Personal Information

Dr. Chandrakanta Dash

Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry

Ph.D. at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India (2010); Post-doctoral Research: The University of Texas at Arlington, Texas, USA (2010-2013);Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore (2013-2014).

ckdash@curaj.ac.in

Broad Research Interest:

  • Organometallic Chemistry
  • Green Synthesis and Catalysis
  • Metal catalyzed Organic synthesis
  • C-H bond Functionalization
  • B.Sc.: A. B. College Basudevpur, Bhadrak, Odisha, India (1995-1998)
  • M.Sc.: Fakir Mohan University, Balasore, Odisha, India (1998-2000)
  • M. Tech.: NIT Durgapur, West Bengal, India (2001-2003)
  • Ph.D.: Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, Mumbai, India (2005-2010); Supervisor: Prof. Prasenjit Ghosh
  • Post-Doctoral Fellow: University of Texas at Arlington, Texas, USA (2010-2013); Supervisor: Prof. Rasika Dias
  • Research Fellow: Department of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore (2013-2014); Supervisor: Prof. Rei Kinjo
  • Assistant Professor (UGC-FRP): Department of Chemistry, School of Chemical Sciences and Pharmacy, Central University of Rajasthan, India (May 2014-May2023).
  • Assistant Professor: Department of Chemistry, School of Chemical Sciences and Pharmacy, Central University of Rajasthan, India (Since May2023).
  • Designing and Development of new catalysts for organic transformations, mechanistic study and kinetic study of catalytic processes
  • Development of Chemistry of N-heterocyclic carbenes and other related strong donor ligands
  • Developement of visible-light induced transition metal catalysis for challenging organic trransformations
S. No. Authors Title of Article Journal/Conference Details Journal/Conference Publication Year
1 R Raj Lakshkar, C Dash* Transition Metal-Based Photoredox Catalysts in Organic Synthesis: Recent Developments Handbook of Materials Science, Volume 4: Photocatalytic Materials, Springer Nature Publisher Book Chapter 2026

Book Chapter(s)

1. R. R. Lakshkar, C. Dash* "Transition Metal-Based Photoredox Catalysts in Organic Synthesis: Recent Developments" in the book entitled "Handbook of Materials Science, Volume 4: Photocatalytic Materials" 2026, Page 365–397. Springer Nature Publisher.

2. S. Yadav; C. Dash* “Gold-Phosphine Catalysts for C-C and C-Heteroatom Bond Formation Reactions.” in the book entitled “Advances in Chemistry Research” 2021, Volume 69, page 131–187; Nova Science Publishers, Inc., New York. 

3. S. Yadav; C. Dash* “Transition Metal-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions on Heterocycles Synthesis Using Tandem/Domino Synthetic Approaches” in the book entitled “Cross-Coupling Reactions: An Overview” 2020, page 61–112; Nova Science Publishers, Inc., New York. 

4. C. Dash; H. V. R. Dias “Synthesis and Reactivity of Gold-Olefin Complexes” in the book entitled “The Chemistry of Organogold Compounds” 2014, page 527–630; John Wiley & Sons Ltd., Chichester, United Kingdom. 

5. C. Dash; P. Ghosh “Palladium complexes of N-heterocyclic carbenes in homogeneous catalysis and biomedical applications” in the book entitled “Palladium: Compounds, Production and Applications” 2010, page 105–164; “Homogeneous Catalysts: Types, Reactions and Applications” 2010, page 403–462. Nova Science Publishers, Inc., New York. 

Refereed Journals

From Central University of Rajasthan (CURaj), Ajmer

1. R. S. Chauhan; D. B. Cordes; A. M. Z. Slawin; S. Yadav; C. Dash “Reactivity of hemilabile pyridyl- and methyl-substituted pyrimidylselenolates with [MCl2(dppf)] (M = Pd, Pt; dppf = bis(diphenylposhpino)ferrocene)” Inorg. Chim. Acta. 2018, 478, 125–129

2. S. Yadav; A. Singh; N. Rashid; M. Ghotia; T. K. Roy; P. P. Ingole; S. Ray; S. M. Mobin; C. Dash* “Phosphine-free bis(pyrrolyl)pyridine based NNN-pincer palladium(II) complexes as efficient catalysts for Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions of aryl bromides in aqueous medium” ChemistrySelect, 2018, 3, 9469–9475.

3. R. S. Chauhan; D. Oza; S. Yadav; C. Dash*; A. Slawin; N. Shivran "Copper complexes of arylselenolate based ligands: Synthesis and catalytic activity in azide-alkyne cycloaddition reactions" New J. Chem. 2019, 43, 2381–2388.

