 2,4-dioxygenase: synthetic model studies with M(II)-complexes (M = Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) and assessment of the regulatory factors in catalytic efficacy" Dalton Trans., 51, 17064–17080, 2022
(20) Ayyan Ghosh, Sreeja Dasgupta, Animesh Kundu and Sukanta Mandal*, "The impact of secondary coordination sphere engineering on water oxidation reactivity catalysed by molecular ruthenium complexes: a next-generation approach to develop advanced catalysts" Dalton Trans.,51, 10320–10337, 2022
(19) Nirmalya Podder, Subhasis Dey, Anakuthil Anoop,* and Sukanta Mandal*, "Oxygenolysis of a series of copper(II)-flavonolate adducts varying the electronic factors on supporting ligands as a mimic of quercetin 2,4-dioxygenase-like activity" Dalton Trans., 51, 4338 - 4353, 2022
(18) Animesh Kundu, Suman K. Barman, and Sukanta Mandal*, "Dangling Carboxylic Group That Participates in O-O Bond Formation Reaction to Promote Water Oxidation Catalyzed by a Ruthenium Complex: Experimental Evidence of an Oxide Relay Pathway" Inorg. Chem. 61, 1426-1437, 2022
(17) Nirmalya Podder and Sukanta Mandal*, "Aerobic Oxidation of 2-Aminophenol Catalysed by a Series of Mononuclear Copper(II) Complexes: Phenoxazinone Synthase-like Activity and Mechanistic Study" New J. Chem. 44, 12793-12805, 2020
(16) Animesh Kundu, Suman Kr Dey, Subhasis Dey, Anakuthil Anoop,* and Sukanta Mandal*, "Mononuclear Ruthenium-Based Water Oxidation Catalyst Supported by Anionic, Redox-Non-Innocent Ligand: Heterometallic O-O Bond Formation via Radical Coupling Pathway" Inorg. Chem. 59, 1461-1470, 2020
(15) Animesh Kundu, Srimoyee Khan, Subhasis Dey, Chiranjit Dutta, Anakuthil Anoop, Sukanta Mandal*, "Cover Feature: Synthesis and Physicochemical Properties of Ruthenium(II) Complexes Having Pentadentate Scaffolds: Water Oxidation Activity and Deactivation Pathway" Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2/2019 136, 2019
(14) Animesh Kundu, Srimoyee Khan, Subhasis Dey, Chiranjit Dutta, Anakuthil Anoop, Sukanta Mandal*, "Syntheses and physicochemical properties of ruthenium(II) complexes having pentadentate scaffold: water oxidation activity and deactivation pathway" Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 164-177, 2019
(13) Lorenzo Mognon, Sukanta Mandal, Carmen E. Castillo, Jerome Fortage, Florian Molton, Guillem Aromi, Jordi Benet-Buchhlolz, Marie-Noelle Collomb and Antoni Llobet, "Synthesis, Structure, Spectroscopy and Reactivity of New Heterotrinuclear Water Oxidation Catalysts" Chemical Science, 7, 3304-3312, 2016
(12) Dachao Hong, Sukanta Mandal, Yusuke Yamada, Yong-Min Lee, Wonwoo Nam, Antoni Llobet and Shunichi Fukuzumi, "Water Oxidation Catalysis with Nonheme Iron Complexes under Acidic and Basic Conditions: Homogeneous or Heterogeneous?" Inorg. Chem. 52, 9522-9531, 2013
