Dr. Debashis Basu

Debashis Basu

Assistant Professor · Department of Physical Sciences
Truman State University · Kirksville, Missouri
Inorganic Chemistry Coordination Chemistry Organometallics Bioinorganic Chemistry Spectroscopy Electrochemistry Small Molecule Activation Catalysis
About

Chemist, researcher, and educator

Dr. Basu is an inorganic chemist with deep expertise in coordination, organometallic, and bioinorganic chemistry. His work spans the design and synthesis of metal complexes for catalytic applications — from electrocatalytic water splitting to organometallic hydrosilylation catalysis — as well as biomimetic modeling of metalloenzymes such as hydrogenases and formate dehydrogenases.

Before joining Truman State University as Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Dr. Basu held research positions at the University of Illinois Chicago (with Prof. Neal P. Mankad), the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (with Prof. Thomas B. Rauchfuss), the University of Houston (with Prof. Randolph P. Thummel), and IIT Delhi (with Prof. V. V. Krishnan). He completed his Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry at Wayne State University under the supervision of Prof. Cláudio N. Verani, and holds degrees from IIT Delhi and Jadavpur University.

Dr. Basu has published in leading journals including Angewandte Chemie, Journal of the American Chemical Society, Chemical Science, Inorganic Chemistry, Dalton Transactions, and Organometallics, and holds a US patent in hydrosilylation catalysis.

Research

Synthesis, catalysis, and mechanistic chemistry of transition metal complexes

Current Projects

Metal–ligand multiple bonds for energy and environmental catalysis

Dr. Basu is interested in synthesis and spectroscopic/electrochemical properties of biology and industry relevant coordination/organometallic compounds containing M-X groups (X = hydride/imide/nitride/sulfide/disulfide/polysulfide) and their activity, and mechanistic involvement in energy and environment relevant catalysis.

Metal Hydrides Project

Nickel
Metal hydride, dihydride and bridging-hydride structures

Metal hydrides (M-H) or dihydrides (H-M-H) are highly relevant species due to their presence in the active site of the H2 producing/oxidizing hydrogenase enzymes or as intermediates in many industrially relevant hydrogenation/hydrosilylation reactions. This project will deal with Ni-complexes with bis-phosphine and other anionic redox-active bidentate ligands and investigate their propensity to from Nickel-hydride species and their relevance in proton (H+) or carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction electrocatalysis.

Metal Nitrides Project

Iron
Metal imide and nitride structures

Metal imides (M=NR) or nitrides (M≡N) are hugely important due to their presence in the active site of nitrogenase and other enzymes as well as intermediates in many industrially relevant C-H amination, ammonia (NH3) oxidation reactions etc. Amination of C-H bonds can be of ample importance due to the presence of aminated compounds in natural products, synthetic intermediates, pharmaceutical agents, functional materials etc. This project will deal with Fe-complexes with tetradentate tetraanionic ligands and investigate their propensity to from high-valent Iron imides/nitrides species and their relevance in electrocatalytic/catalytic C-H Amination/NH3 oxidation.

Metal Sulfides Project

Cobalt
Metal sulfide, disulfide and polysulfide structures

Metal sulfides (M≡S), disulfides (MS2), or polysulfides (MSx) are immensely crucial species due to their presence in formate or carbon monoxide dehydrogenase enzymes, as well as intermediates in many industrially relevant vulcanization, hydrodesulfurization reactions. This project will deal with Co-complexes with tetradentate pyridine-rich ligands and investigate their propensity to from Co-sulfide/disulfide/polysulfide species and their relevance in electro and chemically induced sulfide group transfer reaction.

