APURBA BHATTACHARYA
HOME LABORATORY
301 Cape Aron Department of Chemistry
Corpus Christi, Texas 78412 Texas A&M University, Kingsville
(361) 994-9057 MSC 161, Kingsville, Texas 78363
(361) 593-2664 [kfab002@tamuk.edu]
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Organic Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin: 1982
M.S. Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology. Kanpur, India: 1976
B.S. Chemistry, Calcutta University, India: 1974
EMPLOYMENT
2004 Tenured
1999- present Assistant Professor, Texas A&M University, Kingsville.
1997-1999 Group Leader, Bristol Myers Squibb, Central Process Research
1995-1997 Lead Chemist; Innovator Group, Hoechst.
1994-1995: Staff Chemist, Hoechst-Celanese.
1990-1994: Senior Research Chemist, Hoechst-Celanese.
1988-1990: Research Fellow, Process Research and Development, Merck & Co.,
Inc.
1983-1988 Senior Research Chemist, Process Research and Development, Merck &
Co., Inc.
CONSULTANT:
A. Member: Panel of Drug Evaluators for Current Drugs (CD). Responsible for the evaluation of drugs, which are being launched worldwide.
B. Scientific Process Advisor:
1. PHARM-ECO A Johnson Matthey Company
2. Texas Bio Technology.
3. Bristol Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Co.
4. Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharmaceutical.
5. Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development.
6. Ambion.
C. Consultant:
1. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison’s List of Designated Expert in Environmental
Chemistry .
2. Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation
D. Advisory Board Member: Chembiotek, India.
E. Advisor: NIH: SSS-L study section, SBIR/STTR applications in Drug Discovery, Development and Delivery.
F. Member: Panel of Drug Evaluators for Current Drugs (CD). Responsible for
the evaluation of drugs that are being launched worldwide
ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
Graduate Research Assistant, (1977-1982), Professor James K. Whitesell. Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin. Asymmetric induction in carbon-carbon bond forming reaction was studied. Very high asymmetric induction (92-99%) were achieved in the nucleophilic addition of chiral glyoxylate and pyruvate esters as well as concerted "-ene" and cycloaddition reactions. Kinetic resolutions of simple olefins were accomplished via asymmetric "-ene" reactions. Intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions were exploited for asymmetric synthesis of a natural product , antibiotic "X-14547A"
Teaching Assistant Undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory.
INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE
Discovered and developed novel silicon mediated quinone oxidation of aza-steroids successfully implemented for the production of PROSCARTM / PROPECIATM and other benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)-candidates.
Process Research and Development designing novel, practical and cost-effective
synthesis of drug candidates from bench scale to commercialization.
Introduced efficient chiral phase-transfer technology to prepare either enantiomer
of the drug candidate L-644, 711.
Devised and devoloped a unique amphoteric copolymer derived from vinylpyridine and acetoxystyrene.
Discovered and developed a waste-free synthesis of chiral ibuprofen via unprecedented diastereoreversal.
Discovered and developed a synthesis of D-p-hydroxyphenylglycine via a novel crystallization induced asymmetric transformation.
Identified and developed a new synthesis of 2-alkyl indanones.
Devised and developed a synthesis of cromolyn sodiumTM
Identified and developed a novel synthesis of 4-quinazolinones as pharmaceutical intermediates.
Involved in the development from bench scale to commercialization of a 20-step synthesis of Gd/Lu Texaphyrin, agent for MRI imaging, photosensitizer and photodynamic therapy of cancer.
HONORS AND AWARDS:
• Robert A. Welch Fellowship (1980-1983).
• Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship for academic excellence (1982-1983).
• Outstanding teaching assistant award (1980).
• National Scholarship (India) (1969-1974).
• Merck Speakers Program Award 1989-1990.
• MSDRL Selected Publications, Centennial Year Edition Award (1988-1989).
• Member: American Chemical Society (1983-present).
• Speaker: American Chemical Society Presidential Anniversary Symposium. August.
2004.
• UTMB Galveston Research Award (2003)
Featured in several newspaper articles:
API Manufacturing: Production Process Increase Productivity (Pharm-Tech October
4, 2004)
Bridges program offers students road to success (Corpus Christi Caller-Times
July 6, 2004)
Professor to speak at annual symposium (Corpus Christi Caller-Times June 15,
2004).
A&M Kingsville paves way to PhD’s (Corpus Christi Caller-Times September
6, 2003)
Professor simplifies Tylenol production (Corpus Christi Caller-Times October
14, 2002)
A&M Professor’s Goal: more life-saving Drugs (Austin American Statesman,
November 26,
1999)
Professor hopes to inspire Texas students (Houston Chronicle November 14, 1999)
Renowned chemist sharing his vision (Corpus Christi Caller-Times November 1,
1999)
Chemist who invented baldness drug joins A&M Kingsville (Fort Worth Star
Telegram
November 26, 1999)
Partnership with Drug Industry (Corpus Christi Caller-Times August 1, 2001)
Process chemistry collaboration (Chemical & Engineering News July 23, 2001)
Spark of learning: (Corpus Christi Caller-Times Editorial August 6, 2001).
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
• American Chemical Society
• Merck and Hoechst ambassador in University of Texas at Austin , Houston and
Texas A & M University.