(11) Sukanta Mandal, Shinya Shikano, Yusuke Yamada, Yong-Min Lee, Wonwoo Nam, Antoni Llobet and Shunichi Fukuzumi, "Protonation Equilibrium and Hydrogen Production by a Dinuclear Cobalt-Hydride Complex Reduced by Cobaltocene with Trifluoroacetic Acid" J. Am. Chem. Soc. 135, 15294 - 15297, 2013
(10) Sukanta Mandal, Jhumpa Mukherjee, Francese Lloret, and Rabindranath Mukherjee, "Modeling Tyrosinase and Catecholase Activity Using New m-Xylyl Based Ligands with Bidentate Alkylamine Terminal Coordination" Inorg. Chem. 51, 13148-13161, 2012
(9) Matthew L. Rigsby, Sukanta Mandal, Wonwoo Nam, Lara C. Spencer, Antoni Llobet and Shannon S. Stahl, "Cobalt Analogs of Ru-Based Water Oxidation Catalysts: Overcoming Thermodynamic Instability and Kinetic Lability to Achieve Electrocatalytic O2 Evolution" Chemical Science, 3, 3058-3062, 2012
(8) Shunichi Fukuzumi, Sukanta Mandal, Kentaro Mase, Kei Ohkubo, Hyejin Park, Jordi Benet-Buchholz, Wonwoo Nam and Antoni Llobet, "Catalytic Four-Electron Reduction of O2 via Rate-Determining Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer to a Dinuclear Cobalt-µ-1,2-peroxo Complex" J. Am. Chem. Soc. 134, 9906-9909, 2012
(7) Lele Duan, Fernando Bozoglian, Sukanta Mandal, Beverly Stewart, Timofei Privalov, Antoni Llobet and Licheng Sun, "A Molecular Ruthenium Catalyst With Water-Oxidation Activity Comparable to that of Photosystem II" Nature Chemistry, 4, 418-423, 2012
(6) Arnau Arbuse, Sukanta Mandal, Somnath Maji, Ma Angeles Martinez, Xavier Fontrodona, Diana Utz, Frank W. Heinemann, Sandra Kisslinger, Siegfried Schindler, Xavier Sala and Antoni Llobet, "Ligand Influence over the Formation of Dinuclear [2+2] versus Trinuclear [3+3] CuI Schiff Base Macrocyclic Complexes" Inorg. Chem. 50, 6878-6889, 2011
(5) Sukanta Mandal, V. Balamurugan, Francesc Lloret and Rabindranath Mukherjee, "Syntheses, X-ray Structures, and Physicochemical Properties of Phenoxo-Bridged Dinuclear Nickel(II) Complexes: Kinetics of Transesterification of 2-Hydroxypropyl-p-nitrophenyl phosphate" Inorg. Chem. 48, 7544-7556, 2009
(4) Sukanta Mandal, Francesc Lloret and Rabindranath Mukherjee, "Discrete and 1D Coordination Polymeric Chloro-Bridged Copper(II) Dimers Exhibiting Ferro- and Antiferromagnetic Exchange Coupling: Magneto-Structural Correlations and Non-Covalent Interactions" Inorg. Chim. Acta. 362, 27-37, 2009
(3) Anindita De, Sukanta Mandal and Rabindranath Mukherjee, "Modeling Tyrosinase Activity. Effect of Ligand Topology on Aromatic Ring Hydroxylation: An Overview" J. Inorg. Biochem. 102, 1170-1189, 2008
(2) Sukanta Mandal, Anindita De and Rabindranath Mukherjee, "Formation of {CuIII2(?-O)2}2+ Core Due to Dioxygen Reactivity of a Copper(I) Complex Supported by a New Hybrid Tridentate Ligand: Reaction with Exogenous Substrates" Chemistry & Biodiversity, 5, 1594-1608, 2008
(1) Sukanta Mandal and Rabindranath Mukherjee, "A New Tyrosinase Model With 1,3-bis[(2-dimethylaminoethyl)iminomethyl]benzene: Binuclear Copper(I) and Phenoxo/Hydroxo-Bridged Dicopper(II) Complexes" Inorg. Chim. Acta. 359, 4019-4026, 2006