4. S. Yadav; A. Singh; I. Mishra; S. Ray; S. M. Mobin; C. Dash* “Well‐Defined N‐Heterocyclic Carbene‐Palladium Complexes as Efficient Catalysts for Domino Sonogashira Coupling/Cyclization Reaction and C‐H bond Arylation of Benzothiazole” Appl. Organomet. Chem. 2019, 33, e4936

5. S. Yadav; C. Dash* “One-Pot Tandem Heck Alkynylation/Cyclization Reactions Catalyzed by Bis(Pyrrolyl)pyridine based Palladium Pincer Complexes” Tetrahedron, 2020, 76, 131350.

6. S. Yadav; S. Ray; A. Singh; S. M. Mobin; T. K. Roy; C. Dash* “Dinuclear gold(I)-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes: Synthesis, characterization, and catalytic application for hydrohydrazidation of terminal alkynes” Appl. Organomet. Chem. 2020, 34, e5942.

7. C. Dash*; A. Das; H. V. R. Dias*, “Mercury(II) complexes of anionic N-heterocyclic carbene ligands: Steric effects of the backbone substituent” Molecules, 2020, 25, 3741.

8. R. S. Chauhan; D. Oza; S. Nigam; A. Tyagi; S. Ansari; R. J Butcher; S. Yadav; C. Dash* “Reactivity of hemilabile 2-pyridylselenolate ligand towards [NiCl2(dppe)]: Combined experimental and theoretical study” J. Mol. Struc. 2022, 1248, 131368.

9. J. Dey; S. Yadav; R. R. Lakshkar; A. Singh; S. Ray; C. Dash* “Zinc-bis(imino)pyridine complexes as catalysts for azide-alkyne cycloaddition in water” ChemistrySelect, 2022, 7, e202202239.

10. D. Sahil; S. Yadav; C. Dash* “Copper(II) complexes supported by bis(imino)pyridine ligands: Synthesis and catalysis on azide-alkyne click reactions” ChemistrySelect, 2023, 8, e202301452.

11. D. Sahil; R. Thirumoorthi; C. Dash* “Multicomponent click reactions catalyzed by copper(I) complex bearing bis(imino)pyridine-phosphine ligands” Inorg. Chem. Commun. 2023, 157, 111323.

12. R. R. Lakshkar; A. Agrawal; S. Yadav; C. Dash* “Phosphine-free bis(imino)pyridine-based pincer palladium(II) complexes as catalysts for C-H bond arylation of azoles with aryl iodides” ChemistrySelect, 2023, 8, e202302755.

13. S. P. Yadav; D. Sahil; C. Dash*; S. Choudhary; A. R. Choudhary; R. S. Chauhan “Copper(I) complexes derived from 1,1’-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene and their derivatives: Synthesis, structure, and catalytic studies for one-pot synthesis of benzofuran”Catal. Lett.  2024, 154, 2080–2089.

14. R. R. Lakshkar; S. Yadav; R. Thirumoorthi; S. Ray; C. Dash* “Zinc-bis(imino)pyridine complexes as catalysts for intermolecular amidation of benzylic C(sp3)−H bond” ChemistrySelect, 2024, 9, e202302804.

15. S. P. Yadav; D. Sahil; R. S. Chauhan; R. J. Butcher; A. Tyagi; G. Karmakar; C. Dash* “N‐heterocyclic Thiols based Copper Complexes: Syntheses, Structure and Catalytic Studies for Azide‐Alkyne Cycloaddition Reaction” ChemistrySelect, 2024, 9, e202303058.

16. J. Dey; D. Sahil; R. R. Lakshkar; O. P. Joshi; S. Yadav; A. Singh; S. Ray; C. Dash* “Well‐defined Bis (imino) pyridine‐Manganese (II) Complexes for Oxidation of Benzylic C‐H Bonds” Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem. 2024, 650, e202300201.

17. O. P. Joshi; A. K. Dash; R Thirumoorthi; C. Dash* “Iron-catalyzed annulation of 2-aminobenzaldehydes with iodonium ylides: A mild and general route for the synthesis of acridinone derivatives” Asian J. Chem. 2024, 36, 1423–1428.

18. O. P. Joshi; R Thirumoorthi; R. T. Pardasani; S. Ray; C. Dash* “Palladium(II) complexes bearing mesoionic carbene ligands: catalytic application in domino Sonogashira coupling/cyclization reactions for one-pot synthesis of benzofuran and indole derivatives” RSC Adv. 2024, 14, 27141–27152.

