Publications
 
List of Selected Publications in the peer-reviewed Journals:

Publications in the field of Organic Synthesis and Medicinal Chemistry

 

  1. M. Al-Sharafi, M. Ashraf, M. L. Firmansyah, S. Chigurupati, El H. Anouar, N. Ullah*. Design and synthesis of β-carboline hydrazone hybrids as new α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitors: Inhibition kinetics and molecular docking studies. Asian J. Org. Chem., 0, e00365, 2025 (1 of 13). (IF: 2.7) (Invited Article).

  2. Y. Khan, M. Solangi, K. M. Khan, N. Ullah, J. Iqbal, Z. Hussain, I. A. Khan, U. Salar, M. Taha. Exploration of thiazine Schiff bases as promising urease inhibitors: Design, synthesis, enzyme inhibition, kinetic analysis, ADME/T evaluation, and molecular docking studies. Int. J. Biol. Macromol., 281, 136361, 2024. (IF: 8.6)

  3.  M. Ashraf, M. S. Ahmad, Y. Inomata, N. Ullah*, M. N. Tahir, T. Kida. Transition metal nanoparticles as nanocatalysts for Suzuki, Heck and Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions. Coord. Chem. Rev., 473, 214928, 2023 (IF: 24.833)

  4. C. X. A. Tan, R. Li, F. Zhang, L. Dai, N. Ullah*, Yixin Lu*. Synthesis of axially chiral CF3-substituted 2-arylpyrroles by sequential phosphine-catalyzed asymmetric [3+2] annulation and oxidative central-to-axial chirality transfer. Angew. Chem. Int., Ed., 61(47), e202209494, 2022 (IF: 16.823)

  5. T. Ahmad, S. Khan, N. Ullah*. Recent advances in the catalytic asymmetric Friedel-Crafts reactions of indoles. ACS Omega, 7, 35446–35485, 2022 (IF: 4.132). Invited Review Article

  6. S. Khan, T. Ahmed, T. Rasheed, N. Ullah*. Recent applications of vinylethylene carbonates in Pd-catalyzed allylic substitution and annulation reactions: Synthesis of multifunctional allylic and cyclic structural motifs. Coord. Chem. Rev., 462, 214526, 2022 (IF: 24.833)

  7. N. Wang, Z. Wu, J. Wang, N. Ullah*, Y. Lu. Recent applications of asymmetric organocatalytic annulation reactions in natural products synthesis. Chem. Soc. Rev., 50, 9766-9793, 2021 (IF: 60.615)  

  8. T. Ahmad, N. Ullah*. The oxa-Michael reaction in the synthesis of 5- and 6-membered oxygen-containing heterocycles. Org. Chem. Front., 8, 1329-1344, 2021 (IF: 5.456)

  9. J. Zhang, W-L. Chan, L. Chen, N. Ullah*, Y. Lu*. Creation of bispiro-[pyrazolone-3,3’oxindoles via a phosphine catalyzed enantioselective [3 + 2] annulation of the Morita−Baylis−Hillman carbonates with pyrazoloneyldiene oxindoles. Org. Chem. Front., 6, 2210-2214, 2019 (IF: 5.456)

  10. H. Ni, Z. Tang, W. Zheng, W. Yao, N. Ullah*, Y. Lu*, Enantioselective phosphine-catalyzed formal [4+4] annulation of a,b-unsaturated imines and allene ketones: Construction of eight-membered rings. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 129(45), 14410-14414, 2017 (IF: 16.823) This synthesis was featured in Synfacts 2018, 14(01), 0089.