• Who's Who in Sciences Higher Education (WWSHE).
• PANEL DISCUSSIONS.
• Moderator. Panel discussions in the pharmaceutical section of the “Green
Chemistry Workshop” (July 20-25, 2002) at the University of Oregon.
• Moderator. Panel discussion in Career Development programs at Texas A&M
October 1, 2001 on pharmaceutical process R&D.
PUBLICATIONS
1. "Asymmetric Induction, Nucleophilic Addition to a Chiral Glyoxylate
Ester", Whitesell, J. K.; Bhattacharya, A. ; and Henke, K., J. Chem. Soc.
Chem. Commun., 988-89 (1982).
2. "Asymmetric Induction. Ene Reactions of a Chiral Glyoxylate Ester",
Whitesell, J. K.; Bhattacharya, A.; Aguilar, D. A.; and Henke, K., J. Chem.
Soc. Chem. Commun., 17, 989-90 (1982)
3. "A Glimpse Towards Asymmetric Induction", Bhattacharya, A., Diss.
Abstr. Int. B, 43 (12, pt. 1), 3980 (1983)
4. "Asymmetric Induction. Reduction, Nucleophilic Addition to and Ene Reaction
of Chiral Alpha-Keto Esters", Whitesell, J. K.; Bhattacharya, A.; and Deyo,
D., J Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun., 15, 802 (1983)
5. "Efficient Catalytic Asymmetric Alkylations. 2. Chiral Robinson Annulations
via Phase-Transfer Catalysis", Bhattacharya, A.; Dolling, U.-H.; Grabowski,
E. J. J.; Karady.; Ryan, K. M.; Weinstock, L. M., Angew. Chem., 98, 442-443
(1986)
6. "Asymmetric Induction in the Ene Reaction of a Glyoxylate Ester of S-Phenyl
Menthol", Whitesell, J. K.; Bhattacharya, A.; Chen, H. H.; Deyo, D.; James,
D.; and Liu, C. L., Tetrahedron, 42 (11), 2993-3001 (1986).
7. "Efficient Asymmetric Alkylations via Chiral Phase-Transfer Catalysis:
Applications and Mechanism", Dolling, U.-H.; Hughes, D. L.; Bhattacharya,
A.; Ryan, K. M.; Karady, S.; Weinstock, L. M.; and Grabowski, E. J. J., In:
Starks, C. M., Editor, "Phase Transfer Catalysis; New Chemistry, Catalysts,
and Applications, Chapter 7", ACS Symp. Ser., 326, 67-81 (1987).
8. "Efficient Asymmetric Alkylations via Chiral Phase-Transfer Catalysis.
A Novel Dual Catalysis." Dolling, U.-H.; Hughes, D. L.; Bhattacharya, A.;
Ryan, K. M.; Karady, S.; Weinstock. L. M.; Grenda, V. J.; and Grabowski, E.
J. J., Catalysis of Organic Reactions, [edited by Paul N. Rylander, Hatedd Greenfield
and Robert L. Augustine], 33, 65-86 (1988).
9. "Silylation-Mediated Oxidation of 4-Aza-3-Ketosteroids with DDQ Proceeds
via DDQ-Substrate Adducts", Bhattacharya, A.; DiMichele, L. M.; Dolling,
U.-H.; Douglas, A. W.; and Grabowski, E. J. J., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 110, 3318-19
(1988).
10."DDQ Oxidation of Silyl Enol Ethers to Enones Proceeds via DDQ-Substrate
Adducts", Bhattacharya, A.; DiMichele, L. M.; Dolling, U.-H.; Grabowski,
E. J. J.; Grenda, V. J., J. Org. Chem., 54,6118-6120 (1989).
11."Silicon Assisted Quinone Oxidations Proceeds via Quinone-Substrate
Adducts". Merck Speakers Program Brochure 1989-1990.
12. "Proscar ®" Merck Index, eleventh edition, 7888, 1989.
13. "Oxidation of 4-Aza-3-Ketosteroids". Bhattacharya, A., Centennial
Year Edition, MSDRL Selected Publications.
14. "Acylimidazolides as Versatile Synthetic Intermediates for the Preparation
of Sterically Congested Amides and Ketones: A Practical Synthesis of Proscar"
Bhattacharya, A.; Williams, J. M.; Amato, J. S.; Dolling, U.-H.; and Grabowski,
E. J. J., Synthetic Communications 30(17), 2683-2690, 1990.
15. "Crystallization Induced Asymmetric Transformation: Synthesis of D-p-Hydroxyphenylglycine"
Bhattacharya, A.; Aruallo-Mcadams, C.; and Meier, M. B., Synthetic Communications,
24(17), 2449-2459, 1994.
16. "Methyl Glyoxylate" Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis
(EROS), Bhattacharya, A.1994.
17. "Phenmenthyl Glyoxylate" Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic
Synthesis (EROS), Bhattacharya, A. 1994.
18. “Environmentally Friendly Solvent-Free Processes: Application of a Novel
Surfactant Induced Dual Catalysis in Henry Reaction” Organic Process Research
Development” 7, 3, 254-258, 2003.
19. “Benzoin Condensation: Monitoring a Chemical Reaction by High Pressure Liquid
Chromatography”. Journal of Chemical Education, 81, 7 1020-2, 2004.