Publications

12 publications · 11 first-author · 1 US patent · 3 manuscripts in preparation

🔍 View on Google Scholar
Post Ph.D. — UIC & UIUC
  • 1
    Inorganic Chemistry · 2024 · Vol. 63, 19738
    Basu, D.; Yan, C.; Mankad, N. P. "Synthetic Challenges toward Modeling Formate Dehydrogenases using [WVI≡S] Complexes supported by a Tetradentate [N₂S₂]⁴⁻ Ligand"
  • 2
    Inorganic Chemistry · 2023 · Vol. 62, 6332
    Basu, D.; Subasinghe, S. M. S.; Mankad, N. P. "Reactivity of a Dithiocarbamate-Ligated [WVI≡S] Complex with Hydride Donors: Toward a Synthetic Mimic of Formate Dehydrogenase"
  • 3
    Organometallics · 2021 · Vol. 40, 3306
    Basu, D.; Gray, D. L.; Woods, T. J.; Rauchfuss, T. B.; Arrigoni, F.; Zampella, G. "Challenges in the Synthesis of Active Site Mimics for [NiFe]-Hydrogenases"
  • 4
    Journal of the American Chemical Society · 2021 · Vol. 143, 8499
    Rohac, R.; Martin, L.; Liu, L.; Basu, D.; Tao, L.; Britt, D.; Rauchfuss, T. B.; Nicolet, Y. "Crystal Structure of the [FeFe]-Hydrogenase Maturase HydE Bound to Complex-B"
  • 5
    US Patent · 2021 · US 10946368 Patent
    Basu, D.; Dash, A. K.; Rauchfuss, T. B.; Wilson, R. G. "Catalyst and related Methods involving Hydrosilylation and Dehydrogenative Silylation"
  • 6
    Inorganic Chemistry · 2019 · Vol. 58, 2430
    Basu, D.; Bailey, T. S.; Lalaoui, N.; Richers, C. P.; Woods, T. J.; Rauchfuss, T. B.; Arrigoni, F.; Zampella, G. "Synthetic Designs and Structural Investigations of Biomimetic Ni-Fe Thiolates"
  • 7
    Organometallics · 2018 · Vol. 37, 2760
    Basu, D.; Wilson, R. G.; Gray, D. R.; Rauchfuss, T. B.; Dash, A. "Fe and Co Complexes of Rigidly Planar Phosphino-Quinoline-Pyridine Ligands for Catalytic Hydrosilylation and Dehydrogenative Silylation"
  • 8
    Dalton Transactions · 2018 · Vol. 47, 7256
    Basu, D.; Woods, T. J.; Rauchfuss, T. B. "Ni(II) Complexes of the Phosphine-Oxime Ph₂PC₆H₄-2-CH=NOH"
Ph.D. Work — Wayne State University
  • 9
    Dalton Transactions · 2019 · Vol. 48, 14669
    Basu, D.; Mazumder, S.; Kpogo, K. K.; Verani, C. N. "Influence of Nitro Substituents on the Redox, Electronic, and Proton Reduction Catalytic Behavior of Phenolate-based [N₂O₃]-type Cobalt(III) Complexes"
  • 10
    Chemical Science · 2016 · Vol. 7, 3264
    Basu, D.; Mazumder, S.; Niklas, J.; Baydoun, H.; Wanniarachchi, D.; Shi, X.; Staples, R.; Poluektov, O.; Schlegel, H. B.; Verani, C. N. "Evaluation of the Coordination Preferences and Catalytic Pathways of Heteroaxial Cobalt Oximes towards Hydrogen Generation"
  • 11
    Angewandte Chemie International Edition · 2015 · Vol. 54, 7139
    Basu, D.; Mazumder, S.; Shi, X.; Staples, R.; Schlegel, H. B.; Verani, C. N. "Distinct Proton and Water Reduction Behavior with a Cobalt(III) Electrocatalyst Based on Pentadentate Oximes"
  • 12
    Angewandte Chemie International Edition · 2015 · Vol. 54, 2105
    Basu, D.; Mazumder, S.; Shi, X.; Baydoun, H.; Niklas, J.; Poluektov, O.; Schlegel, H. B.; Verani, C. N. "Ligand Transformations and Efficient Proton/Water Reduction with Cobalt Catalysts based on Pentadentate Pyridine-rich Environments"
  • 13
    Dalton Transactions · 2015 · Vol. 44, 3454
    Basu, D.; Allard, M. M.; Xavier, F. R.; Heeg, M. J.; Schlegel, H. B.; Verani, C. N. "Modulation of Electronic and Redox Properties in Phenolate-rich Cobalt(III) Complexes and their Implications for Catalytic Proton Reduction"
Manuscripts in Preparation
  • 14
    In preparation In prep
    "A Dramatic effect of 4tBupyridine incorporation on CoIII/CoII reduction potential for phenolate-based [CoIII(N₂O₃)L]-type complex"
  • 15
    In preparation In prep
    "Electronic and Electron Transfer Behavior of Oxime-bridged Heterobimetallic [CoIIIRuII] Complex towards Proton Reduction"
  • 16
    In preparation In prep
    "Catalysts for Water Splitting: Structural Varieties, Redox Scopes, and Mechanistic Insights"

