Dr. Bassam Mohammad Elali
Professor, Director of Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering (AJSE)
The research in Dr. Bassam M. Elali’s laboratory focuses on the design and development of novel organic ligands for the production of novel organometallic complexes for homogeneous catalysis. Also, the design and the synthesis of metal supported materials to be used as heterogeneous catalysis for application in petrochemical processes.
📍 Bldg. 4-261-2 | Bldg. 4-235
☎ (+966) 13 860 4491
🔗 ORCID: 0000-0003-4005-6386
🔗 Scopus: 7004052902
Research Area
⬡ Organometallic Chemistry
⬡ Homogeneous Catalysis
⬡ Heterogeneous Catalysis
Organometallic Chemistry and Homogeneous Catalysis
Dr. Elali specializes in organometallic chemistry, with a strong focus on homogeneous and supported catalysis. His research emphases on the design and synthesis of phosphorus- and nitrogen-based ligands for transition metal complexes involving palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, and other metals. These catalysts are applied to industrially significant processes such as hydroformylation, hydrocarboxylation, hydrogenation, cyclization, CO₂ conversion, and carbon–carbon bond formation.
He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles, many in high-impact journals such as Organometallics, Applied Catalysis A: General, Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical, Organometallics, and Catalysis Today. He has also published around 18 US Patents. His work has been widely cited, underscoring his contributions to advancing catalysis in energy, petrochemical, and environmental applications. He is also the holder of 16 U.S. patents, reflecting his innovative approaches to catalyst design and process development.
Mixed Metal Oxides and Heterogeneous Catalysis
Dr. Elali research also focuses on the development of heterogeneous catalytic systems for efficient, sustainable, and industrially relevant chemical transformations. Drawing on extensive experience in organometallic and homogeneous catalysis, his recent research work emphasizes the design of solid catalysts that combine high catalytic performance with stability, recyclability, and environmental compatibility.
A central theme of his current research is the heterogeneous catalytic utilization of carbon dioxide (CO₂) as a renewable carbon feedstock. CO₂ conversion represents a major scientific and technological challenge, and his research work aims to transform this abundant greenhouse gas into value-added chemicals through well-designed solid catalysts. In particular, his research group has focused on the cycloaddition of CO₂ to epoxides to produce cyclic carbonates and cyclic carbamates, compounds of significant importance as green solvents, electrolytes, polymer precursors, and fine-chemical intermediates. To achieve this goal, Dr. Elali has developed and studied mixed metal oxide (MMO) catalysts, which offer high thermal stability, tunable acid–base properties, and excellent reusability.
In addition, his research includes the design of supported transition-metal catalysts, particularly systems derived from palladium and other late transition metals immobilized on organic or inorganic supports. These catalysts are developed to preserve the selectivity typical of homogeneous catalysis while benefiting from the operational simplicity and recyclability of heterogeneous systems. Such materials have been applied successfully to carbon–carbon bond-forming reactions and carbonylative transformations relevant to fine-chemical and pharmaceutical synthesis.
A unifying aspect of his research work is its strong alignment with green and sustainable chemistry principles. Emphasis is placed on catalyst durability, reduced metal leaching, mild reaction conditions, and the use of environmentally benign reagents. By integrating catalyst design with sustainability considerations, my research seeks to bridge fundamental catalytic science and practical chemical applications.
Future directions include the development of advanced multifunctional mixed-oxide catalysts, further exploration of low-energy CO₂ activation pathways, and the integration of heterogeneous catalysts into scalable and continuous processes. Through these efforts, his research aims to contribute to the advancement of sustainable catalysis, carbon utilization, and modern chemical manufacturing.
Education
✔︎ Research Associate: University of Ottawa, Canada, 1989
✔︎ PhD: French Institute of Petroleum and University P. and M, Curie (Paris VI), 1989
✔︎ DEA: French Institute of Petroleum and University P. and M, Curie (Paris VI), 1985
- Van Ha Nguyen, Bassam M. El Ali, and Han Vinh Huynh, “Stereoelectronic Flexibility of Ammonium-Functionalized Triazole-Derived Carbenes: Palladation and Catalytic Activities in Water”, Organometallics 2018, 37, 2358−2367.
- Waseem Mansour, Rami Suleiman, Mohammed Fettouhi, and Bassam El Ali, “Soft Heteroleptic N‑Heterocyclic Carbene Palladium(II) Species for Efficient Catalytic Routes to Alkynones via Carbonylative Sonogashira Coupling”, ACS Omega 2020, 5, 23687−23702.
- Waseem Mansour, Mohammed Fettouhi, and Bassam El Ali, “Regioselective Synthesis of Chromones via Cyclocarbonylative Sonogashira Coupling Catalyzed by Highly Active Bridged-Bis(NHeterocyclic Carbene)Palladium(II) Complexes”, ACS Omega 2020, 5, 32515–32529.