20. “Temperature Selective Diastereo-Recognition (TSD): Enantiomeric Ibuprofen
via Environmentally Benign Selective Crystallization”. Organic Process Research
Development” 7, 5, 717, 2003.
PRESENTATIONS
1. "Efficient Asymmetric Alkylations via Chiral Phase-Transfer Catalysis".
For presentation at : American Chemical Society 190th National Meeting, Chicago,
Illinois,9/8/85-9/13/85.
2. "Quarternary Ammonium Ions Derived From Cinchona Alkaloids as Chiral
Phase-Transfer Alkylation Catalysts: Appilations and mechanisms".: Hetrocyclic
Chemistry 10th International Congress, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 8/11/85-8/16/85.
3. "Efficient Asymmetric Alkylations via Chiral Phase-Transfer Catalysis.
A Novel Dual Catalysis".: Organic Reactions Catalysis Society Eleventh
Meeting, Savannah, Georgia, 4/6/86-4/8/86.
4. "Recent Mechanistic Studies on The Mitsunobo reaction and DDQ-Mediated
double bond introduction".: Gordon Research Conference on Organic Reactions
and Processes, New Hampshire, 7/13/87-7/18/87.
5. "Quinone Oxidation in Synthesis;Fascination New Mechanistic Aspects".:
U.of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, November 5, 1987.
6. "Silicon Assisted Quinone Oxidation: Mechanisms and application to aza-steroid
synthesis".: U. of Houston, Houston, Texas, November 6, 1987.
7. "Quinone Oxidation: Mechanism and application in steroid synthesis".:
Texas A&M Univ. College Station, Texas, November 9, 1987.
8. "Silylation Mediated Quinone oxidation".: Merck-Bucknell Symposium,
March 16, 1988.
9. "Oxidation of Lactum Derived TMS-Imidates With Quinones Proceeds Via
Unprecedented Quinone-Substrate Adducts".: Heterocyclic Chemistry 12th
International Congress, Jerusalem, Israel, 8/13/89-8/17/89.
10. "Synthesis of ?1-4-Aza Steroids via Silylation Mediated Quinone Oxidation".:
Lakeland Heterocyclic symposium, Grasmere.Royal Society of Chemistry: Perkin
Division May 4-8 1989.
11."Quinone Oxidation of TMS Imidates and Enolethers Proceeds via Single
Electron Tranlfer".:32nd IUPAC Congress Stockholm,2-7 August 1989.
12. “Development of Finastride”.: 2001 4th Annual Howard Radwin Urology Conference
San Antonio Medical Center. Texas October 19-20, 2001
13. “Environmentally Friendly Solvent-Free Processes: Preparation of Nitro Alcohols,
A Class of Valuable Drug Intermediates by Henry Reaction”.: American Chemical
Society 57th Southwest Regional Meeting October 17-20, 2001, San Antonio, Texas.
14. “Environmentally Friendly Solvent Free Processes: Application of a novel
surfactant induced dual catalysis in Henry Reaction”. 6th Annual Green Chemistry
and Engineering Conference Washington, D.C. June 24-27, 2002.
15. “Environmentally Friendly Solvent Free Processes: Application of a novel
surfactant induced dual catalysis in the Preparation of Pharmaceutical Intermediates”.
Tenth Annual Coastal Bend Environmental Conference, Kingsville, Texas, October
30-Nov 1, 2002.
16. “Bridging Process Research and Development: from Academia to Industry”
Pharm-Eco John Matthey, February 20, 2002.
17. “Bridging Green Chemistry to Industry” Sepracor Inc; February 20, 2002.
18. “Green Chemistry in Texas A&M Kinsville”. Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical
Research & Development. March 28, 2003.
19. “Process Research and Development: From Academia to Industry”. University
of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston Medical Center. March 30, 2003.
20. “Intermediacy in Quinone Oxidation” The University of Texas-Pan American.
April 10, 2003.
21. “Applications in Green Technology” October 22, 2003. Environmental Engineering
Seminar. Texas A&M Kingsville.
22. Temperature Selective Diastereo-Recognition (TSD): Enantiomeric Ibuprofen
via Environmentally Benign Selective Crystallization. South Texas Section, American
Chemical Society, Second Research Symposium, Kingsville, Texas, November 21,
2003.
23. “The Role of Bristol-Myers Squibb in Educating the Next
Generation: Process R&D at Texas A&M Kingsville. Part I
Development of Proscar. Part II”. Bristol Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research
Institute, New Brunswick, NJ, February 20, 2004.
24. "Process Research and Development in Texas A&M Kingsville: Educating
the Next Generation". Novartis Pharmaceutical. East Hanover, NJ, February
19, 2004.
25. Application of Quinone oxidation in developing and alfa reductase inhibitor
candidate. Ambion Pharmaceutical, Austin Texas. April 1, 2004.
26. “Development of a BPH candidate: Synthesis of Finasteride” University of
Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas April 2, 2004.
27. “Educating next generation of Process Chemists in Academia” ACS Petroleum
Research Fund Presidential Symposium, 228th meeting of the American Chemical
Society, Philadelphia, August 2004.