From the University of Texas at Arlington, USA

1.  C. Dash; P. Kroll; M. Yousufuddin; H. V. R. Dias “Isolable, gold carbonyl complexes supported by N-heterocyclic carbenes”

Chem. Commun. 2011, 47, 4478–4480. (Highlighted in Chemical and Engineering News, April 4, 2011, "Gold carbonyl proliferates" in Science & Technology Concentrates, page 31).

2.  H. V. R. Dias; C. Dash; M. Yousufuddin; M. A. Celik; G. Frenking, “Cationic gold carbonyl complex on a phosphine support”

Inorg. Chem. 2011, 50, 4253–4255

3.  A. Das; C. Dash; M. Yousufuddin; M. A. Celik; G. Frenking; H. V. R. Dias “Isolable tris(alkyne) and bis(alkyne) complexes of gold(I)” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2012, 51, 3940–3943.

4.  M. A. Celik; C. Dash; V. A. K. Adiraju; A. Das; M. Yousufuddin; G. Frenking; H. V. R. Dias “End-on and side-on p-acid ligand adducts of gold(I): carbonyl, cyanide, isocyanide and cyclooctyne gold(I) complexes supported by N-heterocyclic carbenes and phosphines” Inorg. Chem. 2013, 52, 729–742.

5.  C. Dash; A. Das; M. Yousufuddin; H. V. R. Dias “Isolable, copper(I) dicarbonyl complexes supported by N-heterocyclic carbenes”.

Inorg. Chem. 2013, 52, 1584–1590.

6.  A. Das; C. Dash; M. Yousufuddin; M. A. Celik; G. Frenking; H. V. R. Dias “Tris(alkyne) and bis(alkyne) complexes of coinage metals: synthesis and characterization of (cyclooctyne)3M+ (M = Cu, Ag) and (cyclooctyne)2Au+ and coinage metal (M = Cu, Ag, Au) family group trends” Organometallics 2013, 32, 3135–3144. Highlighted on the Organometallics Cover, June 10, 2013

7.  C. Dash; M. Yousufuddin; T. R. Cundari; H. V. R. Dias “Gold mediated expulsion of dinitrogen from organic azides”

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 15479–15488.

8. A. Das; C. Dash; M. Yousufuddin; H. V. R. Dias “Coordination and ligand substitution chemistry of bis(cyclooctyne)copper(I)”

Organometallics 2014, 33, 1644–1650.

9.  N. V. Kulkarni; C. Dash; N. B. Jayaratna; S. G. Ridlen; S. K. Khani; A. Das; X. Kou; M. Yousufuddin; T. R. Cundari; H. V. R. Dias “Zinc(II)-mediated carbene insertion into C-H bonds in alkanes” Inorg. Chem. 2015, 54, 11043–11045.

10. C. Dash; G. Wang; A. Munoz-Castro; T. T. Ponduru; A. O. Zacharias; M. Yousufuddin; H. V. R. Dias “Organic azide and auxiliary-ligand-free complexes of coinage metals supported by N-heterocyclic carbenes” Inorg. Chem. 2020, 59, 2188–2199.

From the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, Mumbai

1.  C. Dash; M. M. Shaikh; P. Ghosh “Fluoride-free Hiyama and copper- and amine-free Sonogashira coupling in air in a mixed aqueous medium by a series of PEPPSI-themed precatalysts” Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2009, 1608–1618.

2.  C. Dash; M. M. Shaikh; R. J. Butcher; P. Ghosh “A comparison between nickel and palladium precatalysts of 1,2,4-triazole based N-heterocyclic carbenes in hydroamination of activated olefins” Dalton Trans. 2010, 39, 2515–2524.

3. C. Dash; M. M. Shaikh; R. J. Butcher; P. Ghosh, “Highly convenient regioselective intermolecular hydroamination of alkynes yielding ketimines catalyzed by gold(I) complexes of 1,2,4-triazole based N-heterocyclic carbenes” Inorg. Chem. 2010, 49, 4972–4983.

4.  M. K. Samantray; C. Dash; M. M. Shaikh,; K. Pang; R. J. Butcher; P. Ghosh “Gold(III) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes mediated synthesis of b–enaminones from 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and aliphatic amines” Inorg. Chem. 2011, 50, 1840–1848.

5.  C. Dash; M. M. Shaikh; P. Ghosh “Silver complexes of 1,2,4-triazole derived N-heterocyclic carbenes: synthesis, structure and reactivity studies” J. Chem. Sci. 2011, 123, 97–106.

