Research:
1. Organic Chemistry: (a) Asymmetric synthesis, (b) Multicomponent reactions, 2. Bioconjugate Chemistry: Methodologies for protein conjugation, post-translational protein modification, synthesis of antibody-drug conjugates, (1a) Asymmetric synthesis: We are interested in utilizing peptide/protein based catalysts to understand the preference of chiral substrates of our interest towards the employed catalyst using tools such as kinetic resolution., (1b) Multicomponent reactions (MCRs): Convergent reactions, in which three or more starting materials react to form a product. A network of reaction equilibria is guided by an irreversible step yielding the product. The challenge is to control a MCR in such a way that the network of pre-equilibrated reactions channel into one product and do not yield side products. Other than reaction conditions such as solvent, temperature and concentration, the decisive role in design and discovery of a novel MCR is played by the catalyst and the functional groups in starting materials., (2) Bioconjugate Chemistry: Our ongoing efforts include development of reagents, and catalysts (peptidic and non-peptidic) that can enable chemical transformation at a physiological pH and ambient temperature in aqueous buffer. Subtle differences in reactivity of functional groups along with the principles of chemical kinetics are utilized. These tools are further explored for their capabilities to deconvolute protein-protein interaction and protein aggregation and development of new methodologies that are directed towards protein labeling, protein-protein conjugates, synthesis of ADCs and post-translational protein modification.
Awards and Honours:
Young Scientist Award by RSC-WIS, India 2012, DAE Young Scientist Award, DAE-BRNS, India 2012, Ramanujan fellowship, DST, India 2011, Qualified Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering, 2003
Past Fellowship:
Young Scientist Award by RSC-WIS, India 2012, DAE Young Scientist Award, DAE-BRNS, India 2012, Ramanujan fellowship, DST, India 2011, Qualified Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering, 2003
List of Publications:
Small Heterocycles in Multicomponent Reactions, Rotstein, B.; Zaretsky, S.; Rai, V.; Yudin, A. K. Chem. Rev. 2014, DOI: 10.1021/cr400615v.|Organometallic Complexes: Catalysis and Application in Protein Modification, Chilamari, M.; Rai, V. Indian J. Chem., Sec. A 2013, 52A, 992-1003. (Invited contribution to special issue on Complex Chemical Systems)|Bending Rigid Molecular Rods: Formation of Oligoproline Macrocycles, Scully, C. C. G.; Rai, V.; Zaretsky, S.; Burns, D. C.; Houliston, R. S.; Lou, T.; Yudin, A. K. Chem. Eur. J. 2012, 18, 15612-15617.|Synthesis of Peptide Macrocycles Using Unprotected Amino Aldehydes, Rotstein, B. H.; Rai, V.; Hili, R.; Yudin, A. K. Nat. Protoc. 2010, 5, 1813-1822., Synchronized Synthesis of Peptide-Based Macrocycles by Digital Microfluidics, Jebrail, M. J.; Ng., A. H. C.; Rai, V.; Hili, R.; Yudin, A. K. Wheeler, A. R. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010, 49, 8625-8629. (Featured on inside cover)
Telephone:
(+91) 755-669-2328 , (+91) 755-669-2410