28. “Green Technology in Pharmaceutical Processess Development”. Abstracts,
60th Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Fort Worth,
TX, United States, September 29-October 4 (2004), SEPT04-268. Publisher: American
Chemical Society, Washington, D. C.
29. “Enantiomeric Ibuprrofen Via Environmentally Benign Temperature Selective
Diastereo-Recognition (Tsd)”. Abstracts, 60th Southwest Regional Meeting of
the American Chemical Society, Fort Worth, Texas, United States, September 29-October
4 (2004), SEPT04-076. Publisher: American Chemical Society, Washington, D. C.
30. “Application of Green Technology in Pharmaceutical Process Development”
IUCCP symposium October 18-20, 2004; College Station, Texas.
PATENTS
1. "An Enantiomer of a Substituted Fluorenyloxy Acetic Acid": U.S.4606760.
2. "Enantiomers of a Substituted Fluorenyloxy Acetic Acid": EP-176947.
3. "Preparation of Enantiomers of a Substituted Fluorenyloxy Acetic Acid":
U.S. 45857357.
4. "Steroid Dehydrogenation Process Intermediates" : U.S. 5116983.
5. "Dehydrogenation of Azasteroids" : U.S. 5084574.
6. "Preparation of 4-Azo-chol-1-ene-3, 20-dione derivatives as testosterone
reductase inhibitors" EP-367502.
7. "Process for the dehydrogenation of 3-oxo steroids (and especially 3-oxo-4aza
steroids) in the 1,2-position using quinones and silylating agents, and quinone-steroid
adduct intermediates" EP-298652.
8. "Amphoteric Copolymer Derived from Vinylpyridine and Acetoxystyrene"
U. S. 5210149.
9. "Amphoteric Copolymer Derived from Vinylpyridine and Acetoxystyrene"
U. S. 5304610.
10."Precipitation-Induced Asymmetric Transformation of Chiral Alpha-Amino
Acids and salts thereof" EP-499376.
11."Racemization of an Enantiomerically Enriched ?-Aryl Carboxylic Acid"
U.S. 5332834.
12."Selective Precipitation of alpha arylcarboxylic acid salts" U.S.
5380867.
13. “Selective Precipitation of alpha arylcarboxylic acid salts” U.S. 5399707.
14."Process for the Productton of Calcium Salts of Hydantoic Acid. U.S.5338859.
15."Selective Precipitation of ? arylcarboxylic acid salts" U.S. 5399707.
16."Process for preparing cyclic ketones" U.S. 5489712.
17. “Process for the preparation of dialkali metal cromoglycates” U.S. 5,508,451
18. “Preparation of 4-quinazolinones from N-acyl-?-aminoacids” U.S. 96-596794.
19. “Preparation of 5,6-dihydro-3H-pyrimidin-4-one derivatives” U.S. 96-595885.
20. “Three step process for preparing anthranilic acids from aniline” U.S. 96-593536.
21. “Process for azole antifungal intermediates” U.S. 6,326,509, Dec.4, 2001.
22. Method of producing organic compounds in presence of oxyethylene ether
catalyst and in a solvent minimized environment. U.S. Pat. Appl. Publ. (2004),
US 20040138509 A1 20040715 AN 2004:569897
23. “Preparation of 4-(2—Bromoethoxy)phenol”. Patent applied in collaboration
with Johnson & Johnson (2003).
24. Utilization of chloramines in antiviral pyrallotriazinze synthesis. Patent
applied in collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb Docket noumber102244 (2003).
25. Selective nitration and bromination of pyridines in antiviral pyrallotriazinze
synthesis. Patent Patent application in preparation (with Bristol Myers Squibb)
(2004).
26. “Efficient Salt-Free One-Pot Reductive Acetamidation of Aryl Nitro Compounds
by Thioacetate Anion Through in situ Catalytic Re-Generation: Application in
the Synthesis of Acetaminophen. TAMUS 2168.
Student Presentations.
1. “Environmentally Friendly Solvent-Free Processes: Preparation of Nitro Alcohols,
A Class of Valuable Drug Intermediates”
Vikram Purohit, Hilda Argulin, Apurba Bhattacharya*. IUCCP symposium October
1-4, 2001. College Station, Texas.
2. “Environmentally Friendly Synthesis of Benzoins; a Valuable Interemediate
in Organic Synthesis”
Stephanie Nichols, Vikram Purohit, , Apurba Bhattacharya*. American Chemical
Society South Texas Section, Noverber 10, 2001.
3. “Environmentally Processes in Organic Synthesis: Zeolite Mediated selective
O-Methylation of Phenols under Salt-free conditions”
James Ogle, Apurba Bhattacharya*. American Chemical Society South Texas Section,
Noverber 10, 2001.
4. “Environmentally Processes in Organic Synthesis Solvent –free Hydrolysis
of Esters”
Nishant Joshi, Apurba Bhattacharya*. American Chemical Society South Texas Section,
November 10, 2001.
5. “Environmentally Processes in Organic Synthesis: Novel Surfactant Mediated
Solvent Free Ether Cleavage/tras-Etherification under Neutral Conditions”
Ritesh Tichkule; Gaurang Parmer, Vikram Purohit, Apurba Bhattacharya*. IUCCP
symposium September 23-25, 2002; College Station, Texas.
