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Dr. Rajeev S MenonProfessor & HeadPhone (Off): +91 4942407413 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Office: Department of Chemistry,
University of Calicut
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Education
| Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Kerala University, India (2001- 2005); Thesis supervisor: Dr. G. Vijay Nair, Organic Chemistry Division, NIIST (CSIR) (Formerly Regional Research Laboratory (CSIR)), Thiruvananthapuram, 695019, India. |
| Master of Science (M. Sc) in Chemistry (1998-2000) University of Calicut |
| Bachelor of Science (B. Sc) in Chemistry (1995-1998) University of Calicut |
Professional
| February 2016 - March 2022 | Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Central University Haryana, Mahenedergarh, Haryana |
| January 2012 - February 2016 | Ramanujan Fellow, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR), Hyderabad |
| April 2011 - October 2011 | Research Associate, Organic Chemistry Section, NIIST (CSIR), Thiruvananthapuram |
| October 2007 - December 2010 | Australian Research Council (ARC) post-doctoral fellow at the Research School of Chemistry, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia (Research Supervisor: Professor Martin Banwell) |
| February 2006 - August 2007 | Alexander von Humboldt post-doctoral fellow at the Institute for organic Chemistry, Technical University, Braunschweig, Germany. (Research Supervisor: Professor Henning Hopf) |
Research Supervision
Number of PhD students supervised: 3 (completed), 1 (ongoing)
Number of Masters Students Supervised: 40 (completed)
Research Projects
1) Core Research Grant titled “Investigations on the unique transformations of unsaturated sulfones for the rapid construction of antitumor alkaloids and analogues” granted by SERB-DST, India in November 2021 worth Rs. 50.24 Lakhs (2021-24, ongoing)
2) Early Career Research Grant titled “Exploiting the synthetic potential of unsaturated sulfones in heterocyclic construction and alkaloid synthesis” granted by SERB- DST, India in December 2016 worth 43.12 Lakhs (2017-2020, Completed).
3) Ramanujan Fellowship Research Grant titled “Gold-Catalysed Organic Transformations: Novel pathways for Carbon- Carbon Bond Formations and Rearrangements” awarded by SERB- DST, India, January 2012 worth 82.04 Lakhs (2012-2017, Completed).
4) Fast track project titled “Development of Novel Gold-catalysed Carbon-carbon Bond Forming Reactions and Rearrangements” awarded by SERB- DST, India in 2012 worth Rs. 16.36 Lakhs (2012-2015, Completed).
Awards
1) Best Researcher Award 2018 for Sciences, Central University of Haryana (2018)
2) Ramanujan Fellowship from DST-SERB, India( August 2011)
3) Australian Research Council (ARC) post-doctoral fellowship (2008)
4) Alexander von Humboldt post-doctoral fellowship (2005)
5) CSIR Senior Research Fellowship (2002) and CSIR Junior Research Fellowship (2000)
6) College medal for the best graduate student (1998)
Publications
a. Book Chapters
1. Cu-catalyzed Multicomponent Reactions, Suja, T. D.; Menon, R. S. in Copper Catalysis in Organic Synthesis, G. Anilkumar and S. Saranya (Eds.), Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 2020, pp. 209-237.
2. N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC)-Mediated Generation and Reactions of Homoenolates, Nair, V.; Menon, R. S. Krishnan, J., in N-Heterocyclic Carbenes in Organocatalysis, Ed. A. T. Biju, Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 2019, pp. 95-132.
3. Intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of alkenes, alkynes and allenes in Comprehensive Organic Synthesis, 2nd edition, Menon, R. S.: Nair, V., in: Gary A. Molander and Paul Knochel (eds.), Comprehensive Organic Synthesis, 2nd edition, Vol 4, Oxford: Elsevier; 2014. pp. 1281-1341.
4. Modifications of the Ugi Reaction, Menon, R. S.: Nair, V., in Multicomponent Reactions I, Science of Synthesis, Ed. T. J. J. Muller, Thieme Chemistry, 2014, pp. 503-529.
b. As an Independent Investigator in Refereed International Journals
1. Benzannulation reactions: A case for perspective change from arene decoration to arene construction, Swami, B.; Yadav, D; Menon, R. S. Chem. Rec. 2022, 22, e202100249.
2. Rapid synthesis of azepinoindole derivatives from tryptamine sulfonamides and bromoallyl sulfones via an acid-mediated cyclization and rearrangement, Gurram, R.; Nanubolu, J. B.; Menon, R. S. Chem. Commun, 2021, 57, 635.
