Ramalingam Natarajan , Ph.D.
Senior Principal Scientist
Organic & Medicinal Chemistry

Research Interest
- Design and synthesis of novel receptors, through dynamic combinatorial chemistry, towards selective recognition of biologically important targets
- Selective and tunable transport of inorganic ions and organic molecules across bilayer membrane by novel synthetic ion channels and carriers
- Crystal engineering of functional organic molecules towards biomedical applications
Credentials
MSc (1998), Anna University, Chennai
PhD (2005) , Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (Prof. J Narasimha Moorthy)
Post-doctoral Fellow (2005-2006), Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Republic of Korea (Prof. Kimoon Kim)
Post-doctoral Fellow (2006-2007) with Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship at University of Wuerzburg, Germany (Prof. Frank Wuerthner)
Post-doctoral Fellow (2007-2010), University of Bristol, UK (Prof. Anthony P. Davis)
Research Assistant Professor (2011-2013), Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Republic of Korea (Prof. Kimoon Kim)
Patents & Publications
New Publications:
- Chiral Self-Sorting Directed Supramolecular Organic Framework of Imine Cages for Iodine Capture. Maji, S.; Pal, S.; Natarajan,R. Small, 2025, 21, 2502761
- Encage the Carcinogens: A Metal– “Organic Cage” Framework for Efficient Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Removal From Water. Paul, B.; Ghorai, S.; Natarajan, R. Small 2025, 21, 2408482.
- Chiral Self-Sorting, Spontaneous Resolution, and Hierarchical Self-Assembly in Metal–OrganicCages. Ghorai, S.; Natarajan, R. Small 2024, 20, 2400842.
- Metal–Organic Cage Receptors for Encapsulation and Sensing of Bile Acids. Paul, B.; Natarajan, R. Inorg. Chem. 2024, 63, 8449–8461 (with cover picture).
- Water-soluble triazolium covalent cages for ATP sensing. Maji, S.; Samanta, J.; Samanta, K.; Natarajan, R. Chem. Eur. J. 2024, 30, e202303596
- Emissive Click Cages. Maji, S.; Samanta, J.; Samanta, K.; Natarajan, R. Chem. Eur. J. 2023, e202301985
- A Halogen-Bonded Organic Framework (XOF) Emissive Cocrystal for Acid Vapor and Explosive Sensing, and Iodine Capture. Maji, S.; Natarajan. R. Small, 2023, 19, 2302902
- Cleft Receptor for the Recognition and Extraction of Tetrahedral Oxyanions. Biswas, R.; Ghorai, S.; Paul, B.; Maji, S.; Natarajan. R.* Cryst. Growth Des. 2023, 23, 4384-4394.
- Conformationally Flexible Cleft Receptor for Chloride Anion Transport. Biswas, R.; Samanta, K.; Ghorai, S.; Maji, S.; Natarajan. R.* ACS Omega 2023, 8, 19625-19631.
- Chiral self-sorting in Pd6L12 metal-organic cages. Ghorai, S.; Maji, S.; Paul, B.; Samanta, K.; Sen, S. K.; Natarajan, R. Chem. Asian J. 2023, 18, e202201312.
- Anion-Driven Programmable Chiral Self-Sorting in Metal-Organic Cages and Structural Transformations between Heterochiral and Homochiral Cages. Ghorai, S.; Natarajan, R. Chem. Eur. J. 2023, e202203085.
- Crystal Engineering of a Tetraphenol with Bispyridines toward Hydrogen-Bonded Emissive Cocrystals. Samanta, K; Maji, S; Samanta, J; Natarajan, R. Cryst. Growth Des.2021, 21, 6485 - 6496.
- Crystal Structure Landscape of a Triphenol: Polymorphism and Isostructurality in Solvates and Cocrystals, and pentameric and Hexameric Aromatic Stacks.Samanta, K; Samanta, J; Natarajan, R. Cryst. Growth Des.2021, 21, 166 -190.
- Influence of Conformational Change and Interligand Hydrogen Bonding in a Chiral Metal–Organic Cage. Sen, S. K.; Natarajan, R. Inorg. Chem. 2019, 58, 7180-7188.
- Cofacial Organic Click Cage to Intercalate Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. Samanta, J.; Natarajan, R. Org. Lett. 2016, 18, 3394-3397.
- Cucurbit[7]uril: A High-Affinity Host for Encapsulation of Amino Saccharides and Supramolecular Stabilization of Their α-Anomers in Water. Jung, Y; Natarajan, R.*; Ko, Y. H; Kim, K*. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2014, 53, 1003-1007.
Publications before joining in IICB:
- Hollow Nanotubular Toroidal Polymer Microrings. Lee, J. L.; Baek. K.; Kim, M.; Yun, G.; Ko, Y. H.; Lee, N. -S.; Hwang, I; Kim, J.; Natarajan, R.; Park, C. G.; Sung, W.; Kim, K. Nature Chem.2014, 6, 97-103.