6. “Environmentally Friendly Processes in Organic Synthesis: Novel Surfactant
Mediated Solvent-Free Ester Cleavage/trans-Esterifications under neutral conditions”
Nishant Joshi, Apurba Bhattacharya*. IUCCP symposium September 23-25, 2002;
College Station, Texas.
7. “Surfactant Mediated Dual Catalysis in Organic Synthesis: A novel Solvent-Free
Transformation of Nitro to Amides”
Gaurang Parmer, Apurba Bhattacharya*. IUCCP symposium September 23-25, 2002;
College Station, Texas.
8. “Environmentally Friendly Processes in Organic Synthesis: Novel Surfactant
Mediated Solvent Free Ether Cleavage / Trans-Etherification under Neutral Conditions”
Ritesh Tichkule; Savitha Muramulla; Gaurang Parmar; & Apurba Bhattacharya*.
South Texas Section, American Chemical Society, Second Research Symposium, Kingsville,
Texas, November 21, 2003.
9. “Application of Surfactant Mediated Dual Catalysis in Organic Synthesis:
A Novel Transformation of Nitro to Amides: One Step Synthesis of Acetaminophen?”
Gaurang Parmar, Diego Saenz, Tamara Hussein & Apurba Bhattacharya*. South
Texas Section, American Chemical Society, Second Research Symposium, Kingsville,
Texas, November 21, 2003.
10. “Environmentally friendly waste-free Acetoxylation of Alcohols”
Sankara R Cherukuri, Senthil Kumar K.S., Victor Villareal, Vikram Purohit
and Apurba Bhattacharya*. South Texas Section, American Chemical Society, Second
Research Symposium, Kingsville, Texas, November 21, 2003.
11. “Advances in Heterocyclic Synthesis”
Nitinchandra Patel, Apurba Bhattacharya*
South Texas Section, American Chemical Society, Second Research Symposium, Kingsville,
Texas, November 21, 2003.
12. “A Simple, Efficient One Pot Amidation of Nitriles”
Victor Villareal, Sankara R Cherukuri, Richard Sanchez Jr. and Apurba Bhattacharya*.
South Texas Section, American Chemical Society, Second Research Symposium, Kingsville,
Texas, November 21, 2003.
13. “Zeolite-HBr-H2O2 Mediated Waste-free Bromination of Aromatic Compounds”
Madeline R. Fair, Ritesh Tichkule, Apurba Bhattacharya*. South Texas Section,
American Chemical Society, Second Research Symposium, Kingsville, Texas, November
21, 2003.
14. “Environmentally Friendly Aliphatic Bromination of Substituted Acetophenones
and Benzocyclic Ketones”
Mario E. Gomez , Madeline Fair, Ritesh Tickule, Apurba Battacharya*. South Texas
Section, American Chemical Society, Second Research Symposium, Kingsville, Texas,
November 21, 2003.
15. “Regioselectivity in Pyridine Synthesis”
Senthil Kumar K.S., Vikram Purohit and Apurba Bhattacharya*. South Texas Section,
American Chemical Society, Second Research Symposium, Kingsville, Texas, November
21, 2003.
16. “Novel Surfactant Mediated Solvent Free Cleavage of Esters Under Neutral
Conditions”
Tomas Vasques, Nitinchandra Patel, Omar Vela & Apurba Bhattacharya*.
South Texas Section, American Chemical Society, Second Research Symposium, Kingsville,
Texas, November 21, 2003.
17. “Zeolite Catalyzed, Microwave Induced Environmentally Friendly Etherification”
Richard Sanchez Jr., Ritesh Tichkule, James Ogle, Shane Tichy, Apurba Bhattacharya*.
South Texas Section, American Chemical Society, Second Research Symposium, Kingsville,
Texas, November 21, 2003.
18. “Environmentally Friendly Processes in Organic Synthesis: Novel Surfactant
Mediated Solvent Free Cleavage of Esters Under Neutral Conditions”
Tomas Vasques, Nitinchandra Patel, Omar Vela & Apurba Bhattacharya*. IUCCP
symposium October 13-15, 2003; College Station, Texas.
19. “Zeolite Mediated Microwave Induced Environmentally Friendly Etherification”
Richard Sanchez Jr. Ritesh Tichkule, Apurba Bhattacharya*. IUCCP symposium October
13-15, 2003; College Station, Texas.
20. “Environmentally Friendly Aliphatic Bromination of Substituted Acetophenones
and Benzocyclic Ketones”
Mario E. Gomez, Madeline Fair, Ritesh Tichkule, Apurba Bhattacharya*. IUCCP
symposium October 13-15, 2003; College Station, Texas.
21. “Zeolite-HBr-H2O2 mediated Waste Free Bromination of Aromatic Compounds.
Madeline R Fair, Ritesh Tichkule, Apurba Bhattacharya*. IUCCP symposium October
13-15, 2003; College Station, Texas. [Received the best presentation award in
the symposium].
22. “HBr-H2O2 mediated, Zeolite Catalyzed Waste-Free Bromination of Aromatic
Compounds”
Madeline R Fair, Ritesh Tichkule, Apurba Bhattacharya*. First Pathways Research
Symposium. Novem 14-15, 2003; Galveston, Texas. [Received the best presentation
award in the symposium].