  • Rational design and development of earth-abundant iron-based catalysts for sustainable borylation. Grant Rs. 27,03,120/-. Co-Principal Investigator: Chandrakanta Dash. Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), Department of Science & Technology (DST), India (23rd Mar. 2026 to 22nd Mar. 2029).
  • Development of high valent cobalt catalysts for the synthesis of bioactive heterocycles via C-H bond functionalization. Grant Rs. 44,35,200/-. Principal Investigator: Chandrakanta Dash. Science and Engineering Research Board, Department of Science & Technology (DST), India (14th Feb. 2024 to 13th Feb. 2026).
  • Designing novel late transition metal catalysts for atom/group transfer reactions. Grant Rs. 25,74,000/-. Principal Investigator: Chandrakanta Dash. Science and Engineering Research Board, Department of Science & Technology (DST), India (22nd Sept. 2015 to 21st Sept. 2018).
  • Activation of small molecules by transition metal ions. Grant Rs. 6,00,000/-. Principal Investigator: Chandrakanta Dash. University Grants Commission, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Govt. of India (1st July 2016 to 30th June 2018).

Attended

Symposia/Conferences 

Invited Talks

1. C. Dash “Development of Well-defined Transition Metal-based Catalysts for C-C and C-heteroatom Bond Forming Reactions” International conference on Chemical & Biological Sciences in Drug Discovery-2019 (IC-CBSDD-2019), organized by Department of Chemistry, Berhampur University, Odisha, March 08-10, 2019.

2. C. Dash “Efficient zinc and copper catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction in aqueous medium” National Conferences on Emerging Trends in Chemical Sciences (ETCS-2019), organized by the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Sciences, Central University of Jammu, Samba (J&K), March 14-15, 2019. 

3. C. Dash “Recent Advances in Organometallic Chemistry” National Webinar on Supramolecular Chemistry and Organometallic Chemistry, Government Autonomous College, Rourkela, Odisha, April 12, 2023.

4. C. Dash “Organometallic Compounds: From discovery to applications” Two-Week Online Faculty Development Programme in Chemistry and Allied Sciences [FDPCAS – 2023], organized by the Department of Chemistry, Central University of Jammu, Jammu, November 04, 2023.

5. C. Dash “Palladium-NHC catalyzed domino reactions for the synthesis of biologically relevant heterocycles” International Conference on Advances in Chemical and Applied Sciences for Sustainable Development (ACASSD-2024), organized by the Department of Chemistry, School of Sciences, JECRC University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, March 29-30, 2024.

6. C. Dash “Transition metal catalyzed heterocycles synthesis via domino approach” International Symposium on Frontiers in Sustainable Catalysis and Organometallics 2024 (FISCO-2024), organized by Department of Chemistry, MNIT Jaipur, Rajasthan, July 11-12, 2024.

7. C. Dash “Domino Cyclization/Sonogashira Coupling Reactions Catalyzed by PEPPSI-themed Palladium-NHC Complexes: An Efficient Synthetic Approach to 2-Alkynyl Benzofurans and Indoles” International Conference on “Sustainable Technologies for Energy, Environment, and Health” (IC-STEEH), organized by VIT Vellore for the Ruby Jubilee celebration, September 17-19, 2025.

8. C. Dash “Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Carbazole Synthesis via Intramolecular C-H Amination” International Conference on “National Conference on Organic Synthesis 2025 (N-COS 2025), organized by the Department of Chemistry, Berhampur University, Odisha, December 15-17, 2025.

Oral/Poster Presentation

1.  Poster presentation: C. Dash; P. Ghosh “Silver(I) and gold(I) complexes of new class of 1,2,4-triazole based N/O-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbenes” 238th ACS National meeting and Exposition at Washington DC, USA, August 16-20, 2009. 

2.  Oral presentation: C. Dash; M. A. Celik; G. Frenking; H. V. R. Dias “Isolation and theoretical studies of N-heterocyclic carbene and phosphine stabilized gold(I) carbonyls” 245th ACS National meeting and Exposition at New Orleans, USA, April 7-11, 2013. 

3. Poster presentation: C. Dash; H. V. R. Dias “Cationic zinc(II) complexes of fluorinated tris(pyrazolyl)borates: Synthesis and characterization” 245th ACS National meeting and Exposition at New Orleans, USA, April 7-11, 2013. 

4. Poster presentation: C. Dash; H. V. Rasika Dias “Synthesis and catalytic application of cationic zinc(II) complexes supported by fluorinated tris(pyrazolyl)borates” 18th CRSI National Symposium in Chemistry, Punjab University, Chandigarh, February 5-7, 2016.

5. Poster presentation: C. Dash “N-heterocyclic Carbene Ligands: A Pandora’s Box of the Catalysis” National Symposium on Emerging Trends in Applied Chemical Sciences (ETACS), CU Rajasthan, March 18, 2016.