  11. H. Ni, Z. Yu, W. Yao, Y. Lan*, N. Ullah*, Y. Lu*. Catalyst-controlled regioselectivity in phosphine catalysis: the synthesis of spirocyclic benzofuranones via regiodivergent [3 + 2] annulations of aurones and an allenoate. Chem. Sci., 8, 5699-5704, 2017 (IF: 9.969)

  12. W. Yao, Z. Yu, S. Wen, H. Ni, N. Ullah*, Y. Lan*, Y. Lu*. Chiral phosphine-mediated intramolecular [3 + 2] annulation: enhanced enantioselectivity by achiral Brønsted acid. Chem. Sci., 8, 5196-5200, 2017 (IF: 9.969) This synthesis was featured in the Organic Chemistry Portal, URL: https://www.organicchemistry.org/Highlights/2018/30July.shtm

  13. M Mansha, U. U. Kumari, Z. Cournia, N. Ullah*. Pyrazole-based potent inhibitors of GGT1: Synthesis, biological evaluation, and molecular docking studies. Eur. J. Med. Chem., 124, 666-676, 2016 (IF: 7.088)

  14. Y. Abbas, M. Mansha, N. Ullah*. The first total synthesis of potent antitumoral (±)-mafaicheenamine A, unnatural 6-fluoromafaicheenamine A and expedient synthesis of clausine E. RSC Advances, 6, 26104-26110, 2016 (IF: 4.036)

  15. H. Ni, W. Yao, A. Waheed, N. Ullah*, Y. Lu*. Enantioselective [4 + 2]-Annulation of Oxadienes and Allenones Catalyzed by an Amino Acid Derived Phosphine: Synthesis of Functionalized Dihydropyrans. Org. Lett., 18, 2138-2141, 2016 (IF: 6.072)

  16. N. Ullah*. Synthesis and dual D2 and 5-HT1A receptor binding affinities of 5-piperidinyl and 5-piperazinyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2(3H)-ones. J. Enzyme Inhib. Med. Chem., 29, 281-291, 2014 (IF: 5.756) 

  17. N. Ullah*, S. A. Haladu, B. A. Moosa. An improved total synthesis of spermatinamine, an inhibitor of isoprenylcysteine carboxy methyltransferase. Tetrahedron Lett., 52, 212-214, 2011 (IF: 2.032)

  18. N. Ullah*, S. A. Haladu. The First Total Synthesis of Aspergillusol A, an α-Glucosidase Inhibitor. Nat. Prod. Commun., 5, 1077-1080, 2010 (IF: 1.496)

  19. U. Ghani*, N. Ullah. New potent inhibitors of tyrosinase: Novel clues to binding of 1,3,4-thiadiazole-2(3H)-thiones, 1,3,4-oxadiazole-2(3H)-thiones, 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole-5(4H)-thiones, and substituted hydrazides to the dicopper active site. Bioorg. Med. Chem., 18, 4042-4048, 2010 (IF: 3.461)

  20. N. Ullah*, K. M. Arafeh. The first total synthesis of aplysamine 6, an inhibitor of isoprenylcysteine carboxy methyltransferase. Tetrahedron Lett., 50, 158-160, 2009 (IF: 2.032)

  21. N. Ullah, J. Zeidler, I. D. Spenser*. Synthesis of deuterium labeled 2’-hydroxypyridoxols. Synlett., 09, 1344-1348, 2003 (IF: 2.170)

  22. J. Zeidler, N. Ullah, R. N. Gupta, R. M. Pauloski, B. G. Sayer and I. D. Spenser*. 2’-hydroxypyridoxol, a precursor of vitamins B6 and B1 in Yeast. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 124, 4542-4543, 2002 (IF: 16.383)

 

Publications in the field of Sustainability and Environmental Research

  1. M. L. Firmansyah, S. Abdel-Azeim, N. Ullah*. Efficient continuous adsorption of anionic dyes by polyethyleneimine resin: Optimization and mechanistic study. Sep. Purif. Technol., 376, 133952, 2025. (IF: 9.0)

  2. M. L. Firmansyah, M. Ashraf, N. Ullah*. A critical review on the removal of anionic dyes by cross-linked resin: Recent progress, challenges and future perspective. Sep. Purif. Technol., 360, 131111, 2025. (IF: 9.0)

  3. M. L. Firmansyah, N Ullah. Ionic liquid-containing polymer including membrane for the removal of cobalt: Synthesis, adsorption, transport, and modeling studies. Sep. Purif. Technol., 353, 128332, 2025. (IF: 9.0)

  4. M. L. Firmansyah, G. A. N. Rohman, N. Ullah*. Machine-Learning-Optimized Palm-Biomass-Derived Activated Carbon Adsorbent for Gold Recovery from Mobile Leachate. ACS Sustainable Resour. Manage., 2, 825–832, 2025.