Conference Publications

, "Mononuclear Ruthenium Complex Supported by Anionic, Redox Non-innocent Ligand: Water Oxidation Catalysis and Mechanistic Studies" Emerging Trends in Catalysis & Synthesis (ETCS-2020), IIT Kharagpur, 11-12 March 2020 (Invited Talk)" Sukanta Mandal, 2020
, "Mononuclear Ruthenium Complex Supported by Anionic, Redox-Non-Innocent Ligand: Water Oxidation Catalysis and Mechanistic Study" IISER Kolkata, January 15, 2020 (Invited talk)" Sukanta Mandal, 2020
, "Oxidation of Water Catalyzed by Tailor-Made Transition Metal Complexes: Mechanistic Study" Recent Advances in Materials for Sustainable Energy (RAMSE-2018), IIT(ISM) Dhanbad, 3-5 March 2018 (Invited talk)" Sukanta Mandal, 2018
, "Bioinorganic Model Study and Water Oxidation Chemistry” at Department of Chemistry, Hooghly Mohsin College, 11th February, 2016 (Invited talk)" Sukanta Mandal, 2016

Projects

Design & Synthesis of Molecular Catalyst for Water Oxidation Reactions Based on Transition Metals
Client: ISIRD, SRIC,IIT Kharagpur; Rs. 28,00,000/- (Completed)
PI: Sukanta Mandal (PI)  |  Co-Consultant(s): N.A.
Syntheses, Characterizations and Reactivity Aspects of Metal (III) - Hydroxo Complexes: Biomimetic Model of lipoxygenase-Like Activity
Client: Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), New Delhi; Rs. 33,90,000/- (Completed))
PI: Sukanta Mandal (PI)  |  Co-Consultant(s): N.A.
Development of Artificial photosystem II: Water Oxidation Catalyst
Client: DST INSPIRE Faculty Award; Rs. 35,00,000/- (Completed)
PI: Sukanta Mandal (PI)  |  Co-Consultant(s): N.A.
Molecular Ruthenium Catalysts with Designed Ligands for Efficient Water Oxidation Reactions
Client: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), INR 12,00,000/- (On going 01/08/2021 - 31/07/24)
PI: Sukanta Mandal (PI)  |  Co-Consultant(s): N.A.

Awards and Recognition

1. DST-INSPIRE Faculty Award - 2012
2. Post-doctoral Fellowship (2009-11: SOLAR-H2, Spain; 2011-13: World Class University Fellowship, South Korea)
3. CSIR (JRF-2003 & SRF-2006)
4. National Scholarship (Govt. of India) on the basis of B.Sc. results (2001)
5. Research Scholar's Achievement:
<p>Mr. Animesh Kundu, research scholar under the guidance of Dr. Sukanta Mandal at the Department of Chemistry received the &quot;Prof A. K. Dey Memorial Young Scientist Award&quot; at the International Conference on &ldquo;Recent Trends in Chemical Sciences (RTCS-2020)&rdquo; at the 57th Annual Convention of Chemists (December 26-29, 2020) organized by Indian Chemical Society.</p> <p>http://www.iitkgp.ac.in/news#523</p> <p>https://www.facebook.com/IITKgp/posts/10159500795165409</p>
6. Research Scholar's Achievement (Chemistry)
<p>Mr. Animesh Kundu (Roll No: 15CY90J11), Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal is the recipient of Professor B. C. Halder Memorial Award for the presentation (Oral) entitled &ldquo;Dangling Carboxylic Group Participates in O-O Bond Formation Reaction to Promote Water Oxidation Catalysed by a Ru Complex: An Oxide Relay Pathway&rdquo; in the 58th Annual Convention of Chemists, 2021 &amp; International Conference on &ldquo;Recent Trends in Chemical Sciences (RTCS-2021)&rdquo; organized by the Indian Chemical Society, Kolkata, India during&nbsp;December 21st&nbsp;&ndash; 24th, 2021.<br /> <br /> Supervisor:<br /> <br /> Dr. Sukanta Mandal, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, IIT Kharagpur</p>
7. Research Scholar's Achievement (Chemistry)
<p><strong>Dr. Animesh Kundu</strong> was awarded the <strong>second position</strong> for his presentation of paper entitled &quot;Dangling Carboxylic Group Participates in O-O Bond Formation Reaction to Promote Water Oxidation Catalyzed by a Ru Complex: An Oxide Relay Pathway&quot; as a part of the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Conference in Students&rsquo; Research Convention-22 conducted from 4th-6th March, 2022&nbsp;at Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur.<br /> &nbsp;</p>
8. Research Scholar's Achievement: Poster Award at MTIC Conference
<p><strong>Ms. Sreeja Dasgupta</strong> (Roll No. 20CY91R22), a research scholar under the supervision of Prof. Sukanta Mandal, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, has been awarded the <strong>poster prize by Dalton Transactions</strong> for her presentation titled &ldquo;<em>Molecular Engineering of Ruthenium Water Oxidation Catalysts: From Redox-Non-Innocent Effect of Ligands to Secondary Coordination Sphere Modulation</em>.&rdquo; This recognition was conferred during the 21st Edition of <strong>Modern Trends in Inorganic Chemistry (MTIC-XXI)</strong>, held at IIT Kharagpur from 14th to 17th&nbsp;December 2024.</p>

