| Bakthan
Singaram’s research program is centered around
the development of asymmetric and/or stereoselective
methods for the synthesis of biological and medicinal
significance. An important aspect of his study is to
develop novel and efficient chiral auxiliaries and catalysts
derived from optically active terpenes, organic acids,
and other naturally occurring organic compounds. These
compounds are tested for their efficiency in asymmetric
reduction and asymmetric carbon-carbon bond forming
reactions, such as alkylmetallation and allylmetallation
reactions. This research involves collaboration with
Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI.
His lab is also involved in the design of a new asymmetric
reducing agent, TarBX, derived from inexpensive tartaric
acid. Singaram’s reagent, TarBX, can reduce aromatic
alkyl ketones to give enantiomerically pure secondary
alcohols using lithium borohydride. His group is also
working on developing a new glucose sensor based on
boronic acids. In presence of glucose, negatively charged
boron atom in the boronic acid-glucose adduct forms
complex with a positively charged viologen analog through
electrostatic attraction. This complexation prevents
viologen-dye quenching and enhances the emission of
the fluorophore proportional to the concentration of
glucose. This project involves collaboration with Glumetrics,
Santa Cruz, CA.
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