23. “Environmentally Friendly Processes in Organic Synthesis: Novel Surfactant-mediated Solvent-free Reactions in a Catalytic System”.Tomas Vasques, Nitin Patel, Victor Villarreal, Omar Vela, and Apurba Bhattacharya*. Natural Sciences Research Poster Session at the University Of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas April 2, 2004.
24. “Surfactant Mediated Dual Catalysis in Green Chemistry, Solvent Free Transformation
of Nitro to Amides: One Step Synthesis of Tylenol.
Ritesh Tichkule, Guarang Parmar, and Apurbah Bhattacharya*. Natural Sciences
Research Poster Session at the University Of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
April 2, 2004.
25. “Remarkable Solvent Effect in Barton-Zard Pyrrole Synthesis: Improved Synthesis
of 3,4-dialkyl-1-H-pyrrole-2-carboxylate”.
Sankara Cherukuri, Ritesh Tichkule, Victor Tamez, Vikram Purohit, and Apurba
Bhattacharya*. Natural Sciences Research Poster Session at the University Of
Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas April 2, 2004.
26. “Application in Green Chemistry: Ether Cleavage/Trans-etherification Under
Neutral Conditions”.
Ritesh Tichkule, Guarang Parmar, Savitha Muramulla, and Apurbah Bhattacharya*.
Natural Sciences Research Poster Session at the University Of Texas at Austin,
Austin, Texas April 2, 2004.
27. “One Pot Transformation of Nitriles & Carboxylic Acids to Amides”.
Victor Villarreal, Savitha Muramulla, Rick Sanchez, Sankara Cherukuri, and Apurbah
Bhattacharya*. Natural Sciences Research Poster Session at the University Of
Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas April 2, 2004.
28. “Zeolite Catalyzed, Microwave Induced, Waste-Free Etherification, Formylation,
Methylation and Ester Hydrolysis”
Sanchez, Richard; Tichkule, Ritesh; Tamez, Victor; Vasques, Tomas; Villarreal,
Victor; Bhattacharya, Apurba*. Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University
- Kingsville, Kingsville, TX, USA. Abstracts, 60th Southwest Regional Meeting
of the American Chemical Society, Fort Worth, TX, United States, September 29-October
4 (2004), SEPT04-077. Publisher: American Chemical Society, Washington, D. C.
29. “Zeolite catalyzed Waste-free Bromination of Aromatic Compounds”
Fair, Madeline Rosa; Tichkule, Ritesh; Bhattacharya, Apurba*. Abstracts, 60th
Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Fort Worth, TX,
United States, September 29-October 4 (2004), SEPT04-066. Publisher: American
Chemical Society, Washington, D. C.
30. “Waste-Free Environmentally Friendly Halogenation of Substituted Acetophenones
and Benzocyclic Ketones”
Plata, Erik; Gomez, Mario; Bhattacharya, Apurba*. Abstracts, 60th Southwest
Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Fort Worth, TX, United States,
September 29-October 4 (2004), SEPT04-069. Publisher: American Chemical Society,
Washington, D. C.
31. “Surfactant mediated, solvent free oxidation of aryl alcohols to aldehydes” Pedraza, Fernando; Tichkule, Ritesh; Bhattacharya, Apurba*. Abstracts, 60th Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Fort Worth, TX, United States, September 29-October 4 (2004), SEPT04-070. Publisher: American Chemical Society, Washington, D. C.
32. “Solvent Free Processes In Organic Synthesis”
Patel, Nitinchandra; Pedraza, Fernando; Vela, Omar; Bhattacharya, Apurba*. Abstracts,
60th Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Fort Worth,
TX, United States, September 29-October 4 (2004), SEPT04-075. Publisher: American
Chemical Society, Washington, D. C.
33. “Remarkable Solvent Effect In Barton - Zard Pyrrole Synthesis: An Efficient And Environmentally Friendly Synthesis Of 3,4-Dialkyl-1-H-Pyrrole-2-Carboxylates” Cherukuri, Sankara; Tichkule, Ritesh; Tamez, Victor; Bhattacharya, Apurba*. Department of Chemistry, Abstracts, 60th Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Fort Worth, TX, United States, September 29-October 4 (2004), SEPT04-074. Publisher: American Chemical Society, Washington, D. C.
34. “One Pot Synthesis of Amides from Nitriles”
Villarreal, Victor; Muramulla, Savitha; Bhattacharya, Apurba*. Department of
Chemistry, Texas A&M University Kingsville, Kingsville, TX, USA. Abstracts,
60th Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Fort Worth,
TX, United States, September 29-October 4 (2004), SEPT04-160. Publisher: American
Chemical Society, Washington, D. C.
35. “Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis: a Novel Surfactant Mediated
Solvent Free Ether Cleavage/Trans-Etherificatiomn under Neutral Conditions”
Tichkule, Ritesh; Muramulla, Savitha; Pedraza, Fernando; Parmar, Gaurang; Bhattacharya,
Apurba*. Abstracts, 60th Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical
Society, Fort Worth, TX, United States, September 29-October 4 (2004), SEPT04-067.