  5. M. Ashraf, N. Ullah, I. Khan, W. Tremel, S. Ahmad, M. N. Tahir. Photoreforming of waste polymers for sustainable hydrogen fuel and chemicals feedstock: Waste to energy. Chem. Rev., 123, 8, 4443–4509, 2023. (IF: 62.6)

  6. N. H. Hemasiri, M. Ashraf, S. Kazim, R. Graf, R. Berger, N. Ullah, M. N. Tahir, S. Ahmad. Interface tweaking of perovskite solar cells with carbon nitride-based 2D materials. Nano Energy,109, 108326, 2023. (IF: 17.6)

  7. M. Ashraf, R. Ali, I. Khan, N. Ullah, M. S. Ahmad, T. Kida, S. Wooh, W. Tremel, U. Schwingenschlögl, M. N. Tahir. Bandgap engineering of melon using highly reduced graphene oxide for enhanced photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution. Adv. Mater., 35, 2301342, 2023. (IF: 29.4)

  8. M. Ashraf, I. Khan, M. Usman, A. Khan, S. S. Shah, A. Z. Khan, K. Saeed, M. Yaseen, M. F. Ehsan, M. N. Tahir, N. Ullah*. Hematite and Magnetite Nanostructures for Green and Sustainable Energy Harnessing and Environmental Pollution Control: A Review. Chem. Res. Toxicol., 33, 1292-1311, 2020 (IF: 3.973) This article was featured on the cover page of the journal.

  9. A. Waheed, M. Mansha, I. W. Kazi, N. Ullah*. Synthesis of a novel 3,5-diacrylamidobenzoic acid based hypercross-linked resin for the efficient adsorption of Congo Red and Rhodamine B. J. Hazard. Mater. 2019, 369, 528-538, 2019. (IF: 14.22)

  10. N. Ullah*, M. Mansha, I. Khan, A. Qureshi. Nanomaterial-based optical chemical sensors for the detection of heavy metals in water: Recent advances and challenges. Trends Anal. Chem.100, 155-166, 2018. (IF: 14.90)

Patents Granted in the USPTO:

 

  1. N. Ullah, Benzo[d]imidazole derivatives of piperidines and piperazine, Patent # US 8901304, Granted in December 2014.

  2. N. Ullah, Dihydroquinone Derivatives of piperidines and piperazine, Patent # US 8916704, Granted in December 2014. 

  3. N. Ullah, Dihydroquinone Derivatives of piperidines and piperazine, Patent # US 9073900, Granted in July 2015.

  4. N. Ullah, 6-Piperazinyl-3,4-dihydroquinazoline-2(1H)-ones, Patent # US 9145388, Granted in September 2015.

  5. N. Ullah, 6-Piperazinyl-3,4-dihydroquinazoline-2(1H)-ones, Patent # US 9199969, Granted in December 2015.

  6. N. Ullah, 6-Piperazinyl-3,4-dihydroquinazoline-2(1H)-ones, Patent # US 9205087, Granted in December 2015.

  7. M. Mansha, Y. Abbas, N. Ullah, Synthesis of (S)-2-acetamido-3-(4-hydroxy-3-(3-methylbut-2-enyl) phenyl) propanoic acid derivatives, Patent # US 9688611, Granted in June 2017.

  8. M. Mansha, Y. Abbas, N. Ullah, Uncatalyzed sigmatropic rearrangement of tyrosine-based compounds, Patent # US 10023527, Granted in July 2018.

