J. N. Moorthy

Our research is quite diverse, and it exemplifies the notion that 'structure is an embodiment of reactivity and other attributes such as molecular organiza-tion'. The importance of 'structure' bears out in every domain of our research activity, namely, i) organic photochemistry, ii) supramolecular chemistry and iii) mechanistic organic chemistry. In the area of photochemistry, based on sterics and electronic factors in rationally designed molecules, we endeavor to control the reactivity/ phenomenon. The diastereo - diffe-rentiatingphotoreactivity that we have unraveled for ketones with two contiguous stereogenic centers has led to unprecedented insights concerning the well-known Norrish Type II reactions and the behavior of reactive 1,4-biradicals in general. In our recent studies, we have shown how helicity and p-conjugation may modify the photophysical (fluorescence) property and photochromic phenomenon. In the realm of supramolecular chemistry, our research focus, in addition to the efforts on understanding intermolecular interactions, is centered on controlling molecular ordering by a rational design at the molecular level. In particular, we are intensely pursuing the development of organic functional mimics of inorganic zeolites, i.e., MOFs, for a variety of applications. By exploiting the concepts of supramolecular chemistry in molecular design, we have been focused on developing amorphous organic materials for application in organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). Insofar as mechanistic organic chemistry/organic synthesis is concerned, we have been interested in understanding the reactivity of IBX, o-iodoxybenzoic acid, which has emerged as a remarkable oxidation reagent in the last 15 years. We continue to develop modified IBXs with improved solubility and controlled reactivity. Development of catalytic and chiral IBXs constitutes our present focus.