Uttam R. Pokharel, Ph.D.

Biography

Uttam Pokharel received his doctorate in synthetic organometallic chemistry from the University of Kentucky. He then conducted postdoctoral research at Louisiana State University, where he designed metal-organic supramolecular hosts to capture small molecular guests. In 2015, he joined Nicholls State University in Louisiana as a faculty member in Organic Chemistry, where he was honored with the Presidential Award for Teaching Excellence in 2023. In 2024, he became an associate professor at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. 

Curriculum Vitae

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Areas of Expertise

• Synthesis and handling of organic/organometallic compounds under air-free conditions
• Characterization of compounds using NMR, IR, UV-Vis, ESI-MS, microanalysis, single-Crystal X-ray analysis
• Electrochemical behaviors of host molecules in the presence of guests

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Publications

• Pokharel, U. R.; Curole, B. J.; Andras, A. M.; LeBlanc, B. P.; Fronczek, F. R. Lactonization of α-Ferrocenyl Ketocarboxyli Acids via Nucleophilc Attack of Carbonyl Oxygen. Crystals, 2024, 14, 548
• Pokharel, U. R.; Daigle, D. P.; Naquin, S. D.; Engeron, G. S.; Lo, M. A.; Fronczek, F. R. Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Electrochemistry of Mono- and Bis-Homoannular Ferrocene Derivatives. Crystals, 2024, 14, 141
• Pokharel, U. R.; Naquin, A.; Fronczek, F. Synthesis and crystal structure of a Pd(II) complex of ortho-xylylenebis(pyridyltriazole). IUCr Data, 2023, 8
• Khamespanah, F.; Marx, M.; Crochet, D.; Pokharel, U. R.; Fronczek, F. R.; Maverick, A. W.; Beller, M. Oxalate production via oxidation of ascorbate rather than reduction of carbon dioxide. Nature Communications 2021, 12, 1997.
• Pokharel, U. R.; Theriot, J. C.; Fronczek, F. R.; Maverick, A. W. Metallosupramolecular helices constructed from nickel(II) and multidentate “click” triazole ligands. Polyhedron, 2020, 191, 114805.
• Pokharel, U. R.; Naquin, A. P.; Brochon, C. P.; Fronczek, F. R. Synthesis and crystal structure of 1,1′-bis­­{[4-(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl]meth­yl}ferrocene, and its complexation with Cu(I). Acta Crystallographica Section E, 2020, 76, 1582 – 1586.
• Pokharel, U. R.; Bergeron, J. T.; Fronczek, F. R. Synthesis and crystal structures of 2-(ferrocenyl¬carbon¬yl)benzoic acid and 3-ferrocenylphthalide. Acta Crystallographica Section E, 2020, 76, 1163 – 1167.
• Cherutoi, J. K.; Sandifer, J. D.; Pokharel, U. R.; Fronczek, F. R.; Pakhomova, S. and Maverick, M. W. Externally and Internally Functionalized Copper(II) β-Diketonate Molecular Squares. Inorganic Chemistry, 2015, 54, 7791 – 7802.
• Pokharel, U. R.; Fronczek, F. R. and Maverick, A. W. Reduction of carbon dioxide to oxalate by a binuclear copper complex. Nature Communications, 2014, 5
• Pokharel, U. R.; Fronczek, F. R. and Maverick, A. W. Cyclic pyridyltriazole- Cu(II) dimers as supramolecular hosts. Dalton Transaction, 2013, 42, 14064-14067.
• Pokharel, U. R.; Selegue, J. P. and Parkin, S. Ruthenocene 1,2-Dicarboxylic Acid, Carboxylic Anhydride, and Acid Chloride: A Facile Route to Metallocene-Fused Acenequinones.” Organometallics, 2011, 30, 3254-3256.

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Courses (Current Academic Year)

• Organic Chemistry I (CHEM 2323)
• Advanced Organic Chemistry (CHEM 4368)
• Synthetic Organic Chemistry (CHEM 5134)

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Research Projects

• Organic Chemistry
• Organometallic Chemistry
• Coordination Chemistry

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Awards and Accomplishments

• Presidential Award for Teaching Excellence, Nicholls State University, 2023
• Academic Award for Teaching Excellence, College of Science and Technology, Nicholls State University, 2020
• Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, University of Kentucky, 2012

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