6. Poster presentation: C. Dash; S. Yadav; H. V. Rasika Dias “Novel Hg(II) complexes supported by anionic N-heterocyclic carbene ligands: Synthesis and structural studies” 20th CRSI National Symposium in Chemistry, Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam, February 2-5, 2017.

7. Poster presentation: C. Dash; S. Yadav; J. Dey “Synthesis and catalytic application of N-heterocyclic carbene based zinc(II) complexes in hydrohydrazination of alkynes” 3rd International conference on Frontiers at the Chemistry-Allied Sciences Interface (FCASI-2017), Rajasthan University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, July 22-23, 2017.

8. Poster presentation: C. Dash; S. Yadav “Bis(pyrrolyl)pyridine based NNN-pincer palladium(II) complexes for catalyzing Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction in aqueous medium” 24th ISCB International Conference (ISCBC-2018) on “Frontier Research in Chemistry & Biology Interface”, Manipal University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, January 11-13, 2018.

9. Poster presentation: C. Dash; S. Yadav “New Bis-N-heterocyclic Carbene based Gold(I) Complexes: Synthesis, Characterization and Catalytic Application” 23rd CRSI National Symposium in Chemistry (CRSI-NSC-23), IISER Bhopal, July 13-15, 2018

10. Poster presentation: C. Dash; S. Yadav “Well-defined bis(pyrrolyl)pyridine based palladium catalysts for domino Sonogashira coupling/cyclization reaction” 25th CRSI National Symposium in Chemistry (CRSI-NSC-25), IIT Kanpur, July 19-21, 2019.

11. Poster Presentation: C. Dash “Well-defined Cu(I)/Cu(II) and Zn(II) complex as catalysts for azide-alkyne Click reactions” 31st CRSI National Symposium (CRSI NSC-31), Department of Chemistry, NIT Rourkela, Odisha, July 06-08, 2023.

12. Poster Presentation: C. Dash “Well-defined Cu(I)/Cu(II) and Zn(II) complex as catalysts for azide-alkyne Click reactions” 32nd CRSI National Symposium in Chemistry (CRSI NSC-32) and 17th CRSI-RSC Joint Symposium, Department of Chemistry, BITS Pilani-Pilani Campus, Rajasthan, February 01-04, 2024.

Workshop/Training Program

1. Participated in faculty development program on “Frontiers of NMR Spectroscopy: Nucleus to Nucleotides” held at Center of Excellence, NFDD complex, Department of Chemistry, Saurashtra university, Rajkot, Gujrat, during January 15-21, 2016. 

2. Participated in GIAN course on “Bioinorganic Chemistry” conducted at Central University of Rajasthan, during December 05-09, 2016. 

3. Participated in “Four weeks induction training program” conducted during May 01-26, 2018 by Teaching Learning Center @ Central University of Rajasthan with ‘A’ grade.

4. Participated in the “Ten days workshop on teaching-learning & evaluation for faculty members of HEIs” conducted during November 04-14, 2019 by Teaching Learning Center @ Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, Rajasthan.

5. Participated in the “Online refresher course in chemistry for higher education” conducted during 01st Sep 2019-31st Dec 2019 (Exam Date: February 16, 2020) by Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, University of Delhi with an ‘A’ grade.

6. Participated in the Faculty Development Program on “Four-quadrant model for development of E-content, MOOCs and Teacher’s e-kit” conducted during 29th September-05th October, 2021 by Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, University of Delhi with an ‘A’ grade.

7. Participated in the “National Level Workshop cum discussion meeting on the implementation of NEP 2020 in Higher Education”, NIPEA, New Delhi, December 08, 2022.

8. Participated in Professional Development Programme on ‘Implementation of NEP-2020 for University and College Teachers’ held from 23 February – 03 March 2023 by IGNOU, New Delhi with an ‘A’ grade.

9. Participated in an Inter-Disciplinary two-week Refresher Course on ‘Managing Online Classes & Co-creating MOOCS’ by Teaching Learning Center, Ramanujan College, University of Delhi, held from February 07-21, 2024 with an ‘A+’ grade.

10. Participated in the Five Days Capacity Building Program on ‘Evaluation and Setting of Question Paper’ conducted on August 12-16, 2024, by NITTTR, Bhopal, and CU Rajasthan.

11. Participated in the Five Days Capacity Building Program on ‘Learner-Centred Teaching Methodology’ conducted on December 02-06, 2024, by NITTTR, Bhopal, and CU Rajasthan.

Organized

1. International Conference on Frontiers in Catalysis (FIC)-2024 during Jan 04-05, 2024 (as Organizing Secretary).