3. Regioselective synthesis of arylsulfonyl benzophenones via aerobic oxidative [3+3] benzannulation reactions, Yadav, D.; Joshi, P. R.; Sharma, S. K.; Menon, R. S. Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2020, 6370.
4. Regioselective synthesis of arylsulfonyl heterocycles from bromoallyl sulfones via intramolecular Heck coupling reaction, Yadav, D.; Krishna, Sharma, S. K.; Menon, R. S. Org. Biomol. Chem. 2020, 18, 7188.
5. Regioselective synthesis of substituted cyclohexa-1,3-dienes via the base-mediated cyclisation of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds and γ-phosphonylcrotonates, Joshi, P. R.; Chandra, R.; Menon,R. S. Tetrahedron Lett. 2020, 61, 152380.
6. Recent developments in the chemistry of allenyl sulfones; Yadav, D.; Menon, R. S. Org. Biomol. Chem. 2020, 18, 365.
7. Facile synthesis of biarylmethanes and tetrasubstituted arenes via base-mediated [3+3] benzannulation reaction of Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts and unsaturated sulfones; Yadav, D.; Sharma, S. K.; Menon, R. S. Org. Biomol. Chem. 2019, 17, 4073.
8. Gold-catalysed regioselective cascade cycloisomerisation reactions of aza-enediynes for the synthesis of substituted benzoisoquinoline derivatives; Undeela, S.; Chandra, R.; Nanubolu, J. B.; Menon, R. S. Org. Biomol. Chem. 2019, 17, 369.
9. Facile synthesis of 1-benzoazepine derivatives via gold-catalyzed regioselective cycloisomerization reactions of N-(o-alkynylaryl)-N-vinyl sulfonamides; Undeela, S.; Ravikumar, G.; Nanubolu, J. B.; Singarapu, K. K.; Menon, R. S. Chem. Commun. 2016, 52, 4824.
10. Oxygenative and dehydrogenative [3+3] benzannulation reactions of a,b-unsaturated aldehydes and g-phosphonyl crotonates mediated by air: A regioselective synthesis of 4-hydroxybiaryl-2-carboxylates. Joshi, P. R.; Nanubolu, J. B.; Menon, R. S. Org. Lett. 2016, 18, 752.
11. Facile synthesis of 4H-chromene derivatives via base-mediated annulation of ortho-hydroxy chalcones and 2-bromoallyl sulfones; Thadkapally, S.; Kunjachan, A. C. and Menon, R.S. Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2016, 12, 16.
12. Base-mediated cyclocondensation of salicylaldehydes and 2-bromoallyl sulfones for the synthesis of 3-sulfonylchromene derivatives and their regioselective Friedel-Crafts heteroarylation reactions; Kumar, A.; Thadkapally, S and Menon, R.S. J. Org. Chem. 2015, 80, 11048.
13. Catalyst-controlled divergence in cycloisomerisation reactions of N-propargyl-N-vinylsulfonamides: gold-catalysed synthesis of 2-sulfonylmethyl pyrroles and dihydropyridines, Undeela, S.; Thadkapally, S.; Nanubolu, J. B.; Singarapu, K. K.; Menon, R. S. Chem. Commun. 2015, 51, 13748 (Highlighted on the journal cover).
14. Regioselective Synthesis of Substituted Arenes via Aerobic Oxidative [3+3] Benzannulation Reactions of α,β-Unsaturated Aldehydes and Ketones, Joshi, P. R.; Undeela, S.; Reddy, D. D.; Singarapu, K. K.; Menon, R. S. Org. Lett. 2015, 17, 1449.
15. A Convenient Synthesis of 2-Substituted Benzofurans from Salicylaldehydes, Reddy, S.; Thadkapally, S; Mamidyala, M.; Nanubolu, J. B.; Menon, R. S. RSC Advances 2015, 5, 8199.
16. A sequential synthesis of substituted furans from aryl alkynes and ketones involving a cerium(iv)ammonium nitrate (CAN)-mediated oxidative cyclisation. Undeela, S.; Ramchandra, J, P.; Menon, R. S. Tetrahedron Lett. 2014, 55, 5667
c. As co-author
17. Nucleophile-initiated Catalytic and Multicomponent Reactions; Nair, V.; Menon, R. S. Chem. Rec. 2019, 19, 347.
18. An Uncommon Multicomponent Reaction Involving NucleophilicHeterocyclic carbenes: Facile Synthesis of Fully Substituted Cyclopentanones, Krishnan, J.; Jose, A.; Sasidhar, B. S.; Suresh, E.; Menon, R. S.; Nair, V. Org. Chem. Front. 2018, 5, 1202.