- Waseem Mansour, Mohammed Fettouhi, Bassam El Ali, “Novel and efficient bridged bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) palladium(II) catalysts for selective carbonylative Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions to biaryl ketones and biaryl diketones”, Appl. Organometal. Chem. 2020, 34, e5636.
- Waseem Mansour, Bassam El Ali, Mohammed Fettouhi, Qasim Saleem, “Robust alkyl-bridged bis(N-heterocyclic carbene)palladium(II) complexes anchored on Merrifield's resin as active catalysts for the selective synthesis of flavones and alkynones”, Appl Organomet Chem., 2021; e6195.
- Waseem Mansour, Rami Suleiman, Wissam Iali, Mohammed Fettouhi, Bassam El Ali, “Synthesis, crystal structure, and catalytic activity of bridged-bis (N-heterocyclic carbene) palladium(II) complexes in selective Mizoroki-Heck cross-coupling reactions”, Polyhedron 2021, 207, 115371.
- Wissam Iali, Rami K. Suleiman, Bassam El Ali, “Highly efficient NHC-iridium(I) catalyzed disulfide bond forming reaction”, Appl Organomet Chem. 2022, 36, e6597.
- Tahir Naveed Jahangir, Abdul Zeeshan Khan, Tarek A. Kandiel, Bassam M. El Ali, “Insights into the charge transfer kinetics in BiVO4 photoanodes modified with transition metal-based oxygen evolution electrocatalysts”. Catalysis Today 2023, 413-415, 113918.
- Sultana, Sabiha; Gondal, Mohammed A.; Naveed, Amir; Rehan, Imran; Rehan, Kamran; Ul Amin, Noor; Shah, Luqman Ali; Khalid, Shah; El Ali, Bassam; Almessiere M. A.; “Copper Nanoparticles Doped on Polyvinyl Alcohol/Polymethyl Methacrylate/Montmorillonite (PVA-PMMA/MMT) as Ecofriendly Polymeric Hybrid Clay Composites: Study of their Bactericidal and Physical Properties”; Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering 2024, 49 (1), 429 – 437.
- Yahaya Muhammad Abdullahi, Sani Abdullahi Zarewa, Aniz Chennampilly Ummer, Yahya Gambo, Niladri Maity, Ziyauddin S. Qureshi, Abdullah Bafaqeer, Nagendra Kulal and Bassam Elali, “ZnxCeO2 nanorod as active catalyst for CO2 conversion into carbamates”, Catal. Sci. Technol., 2025, 15, 3082.
- Aliyu Musa Alhassan, Basiru O. Yusuf, Ijaz Hussain, Abdulkadir Tanimu,, Khalid R. Alhooshani, Bassam El Ali, and Saheed A. Ganiyu, “Crude-to-Chemical Revolution: Integrating Technologies, Economic Feasibility, and Policy Frameworks for Sustainable Light Olefin Production, Chem. Rec. 2025, 25, e202500011.
- Nagendra Kulal, Bassam Elali, Ganapati Shanbhag, Ziyauddin Qureshi, “Catalyst for ethylbenzene dehydrogenation to form styrene”, US12434228B1 (2025).
- Bassam El Ali, Waseem Mansour, Mohammed Fettouhi, “Selective Cyclocarbonylative Coupling of 2-Iodophenols With Terminal Alkynes Catalyzed by Bridged Bis(NHC)Pd(II)Br2 Catalysts”, Patent No.: 19689 SA (2025).
- Bassam El Ali, Waseem Mansour, Mohammed Fettouhi, “Synthesis of Biaryl ketones and Biaryl diketones via Carbonylative Suzuki-Miyaura Coupling Reactions Catalyzed by a Novel and Efficient Bridged Bis(N-Heterocyclic Carbene)Palladium(II) Catalysts”, US Patent # 11,192,912 B1 (2021).
- Bassam El Ali, Waseem Mansour, Mohammed Fettouhi, “Selective Cyclocarbonylative Coupling of 2-Iodophenols with Terminal Alkynes Catalyzed Bridged BIS-(NHC)Pd(II)Br2 Catalysts”, US Patent # 11,236,118 B1 (2022).
Nagendra Kulal
Postdoc Fellow
Sani Abdullahi Zarewa
PhD Student
Hasan Ali Almohsin
PhD Student
FahdnulAshim
PhD Student
Manal Al-Sharafi
PhD Student
Yahaya Muhammad Abdullahi
PhD Student
| Undergraduate Courses Taught |
|---|
|
• CHEM 101 - General Chemistry I (Lectures, Recitations, and Laboratory). • CHEM 201 – Organic Chemistry I • CHEM 202 – Organic Chemistry II • CHEM 355 – Industrial Catalysis • CHEM 455 – Industrial Inorganic Chemistry • CHEM 456 – Industrial Organic Chemistry |
| Graduate Courses Taught |
|---|
| • CHEM 620 – Homogeneous Catalysis |