Teaching

Undergraduate instruction across introductory and advanced chemistry

Teaching Experience
Truman State University · 2026–present
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
  • CHEM 130: Chemical Principles I — lectures and labs; prepared and delivered lectures and taught fundamental lab techniques on introductory topics of chemistry to approximately 50 students
  • Inorganic Chemistry — undergraduate upper division (course code TBD)
University of Illinois Chicago · 2021–2024
Visiting Research Assistant Professor
  • Instructor for Preparatory Chemistry (CHEM 101): delivered lectures on introductory chemistry topics for 3 years (1 semester/year) to large and diverse classes of 100–250 students
  • Regular use of online teaching tools including Blackboard, i-clickers, Achieve/Connect/ALEKS homework software
  • Experienced in interacting with students from diverse academic backgrounds
Wayne State University · 2009–2015 (Graduate Teaching Assistant)
General Chemistry I (CHM 1220/1225)
  • Taught 1 semester for students in 2 sections (~50 students) on fundamental concepts and problem-solving in General Chemistry
Wayne State University · 2009–2015 (Graduate Teaching Assistant)
Organic Chemistry I Lab (CHM 1250)
  • Taught 4 semesters for students in 8 sections (~200 students total) on fundamental lab techniques: synthesis, recrystallization, characterization, and various separation techniques
Wayne State University · Graduate Research Assistant
Undergraduate Research Mentor
  • Provided guidance and training to 3 senior undergraduate students on synthetic, separation, spectroscopic, and electrochemical techniques for their bachelor's degree research requirement

Members

The people of the Basu group

Principal Investigator
Dr. Debashis Basu
Debashis Basu
Assistant Professor of Chemistry · Department of Physical Sciences, Truman State University
dbasu@truman.edu Google Scholar Download CV

Currently, Dr. Basu is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry in the Department of Physical Sciences at Truman State University (TSU), MO. His independent research focuses on the synthesis and spectroscopic/electrochemical study of biology- and industry-relevant coordination and organometallic compounds containing M–X groups (X = hydride, imide, nitride, sulfide, disulfide, polysulfide), and their involvement in energy- and environment-relevant catalysis.

Before joining TSU, Dr. Basu held a Visiting Research Assistant Professor position in Chemistry at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). There his research centered on biomimetic chemistry with Prof. Neal P. Mankad — exploring W-based synthetic models and activities of formate dehydrogenase (FDH) — alongside a teaching role as instructor of record for Preparatory Chemistry (CHEM 101), delivering lectures to classes of 100–250 students.

Before UIC, Dr. Basu was a postdoctoral fellow with Prof. Thomas B. Rauchfuss at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), working on projects ranging from classic organometallic hydro- and dehydrogenative silylation of alkenes with Fe/Co pincer-type [PNN]/[NNN] complexes, to bioinorganic synthetic modeling of [NiFe]/[FeFe] hydrogenase, to the structural and solution chemistry of Ni(II) phosphine-oxime complexes.

His first postdoctoral position was with Prof. Randolph P. Thummel (now deceased) at the University of Houston (UH), where he developed synthetic methodology for tetradentate pyridine-rich ligands and studied the electrochemical and catalytic implications of their Fe(III) complexes for water oxidation to dioxygen.

Dr. Basu moved to the US for his Ph.D. in Prof. Cláudio N. Verani's lab at Wayne State University (WSU), investigating the synthetic, structural, redox, electronic, catalytic, and mechanistic aspects of cobalt complexes in phenolate, oxime, and pyridine-rich ligand platforms for electrocatalytic proton and water reduction to dihydrogen. Earlier, after his master's degree, he worked as a research assistant in Chemical Engineering at IIT Delhi with Prof. V. V. Krishnan on heterogeneous catalysis for hydrogen iodide splitting in the sulfur–iodine cycle. He earned his B.Sc. from Jadavpur University and his M.Sc. from IIT Delhi.

Academic Journey
Wayne State University campus
Wayne StatePh.D., Detroit, MI
University of Houston campus
HoustonPostdoc, Houston, TX
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus
UIUCPostdoc, Urbana, IL
University of Illinois Chicago campus
UICVis. Res. Asst. Prof., Chicago, IL
Students

Openings in the group

The Basu group is newly established at Truman State University. Undergraduate researchers will be listed here as they join. Students interested in synthetic inorganic, organometallic, or bioinorganic chemistry are welcome to get in touch at dbasu@truman.edu.

Info

Contact, background, and academic profiles

Contact Information
✉
dbasu@truman.eduPrimary
✉
dbasuchem86@gmail.com
📍
Department of Physical Sciences, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO
🔍 Google Scholar Profile ↓ Download CV (PDF)
Education
Ph.D. Inorganic Chemistry
Wayne State University, Detroit, MI · 2009–2015
M.Sc. Chemistry
IIT Delhi, New Delhi · 2006–2008
B.Sc. Chemistry
Jadavpur University, Kolkata · 2003–2006
Service & Affiliations
  • Member, American Chemical Society (ACS)
  • Peer reviewer — Inorganic Chemistry (ACS)
  • Peer reviewer — Chemical Communications (RSC)
  • Peer reviewer — Dalton Transactions (RSC)
  • Peer reviewer — New Journal of Chemistry (RSC)
  • 20+ peer reviews completed
  • Session chair, 264th ACS National Meeting, Chicago, 2022
Languages
  • English — full professional proficiency
  • Bengali — native speaker
  • Hindi — proficient
Other Interests

Poetry, music, art-house cinema, space, history, sports, gardening, cooking