Publisher: American Chemical Society, Washington, D. C
36. “Environmentally Friendly Organic Syntheses: a Transformation of Nitro
to Amides: One Step Syntheses of Acetaminophen™”
Tamez, Victoriano; Suarez, Victor H.; Parmar, Gaurang; Tichkule, Ritesh; Bhattacharya,
Apurba*. Abstracts, 60th Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical
Society, Fort Worth, TX, United States, September 29-October 4 (2004), SEPT04-068.
Publisher: American Chemical Society, Washington, D. C
37. “Amidation of Acids”
Muramulla, Savitha; Villarreal, Victor; Cherukuri, Sankara; Bhattacharya, Apurba*.
Abstracts, 60th Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society,
Fort Worth, TX, United States, September 29-October 4 (2004), SEPT04-159. Publisher:
American Chemical Society, Washington, D. C.
38. “A Rational Approach to Catalyst Design via Chiral Alkylation of Indanones” Ramirez, Thomas; Plata, Robert; Vasques, Tomas; Bhattacharya, Apurba*. Abstracts, 60th Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Fort Worth, TX, United States, September 29-October 4 (2004), SEPT04-161. Publisher: American Chemical Society, Washington, D. C.
39. “Surfactant Mediated Solvent-Free Reductions of Aryl Carbonyl Substrates
to Aryl Alcohols”
Ceaser A. Almaranz, Fernando Pedraza, Savitha Murmulla, Apurba Bhattacharya*.
IUCCP symposium October 18-20, 2004; College Station, Texas.
40. “Environmentally Friendly, Surfactant-Mediated, Solvent-Free Oxidations
of Primary Alcohols to Aldehydes”
Fernando Pedraza, Apurba Bhattacharya*.
IUCCP symposium October 18-20, 2004; College Station, Texas.
41. “Rational Design of a Chiral Phase-Transfer Catalyst for the Alkylation
of Substituted 2-Alkyl Indanones”
Thomas Ramirez, Tomas Vasques, Eric Plata, Apurba Bhattacharya*.
IUCCP symposium October 18-20, 2004; College Station, Texas
42. “Waste-Free Environmentally Friendly Acetamidation of Aryl Nitro Compounds:
Application in the Synthesis of Aetaminophen”
Victor Suarez, Victoriano Tamez, Jr., Srinivas Reddy, Apurba Bhattacharya*.
IUCCP symposium October 18-20, 2004; College Station, Texas
43. “Remarkable Solvent Effect in the Barton-Zard Pyrrole Synthesis: An Efficient
Synthesis of 3,4-Dialkyl-1-H-Pyrrole-2-Carboxylates: Application to a One-Step
Synthesis of Pyrrole Derivatives”
Victoriano Tamez, Jr., Shankar Cheukuri, Nitinchandra Patel, Apurba Bhattacharya*.
IUCCP symposium October 18-20, 2004; College Station, Texas.
44. “Efficient One-Pot Synthesis of Amides from Aryl Nitriles and Carboxylic
Acids”
Victor Villareal Jr. Rick Sanchez, Savitha Murmula, Apurba Bhattacharya*.
44. “Environmentally Processes in Organic Synthesis: Application of Zeolites
in Etherification, Fromylation and Hydrolysis”
Richard Sanchez, Jr., Ritesh Tichkule, Ronny G. Thomas, James Ogle, Shane Tichy,
Apurba Bhattacharya*.
Annual Biomedical Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), November 10-13,
2004; Dallas, Texas.
45. “Green Chemistry in Organic Synthesis: Environmentally Friendly Waste-Free
Bromination of Substituted Acetophenones, Bezocyclic Ketones and Aromatic Compounds”
Erik Plata, Apurba Bhattacharya*.
Annual Biomedical Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), November 10-13,
2004; Dallas, Texas.
46. “Surfactant Mediated Solvent-Free Reductions of Aryl Carbonyl Substrates
to Aryl Alchols”
Ceaser Almaranz, Apuba Bhattacharya*.
Annual Biomedical Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), November 10-13,
2004; Dallas, Texas.
47. “An Efficient Waste-Free Acetamidation of Aryl Nitro Compounds; Application
in the Synthesis of Acetaminophen”
Victor H. Suarez, Apurba Bhattacharya*.
Annual Biomedical Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), November 10-13,
2004; Dallas, Texas.
48. “Remrarkable Solvent Effect in Barton-Zard Pyrrole Synthesis: An efficient
Synthesis of 3,4-Dialkyl-1-H-Pyrrole-2-Carboxylates:Application to a One-Step
Synthesis of Pyrrole Derivatives”
Victoriano Tamez, Jr., Shankar Cherukuri, Nitinchandra Patel, Apuba Bhattacharya*.
Annual Biomedical Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), November 10-13,
2004; Dallas, Texas.
49. “Environmentally-Friendly Surfactant-Mediated Solvent-Free Oxidation of
Aryl Alcohols to Aldehydes”
Fernando Pedraza, Apurba Bhattacharya*.
Annual Biomedical Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), November 10-13,
2004; Dallas, Texas
50. “Efficient One-Pot Transformation of Aryl Nitriles and Carboxylic Acids
to Amides”
Victor Villareal Jr. Rick Sanchez, Savitha Murmula, Apurba Bhattacharya*.
Annual Biomedical Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), November 10-13,
2004; Dallas, Texas.
Courses Taught:
Graduate Courses.