Courses Taught

Inorganic Chemistry I (CY20105)
Inorganic Chemistry II (CY20106)
Chemistry (CY11001)
Chemistry Lab (CY19001)
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory (CY49001)
Inorganic Chemistry: Principle, Structure & Reactivity (CY41005)
Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory I (CY29002)
Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory II (CY39004)
Activation of Small Molecules by Metal Complexes (CY40204)

Patents

No patents on record.

Research Group

Current Members

Ayyan Ghosh (Ph.D.)
Ayyan Ghosh (Ph.D.)
Water oxidation catalysis
ayyan.ghosh98@gmail.com
Mofijul Molla (Ph.D.)
Mofijul Molla (Ph.D.)
Bio-inspired Coordination Chemistry and Catalysis
mofijul.molla2014@gmail.com
Sreeja Dasgupta (Ph.D.)
Sreeja Dasgupta (Ph.D.)
Synthetic Inorganic Chemistry: Coordination Chemistry and Catalysis
ajeers96@gmail.com

Alumni

Aritra Saha (Summer Internship from NIT Silchar)
Aritra Saha (Summer Internship from NIT Silchar)
Coordination Chemistry and Catalysis (20/05/2024 - 04/07/2024)
Arnab Halder (Summer Student, from IIT Kanpur)
Arnab Halder (Summer Student, from IIT Kanpur)
Coordination Chemistry (15-05-2023 - 30-06-2023)
Ayyan Ghosh (MS: 2020-21)
Ayyan Ghosh (MS: 2020-21)
Water Oxidation Catalysis
Dharmendra Kumar (MS 2023-24)
Dharmendra Kumar (MS 2023-24)
Coordination Chemistry
Dr. Animesh Kundu (Ph.D.) Next position: Assistant Professor at Institute of Engineering and Management (IEM) Kolkata
Dr. Animesh Kundu (Ph.D.) Next position: Assistant Professor at Institute of Engineering and Management (IEM) Kolkata
Synthetic Coordination Chemistry and Catalysis (2015 - 2021)
Dr. Nirmalya Podder (Ph.D.) Next position: Jr. Research Scientist in Analytical Department Macleods Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Mumbai
Dr. Nirmalya Podder (Ph.D.) Next position: Jr. Research Scientist in Analytical Department Macleods Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Mumbai
Bio-inspired Coordination Chemistry and Catalysis (2015-2022)
Dr. Suman Kumar Dey (PDF)
Dr. Suman Kumar Dey (PDF)
Water Oxidation Catalysis (17CYPD201, 3/2018-3/2020)
Manisha (BS 2023-24, MS 2024-25)
Manisha (BS 2023-24, MS 2024-25)
Coordination Chemistry
Mr. Adil Panwar (MS: 2018-19)
Mr. Adil Panwar (MS: 2018-19)
Coordination Chemistry (14CY20004)
Mr. Bhrugumalla Sreeram Praneeth (MS: 2016-17)
Mr. Bhrugumalla Sreeram Praneeth (MS: 2016-17)
Coordination Chemistry (12CY20009)
Mr. Chiranjit Dutta (MS: 2016-17)
Mr. Chiranjit Dutta (MS: 2016-17)
