Dr. Muthukrishna Raja

Professor Raja is a synthetic chemist interested in designing and synthesizing new organometallic molecules with novel structure and properties.

Biography

Dr. Raja was born in India. He completed his undergraduate education in India and then came to USA to earn his Ph. D degree from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. He has conducted research at Columbia University, Rensselear Polytechnic Institute, and University of South Carolina. He joined Claflin University in 2006 as an associate professor and he was promoted to his current position in August 2015. He is a naturalized US citizen interested in teaching and mentoring underrepresented minority students majoring in STEM field, especially women.

Education

• Ph. D. degree in chemistry from Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN.
• M.Sc. degree in chemistry from University of Madras (Vivekananda College) Madras, India.
• B.Sc. degree in Chemistry from University of Madras (St. Joseph’s College, Trichi) Madras, India

Research Interests

• Designing and synthesizing new Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) from simple organometallic ligands by self-assembly process.
• Crystal engineering and using organometallic matrices as coformers to cocrystalize different organic molecules.
• Developing new methods to convert industrial bio-wastes to useful organic compounds.
• Synthesizing new molecules with cadmium ions and studying their 135Cd Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy.

Activities and Honors

• Received “The United Methodist Exemplary Teacher Award” on May 9, 2011.
• Received “The Attorney William H. and Annette B. Johnson Endowed Annual Faculty Award for Innovative Scientific Research” on May 11, 2013.

Recent Publications

“Converting industrial bio-wastes, such as Molasses, to Platform Chemicals like 5-chloromethylfurfural and 5-Hydroxyfurfural” Muthukrishna raja, Chengeto Gwengo, Samuel Emelife, Britney White, Lousia Ambrosia, Essie Campbell, and Dominique Jackson. Papers of the 24th European Biomass Conference. pagees 256-258, June 6-9, 2016, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

“Design, Synthesis, and Structural Characterization of a New class of Ferrocene Containing Heterometallic Triple-Stranded Helicates”. Muthukrishna Raja, Ratnasabapathy G. Iyer, Chengeto Gwengo, Daniel Reger, Perry J. Pellechia, Mark D. Smith, Andrea E. Pascui. Organometallics, 2013, 32, 95-103.

“Rational Design and Synthesis of a new organometallic ligand, 1-Ferrocenyl-3-(5-bromopyridyl)-prop-3-enol-1-one and its heteronuclear coordination polymer, {Cu[1-ferrocenyl-3-(5-bromopyridyl)prop-1,3-dionate]2}n”. Chengeto Gwengo, Ratnasabapathy Iyer, and Muthukrishna Raja. Crystal growth & Design, 2012, 12, 49-53