• Advanced Environmental Chemistry
• Advanced Analytical
• Advanced Instrumentation
• Advanced Asymmetric Synthesis
• Advanced Organic Synthesis
• Physical Organic Chemistry
• Graduate Seminar
Undergraduate Courses.
• Environmental Chemistry (and lab)
• CHEM 3323, Organic Chemistry I and Chem 3123 (Lab).
• CHEM 3425, Organic Chemistry II and Chem 3125 (Lab).
• Chem Lit 3181(Literature Search).
• Chem 1481.
Ph.D. Committee:
• Mr. Bob Castro (Env. Engineering: Student of Dr. John Kuruvilla)
• Ms. Ji Marie (Env. Engineering: Student of Dr. Ni-Bin Chang)
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Pharmaceutical Process Research and Development.
Process chemistry, the practice of scaling up chemical production from gram and kilograms to thousands of gallons while always of vital importance, has lately become a highly visible enterprise in the pharmaceutical sector. In the pharmaceutical industry, once the medicinal chemist defines the target molecule, the process chemist finds the most efficient, economical and safe route to make the molecule and its analogues. We have established collaborative programs with several leading pharmaceutical companies (e.g. Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Research Institute, Johnson &Johnson, Texas BioTechnology and Pharmeco) whereby the research students are be involved in identifying and solving process related problems and issues of potential mutual interest. This involves synthesizing initial quantities of drug candidates using the existing-route as well as improving the existing synthesis, possibly following a completely different strategy from the medicinal route so that it can be scaled up for commercial production.
Environmentally Benign Processes in Organic Synthesis.
Over the past few years significant amount of research activities in the chemical community have been directed towards the development of new technologies and methodologies for environmentally benign processes. This area of chemistry has received extensive attention and is often referred to as "green chemistry". "Green chemistry" focuses on the design, manufacture, and use of chemicals and processes that have little or no pollution potential or environmental risk and are both economically and technologically feasible. The principle of green chemistry can be applied to broad areas of chemistry including synthesis, catalysis, reaction conditions, separations, analysis and monitoring. Green Chemistry differs from conventional chemistry in several different categories including nature of starting materials, reagents, reaction conditions and target molecule. The scope of Research and Development in this area is enormous. We intend to concentrate on the following specific areas of chemistry.
• Solvent Minimization
• Reactions on Zeolite as Solid Support: Waste-free Catalytic Technology
• Organic Reactions in Water.
• Atom-Economy
• Energy conservation: Application of Microwave and Sonication in Organic Synthesis
• Chiral Phase-Transfer Catalysis.
Grants (Funded).
Year 2003.
• “Instrumental Grant” (Department of Defense). $400,000.
• “Texas Bridges to Doctorate” (National Institute of Health). $600,000/3yrs
• “Solvent-free Processes in Green Chemistry: Application of Surfactants in Unique Dual Catalysis” (American Chemical Society-Petroleum Research Fund) $50,000/3 yrs
• Texas Excellence in Research FY2003 formula funding (HB 1839). $7540.00
• University of Texas Medical Center, Galvaston Award for Environmental Chemistry. $5000.00
• Deans Sharing Fund, 2003. $500.00
Year 2002.
• Tamuk-Bristol Myers Squibb Collaboration $25,000.00.
• Texas Excellence Fund FY 2003 $3,100.00
• Deans Sharing Fund, 2002. $500.00
Year 2001.
• Tamuk-Bristol Myers Squibb Collaboration $25,000.00.
• A&S indirect cost sharing fund. $5000.00.
• Excellence in Research. $1091.00.
• Dean’s Sharing Fund. $600.00.
Graduate Students.
MS students Graduated.
2002.
1. Virkram Purohit (currently pursuing Ph.D. in Texas A&M).
2. James Ogle (currently pursuing Ph.D. in Texas A&M).
2003.
1. Nishant Joshi (Iowa Chemical)
2. Mark Davis. (Novartis Pharmaceutical)
2004.
1. Senthil Kumar (Glaxo)
2. Gaurang Parmer (Ambion)
3. Tomas Vasques (U. Texas Medical Center Galveston).
4. 10. Ritesh Tichkule (Novartis Pharmaceutical)
MS students (Current).
1. Nitin Patel
2. Prem Ranjan Thakur.
3. Rick Sanchez
4. Sankara Rao Cherikuri
5. Richard Sanchez Jr
6. Victor Villareal
7. Savitha Muramulla
8. Srinivasa Reddy
9. Dr. Katherine Marie Kirmse (Ph.D. Engineering. U Texas at Austin)
10. Victor Tamez
11. Fernando Pedraza
12. Mario Gomez
13. Victor Suarez
14. Caeaser Almaranz
15.Robert Eric Plata
16. Thomas Ramirez
17. Alejandro Morales
Undergraduate Students
1. Jackie Besinoiz (McNair) (Currently in the Ph.D. program at A&M)
2. Madeline Fair (McNair)
3. Yvonne Jimenez (McNair)
4. Omar Vela
5. Tamara Hussein
6. Diego Armando Sanchez
7. Ambarish Kamdhar
8. Poonam Villabhavai
9. Jose A. Mendoza II
10. Sohum Kiran Desai
11. Celina Garcia
12. Venessa Lynn Garcia
13.Veronica Jiminez