Prof S Mannathan has added SRM University-AP to the list of those research-oriented Universities which try to direct their research to make the world a better place. With this new SERB-DST project of Rs. 44 lacs fund, Dr Mannathan and his team will be able to investigate into developing a strategy to prepare functionalized alkenes in a manner that is pro-environment and industrially economic.

Why functionalized alkenes? Alkene is a hydrocarbon with a C=C bond. It is readily available and a fan favourite among chemists. It reacts favourably with a variety of reactants and is a preference in the synthesis of bioactive compounds. This procedure aids in the preparation of several valuable compounds with a variety of uses from the manufacturing of antidepressants to the treatment of cancer.

What Prof Mannathan says about the project:

“We intend to develop a highly efficient, low-cost, environmentally-friendly strategy to prepare functionalized alkenes in a highly regio- and stereoselective manner. A step- and atom economic reductive coupling strategy will be employed by using a photoredox and a low valent metal dual catalyst to prepare such molecules. This novel approach avoids the use of any external reducing agent and generates the low valent metal species in situ using a photocatalyst.”

Dr Mannathan was granted a total of Rs. 44,11,264 for a period of 3 years. Dr Mannathan believes that with a SERB sanctioned fund of Rs. 44 lacs, he and his team will be able to design a new and revolutionary protocol. The newly designed protocol could be useful in the synthesis of various biologically active molecules and natural products such as aigialomycin D which is a helpful compound in inhibiting protein kinases that are related to cancer pathways.

Shivering with the change of weather is welcome. Trembling with nerves is not. So, if the upcoming tests are making you anxious and jittery, then the second session of Test Anxiety and Learning Styles would be an excellent opportunity to take a deep breath before the sprint.

Ms Aayushi Sharma, Student Counsellor, will coordinate the session on November 27, 2021, at 6.00 pm. This session would be greatly useful to the students and help them understand how to use the benefits of tests to combat test anxiety. A test is more than marks and rankings. It is for finding gaps in our knowledge, for devising methods that work the best for us, and, most importantly, for learning management at the most basic interpersonal level so that we might transfer these skills to our professional lives one day.

Tune in on November 27, 2021, at 6.00 pm for an engaging, interactive and informative second session on Test Anxiety and Learning Styles with Ms Aayushi Sharma, to arm yourselves and head-on to the test tomorrow and the challenges ever after.