Biography

Chemistry in the Murthy group is at the interface of inorganic, bio-inorganic chemistry and inorganic spectroscopy. The group is mainly interested in development of transition metal complexes that are interesting and exhibit unusual structures, spectroscopy and chemical reactivity similar to the active-sites of copper, iron, nickel or cobalt metalloproteins. He employs a variety of characterization methods, Uv-Vis-NIR, paramagnetic proton NMR, EPR, including X-ray crystallography, electrochemistry, and magnetism.

Murthy earned an MSc degree in chemistry from Manasagangotri, Mysore, and a Ph.D. degree in inorganic chemistry from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, where he worked under the direction of Prof. A.G. Samuelson. As a post-doctoral fellow for two years in the laboratories of Prof. Ken Karlin, at the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, U.S.A., he worked on bioinorganic chemistry of copper/O2 complexes. After serving as a research staff at the same institution for four years, he joined IIT Madras in August 1997. He has passion for teaching. Taught several courses: inorganic chemistry, inorganic-spectroscopy, bioinorganic and inorganic lab for M.Sc. and basic chemistry for engineering students. Taught an advanced inorganic chemistry course for undergraduate seniors at the Johns Hopkins University, U.S.A. during his sabbatical visit.

Education

1990 Ph. D from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore

1983 M. Sc in Chemistry from Mysore University, Manasagangotri, Mysore

1981 B. Sc from Yuvarajas College, Mysore

Research Interests

Bioinorganic Chemistry Design and synthesis of copper, iron, nickel and cobalt complexes as synthetic models for the active-sites of oxidase metalloproteins involved in O2 activation, oxidation catalysis. Self-assembly of multinuclear iron centers as structural and functional mimics for non-heme iron proteins.

Inorganic Spectroscopy Exploit a variety of characterization methods of inorganic molecules with Uv-Vis-NIR, paramagnetic proton NMR, EPR, including X-ray crystallography, electrochemistry and magnetism.