  9. M. Mansha, Y. Abbas, N. Ullah, Method for making a prenyl group-substituted tyrosine compound, Patent # US 10329245, Granted in June 2019.

  10. N. Ullah, M. Mansha, M. Sohail, Copolymers for iodide detection and methods thereof, Patent # US 10533079, Granted in January 2020.

  11. N. Ullah, M. Mansha, I. Khan, A. Qurashi, Copolymer, a method of synthesizing thereof, and a method for producing hydrogen gas, Patent # US 10844165, Granted in Nov. 2020.

  12. N. Ullah, M. Mansha, I. Khan, M. Sohail, A. Qurashi, Copolymer for photoelectrochemical water splitting, Patent # US 10882948, Granted in January 2021.

  13. R. A. Kalgaonkar, K. Alnoaimi, N. Baqader, N. Ullah, M. Mansha, Methods and compositions of using viscoelastic surfactants as diversion agents,  Patent # US 11203712, Granted in Dec. 2021.

  14.  R. A. Kalgaonkar, K. Alnoaimi, N. Baqader, N. Ullah, M. Mansha, Methods and compositions using a combination of zwitterionic surfactants and gemini surfactants as diversion agents,  Patent # US 11236264, Granted in Feb. 2022.

  15. N. Ullah, A. Waheed, M. Mansha, I.W. Kazi, Crosslinked resin, synthesis thereof, and use for removing organic dyes, Patent # US 11351520, Granted in June 2022

  16. N. Ullah, A. Waheed, M. Mansha, I.W. Kazi, Method for removing a pollutant from aqueous solution with a crosslinked polymer. Patent # US 11618006, Granted in April 2023.

  17. R. A. Kalgaonkar, M. A. Bataweel, E. Alali, N. Ullah, M. Mansha, Methods and compositions mof using viscoelastic surfactants as diversion agents. Patent # US 11643590, Granted in May 2023

  18. R. A. Kalgaonkar, E. Alali, M. A. Bataweel, N. Ullah, M. Mansha, Treatment of subterranean formations. Patent # US 11685855, Granted in June 2023

  19. M. Ashraf, M. N. Tahir, N. Ullah, S. S. Shah, I. Khan, Nanocomposite supercapacitors and method of preparation thereof. Patent # US 11688564, Granted in June 2023

  20. R. A. Kalgaonkar, E. Alali, M. A. Bataweel, N. Ullah, M. Mansha, Piperazine-based viscoelastic surfactants for hydraulic fracturing applications. Patent # US 11713412, Granted in Aug. 2023

  21. R. A. Kalgaonkar, M. A. Bataweel, E. Alali, N. Ullah, M. Mansha, Methods and compositions of piperazine-based viscoelastic surfactants as diversion agents. Patent # US 11739255, Granted in Aug. 2023

  22. R. A. Kalgaonkar, E. Alali, M. A. Bataweel, N. Ullah, M. Mansha, Fracturing fluids based on viscoelastic surfactants. Patent # US 11746279, Granted in Sep. 2023.

  23. M. Ashraf, M. N. Tahir, N. Ullah, S. S. Shah, I. Khan, Energy storage device and supercapacitor. Patent # US 11887782, Granted in Jan 2024.

  24. R. A. Kalgaonkar, M. A. Bataweel, N. O. Baqader, N. Ullah, M. Mansha, Methods and materials for wellbore fluid diversion using viscoelastic surfactants. Patent # US 11959017, Granted in April 2024.

  25. R. A. Kalgaonkar, M. A. Bataweel, N. O. Baqader, N. Ullah, M. Mansha, Viscoelastic surfactants for acid diversion in downhole operations. Patent # US 12071838, Granted in August 2024.

 

Comments, Critiques in the Newspapers


   1. N. Ullah, The future of higher education in Pakistan, The Nation, June 14, 2019,       
        https://nation.com.pk/14-Jun-2019/the-future-of- higher-education-in-pakistan
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