Water Oxidation Catalysis (15CY40012)
Mr. Krishnendu Maji (MS: 2017-18)
Mr. Krishnendu Maji (MS: 2017-18)
Bioinspired Coordination Chemistry (16CY40019)
Mr. Mofijul Molla (MS: 2015-16)
Mr. Mofijul Molla (MS: 2015-16)
Bio-inspired Coordination Chemistry and Catalysis (14CY40027)
Mr. Mohan Lal (MS: 2019-20)
Mr. Mohan Lal (MS: 2019-20)
Coordination Chemistry (15CY20019)
Mr. Rahul Naskar (MS: 2015-16)
Mr. Rahul Naskar (MS: 2015-16)
Coordination Chemistry (14CY40029)
Mr. Sagar Bag (MS: 2018-19) Next position: PhD at IISER Kolkata
Mr. Sagar Bag (MS: 2018-19) Next position: PhD at IISER Kolkata
Coordination Chemistry (17CY40032)
Mr. Saswata Karan (MS: 2020-21)
Mr. Saswata Karan (MS: 2020-21)
Bioinspired Coordination Chemistry
Mr. Subhajit Chakraborty (MS: 2019-20) Next position: PhD at JNCASR
Mr. Subhajit Chakraborty (MS: 2019-20) Next position: PhD at JNCASR
Water Oxidation Catalysis (18CY40032)
Ms. Srimoyee Khan (MS: 2017-18) Next position: ONGC
Ms. Srimoyee Khan (MS: 2017-18) Next position: ONGC
Water Oxidation Catalysis (16CY40037)
Rajib Samanta (Summer Student, from NIT Rourkela)
Rajib Samanta (Summer Student, from NIT Rourkela)
Coordination Chemistry (01-05-2019 - 30-06-2019)
Rajkumar Bunkar (MS 2022-23)
Rajkumar Bunkar (MS 2022-23)
Bio-inspired coordination chemistry (18CY20025)
Ranith Chatterjee (Summer Internship from IISER TVM)
Ranith Chatterjee (Summer Internship from IISER TVM)
Coordination chemistry & catalysis (04/05/2025-30/06/2025)
Rishabh Maurya (MS 2022-23)
Rishabh Maurya (MS 2022-23)
Water oxidation catalysis (21CY40036)
Shivam Sehgal (Summer Student, from IIT Kharagpur)
Shivam Sehgal (Summer Student, from IIT Kharagpur)
Water Oxidation Catalysis (15-05-2022 - 30-06-2022)
Sourav Mandal (Summer+MS 2023-24)
Sourav Mandal (Summer+MS 2023-24)
Water Oxidation Catalysis
Subash Chandra Bose M (Summer Student, from IIT Kharagpur)
Subash Chandra Bose M (Summer Student, from IIT Kharagpur)
Water Oxidation Catalysis (26-05-2023 - 25-07-2023)
Subham Sarkar (MS 2021-22) Next position: PhD at Texas A&M University, USA
Subham Sarkar (MS 2021-22) Next position: PhD at Texas A&M University, USA
O2 reduction chemistry catalyzed by Cu(II) complexes
Suman Saurabh Singh (MS 2024-25)
Suman Saurabh Singh (MS 2024-25)
Coordination Chemistry and Catalysis
Tamanna Pradhan (Winter Internship from IIT Kgp)
Tamanna Pradhan (Winter Internship from IIT Kgp)
Coordination Chemistry and Catalysis (01-12-2023 to 31-01-2024)
Vasantkumar (MS 2021-22)
Vasantkumar (MS 2021-22)
Bio-inspired coordination chemistry