- Tunable Porous Organic Crystals: Structural Scope and Adsorption Properties of Nanoporous Steroidal Ureas. Natarajan, R.; Bridgland, L.; Sirikilkajorn, A.; Lee, J.-H.; Haddow, M. F.; Magro, G.; Ali, B.; Narayanan, S.; Strickland, P.; Charmant, J. P. H.; Orpen, A. G.; McKewon, N. B.; Bezzu, C. G.; Davis, A. P. J. Am. Chem. Soc.2013, 135, 16912-16925.
- Tandem catalysis with a bifunctional site-isolated Lewis acid–Brønsted base metal–organic framework, NH2-MIL-101(Al) Srirambalaji, R.; Hong, S.; Natarajan, R.; Yoon, M.; Hota, R.; Kim, Y.; Ko, Y. H.; Kim, K. Chem. Commun, 2012, 48, 11650-11652.
- Nanoporous Organic Alloys. Natarajan, R.; Magro, G.; Bridgland, L. N.; Sirikulkajorn, A.; Narayanan, S.; Ryan, L. E.; Haddow, M. F.; Orpen, A. G.; Charmant, J. P. H.; Hudson, A. J. Davis, A. P. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed.2011, 50, 11386-11390. Highlight: Rational Design of Multifunctional Nanopores by Mixing Matching Molecules. Mastalerz, M. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed.2012, 51, 584-586.
- Water Chains in Hydrophobic Crystal Channels: Nanoporous Materials as Supramolecular Analogs of Carbon Nanotubes. Natarajan, R.; Charmant, J. P. H.; Orpen, A. G.; Davis, A. P. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed.2010, 49, 5125-5129.
- Influence of Weaker Interactions on the Self-Assembly of Rigid Molecular Scaffolds Based on Tetraarylbimesityls. Moorthy, J. N.; Natarajan, R.; Savitha, G.; Venugopalan, P. Cryst. Growth Des.2006, 6, 919-924.
- Anion Driven Self-Assembly of Tetrapyridyl Ligand with a Twist. Moorthy, J. N.; Natarajan, R.; Savitha, G.; Suchopar, A.; Richards, R. M. J. Mol. Struct. 2006, 796, 216-222.
- Three-Dimensional Organic Scaffolds with a Twist: Synthesis and Self-Assembly. Moorthy, J. N.; Natarajan, R.; Venugopalan, P. J. Org. Chem.2005, 70, 8568-8571.
- Corundum, Diamond and PtS Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) with a Difference: Self-Assembly with a Unique Pair of 3-Connecting D2d-Symmetric 3,3’,5,5’-Tetrakis(4-pyridyl)bimesityl. Natarajan, R.; Savitha, G.; Dominiak, P.; Wozniak, K.; Moorthy, J. N. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed.2005, 44, 2115-2119.
- Identification of New Supramolecular Synthon in o-Anisaldehydes: Molecular Self-Assembly into Tapes and Staircases. Moorthy, J. N.; Natarajan, R.; Venugopalan, P. J. Mol. Struct.2005, 741, 107-114.
- Self-Assembly of a Unique Extended-Tetrahedral 3,3’,5,5’-Tetrakis(4-pyridyl) Ligand into Discrete Supramolecular Cubes by Face Directed Metal Coordination.Natarajan, R.; Savitha, G.; Moorthy, J. N. Cryst. Growth Des.2005, 5, 69-72.
- Polymorphism of an o-Anisaldehyde: A Novel Example of Channel-Type Organization Sustained by Weak C-H∙∙∙O and C-H∙∙∙N Hydrogen Bonds. Moorthy, J. N.; Natarajan, R.; Mal, P.; Venugopalan, P. New J. Chem.2004, 1416-1419.
- Characterization of Planar Cyclic Form of Water Hexamer in an Organic Supramolecular Complex: An Unusual Self-Assembly of Bimesityl-3,3’-dicarboxylic Acid. Moorthy, J. N.; Natarajan, R.; Venugopalan, P. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2002, 41, 3417-3420.
- Helical Self-Assembly of Substituted Benzoic Acids: Influence of Weaker X∙∙∙X and C-H∙∙∙X Interactions. Moorthy, J. N.; Natarajan, R.; Mal, P.; Venugopalan, P. J. Am. Chem. Soc.2002, 124, 6530-6531.
- Efficient Photocyclization of o-Alkylbenzaldehydes in the Solid State: Direct Observation of E-Xylyenolsen route to Benzocyclobutenols. Solid-State Photochromism and Photoreactivity of o- and p-Anisaldehydes. Remarkable Stabilization of o-Xylyenols. Moorthy, J. N.; Mal. P.; Natarajan, R.; Venugopalan, P. Org. Lett. 2001, 3, 1579-1582.Moorthy, J. N.; Mal, P.; Natarajan, R.; Venugopalan, P. J. Org. Chem.2001, 66, 7013-7019.
- Indium Trichloride-Catalyzed Imino Diels-Alder Reactions: Synthesis of New Indolylquinoline Derivatives. Babu, G.; Nagarajan, R.; Natarajan, R.; Perumal, P. T. Synthesis, 2000, 661-666.
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