19. Recent advances in N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalysed benzoin reactions; Menon, R. S.; Biju, A. T.; Nair, V. Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2016, 12, 444.
20. Recent advances in employing homoenolates generated by N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysis in carbon–carbon bond-forming reactions, Menon, R. S.; Biju, A. T.; Nair, V. Chem. Soc. Rev. 2015, 44, 5040.
21. Phosphine Mediated Reaction of Cyclic 1,2-Diones and 3-Alkyl Allenoates: An Efficient Protocol for Benzannulation Applicable to the Synthesis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Jose, A.; Jayakrishnan, A. J.; Vedhanarayana, B.; Menon, R. S.; Varughese, S.; Suresh, E.; Nair, V. Chem. Commun. 2014, 50, 4616.
22. 1,2-Benzoquinones in Diels-Alder reactions, dipolar cycloadditions, nucleophilic additions, multicomponent reactions and more. Nair, V.; Menon, R. S.; Biju, A. T.; Abhilash, K. G. Chem. Soc. Rev. 2012, 41, 1050.
23. Employing Homoenolates Generated by NHC Catalysis in Carbon-Carbon Bond-Forming Reactions: State of the Art. Nair, V.; Menon, R. S. Biju A. T., Sinu, C. R.; Paul, R. R.; Jose, A. and Sreekumar, V. Chem. Soc. Rev. 2011, 40, 5336.
24. N-Heterocyclic carbene catalyzed annulation of enals and vinyl ketones: A novel synthesis of [2H]-pyranones. Nair, V.; Paul, R. R.; Seetha, L. K. C.; Menon, R. S.; Jose, A.; Sinu, C. R. Tetrahedron Lett. 2011, 52, 5992.
25. Perhydroazulenes-A New Class of Liquid Crystalline Materials. Hopf, H.; Hussain, Z.; Menon, R. S.; Raev, V.; Jones, P. G.; Pohl, L. M. Synlett 2011, 1273.
26. New Methods for the Synthesis of Certain Alkaloids and Terpenoids. Banwell, M. G.; Lehmann, A. L.; Menon, R. S.; Willis, A. C. Pure and Appl. Chem. 2011, 83, 411.
27. Total syntheses of furanosesquiterpenes Crassifolone and Dihydrocrassifolone via a Au(I)-catalysed intramolecular Michael addition reaction. Menon, R. S. and Banwell, M. G. Org. Biomol. Chem. 2010, 8, 5483 (Article advertised on front cover of the Journal).
28. NHC-catalyzed transformation of aromatic aldehydes to acids by carbon dioxide: An unexpected reaction. Nair, V.; Varghese, V.; Paul, R. R.; Jose, A.; Sinu, C. R.; Menon, R. S. Org. Lett. 2010, 12, 2653.
29. The Au(I)-catalyzed intramolecular hydroarylation of terminal alkynes under mild conditions: Application to the synthesis of 2H-chromenes, coumarins, benzofurans, and dihydroquinolines. Menon, R. S.; Findlay, A. D.; Bissember, A. C.; Banwell, M. G. J. Org. Chem. 2009, 74, 8901.
30. Engaging Zwitterions in Carbon-carbon and Carbon-nitrogen Bond-forming Reactions: A Promising Synthetic Strategy. Nair, V.; Menon, R. S.; Sreekanth, A. R.; Abhilash, N.; Biju, A. T. Acc. Chem. Res. 2006, 39, 520.
31. Asymmetric Synthesis of Quinine: A Landmark in Organic Synthesis. Nair, V.; Menon, R. S.; Sreekumar, V. Natural Product Communications 2006, 1, 899.
32. Reaction of diaryl-1,2-diones with triphenylphosphine and diethyl azodicarboxylate leading to N,N-dicarboethoxy monohydrazones via a novel rearrangement. Nair, V.; Biju, A. T.; Abhilash, K. G.; Menon, R. S.; Suresh, E. Org. Lett. 2005, 7, 2121.
33. A Pyridine-catalyzed Addition of Diaryl-1,2-diones to Dimethyl Butynedioate Leading to the Formation of 1,2-Diaroyl Dimethyl Maleates via an Unprecedented Rearrangement. Nair, V.; Pillai, A. N.; Menon, R. S.; Suresh, E. Org. Lett. 2005, 7, 1189.
34. Multicomponent Reactions Based on Nucleophilic Carbenes and their Applications in Organic Synthesis. Nair, V.; Menon, R. S.; Sreekumar, V. Pure and Appl. Chem. 2005, 77, 1191.
35. One-pot Four-component Reaction of Isocyanides, Dimethyl Acetylenedicarboxylate and Cyclobutene-1,2-diones: Synthesis of Novel Spiroheterocycles. Nair, V.; Menon, R. S.; Deepthi, A.; Devi, B. R.; Biju, A. T. Tetrahedron Letters 2005, 46, 1337.
36. The Multicomponent Reaction of Dimethoxycarbene, Dimethyl Butynedioate and Electrophilic Styrenes: An Unprecedented Synthesis of Highly Substituted Cyclopentenone Acetals. Nair, V.; Beneesh, P. B.; Sreekumar, V.; Bindu, S.; Menon, R. S. Tetrahedron Lett. 2005, 46, 201.
37. A Novel Multicomponent Reaction Involving Isocyanide, Dimethyl Acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD), and Electrophilic Styrenes: Facile Synthesis of Highly Substituted Cyclopentadienes. Nair, V.; Menon, R. S.; Beneesh, P. B.; Sreekumar, V.; Bindu, S. Org. Lett. 2004, 6, 767.
38. Novel Pyridine Catalyzed Reaction of Dimethyl Acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) and Arylidenemalononitriles: A Stereoselective Synthesis of Highly Substituted Buta-1,3-dienes. Nair, V.; Remadevi, B.; Vidya, N.; Menon, R. S.; Abhilash, N.; Rath, N. P. Tetrahedron Lett. 2004, 45, 3203.
39. Multicomponent Reactions Involving Zwitterionic Intermediates for the Construction of Heterocyclic Systems: One-pot Synthesis of Aminofurans and Iminolactones. Nair, V.; Vinod, A.U.; N. Abhilash.; Menon. R. S.; Santhi, V.; Varma, L. R.; Viji, S.; Mathew, S.; Srinivas, R. Tetrahedron, 2003, 59, 10279.
40. Novel Pyridine Catalyzed Reaction of Dimethyl Acetylenedicarboxylate with Aldehydes and N-tosylimines: Efficient Synthesis of 2-Benzoyl fumarates and 1-Azadienes. Nair, V.; Sreekanth , A. R.; Abhilash, N.; Biju, A. T.; Remadevi, B.; Menon, R. S.; Rath, N. P.; Srinivas, R. Synthesis 2003, 1895.
41. [4+1] Cycloaddition Reactions of o-Thioquinones with Isocyanides: Novel Synthesis of 2-Imino-1, 3-Oxathioles. Nair, V.; Mathew, B.; Vinod, A. U.; Mathen, J. S.; Ros. S; Menon. R. S.; Varma, L. R.; Srinivas, R.; Synthesis 2003, 662.
42. Oxidative Intramolecular Cyclization Reactions of Cinnamyl Ethers Mediated by Cerium (IV) Ammonium Nitrate (CAN): A Stereoselective Synthesis of 3,4-trans-Disubstituted Tetrahydrofuran Derivatives. Nair, V.; Balagopal, L.; Menon, R.S.; Ros, S.; Srinivas, R. Arkivoc, 2003, viii, 199.
43. [4+2] Cycloaddition Reactions of o-Thioquinones with Pentafulvenes: Efficient Synthesis of Benzathiins. Nair, V.; Mathew, B.; Menon, R. S.; Mathew, S.; Vairamani, M. Tetrahedron 2002, 58, 3235.
44. An Efficient Multicomponent Reaction Involving the Interception of the Zwitterionic Intermediate between DMAD and Isocyanides with Some Active Methylene Compounds. Nair, V.; Vinod, A. U.; Ramesh, R.; Menon, R. S.; Varma, R. L.; Mathew, S.; Chiaroni, A. Heterocycles 2002, 58, 147.
45. A Facile Three-component Reaction Involving [4+1] Cycloadditions Leading to Furan Annulated Heterocycles. Nair, V.; Menon, R. S.; Vinod, A. U.; Viji, S. Tetrahedron Lett. 2002, 43, 2293.