At the VT Lab (Sustainable Organic Synthesis Lab), our research is driven by the goal of developing sustainable, selective, and environmentally benign synthetic methodologies for preparing pharmaceutically relevant organic molecules. We integrate concepts from organic synthesis, electrosynthesis, biocatalysis, and catalytic cascade reactions to design next-generation synthetic strategies that minimize waste, improve atom economy, and reduce the environmental footprint of chemical synthesis. Our research aligns with the principles of green chemistry by replacing hazardous reagents with clean catalytic processes and renewable energy sources. In this context, we focus on the following directions: 

 Sustainable Electrosynthesis:

 One of our major research directions focuses on organic electrosynthesis, where electricity is employed as a clean and traceless redox reagent to construct structurally complex heterocycles and other bioactive molecules. We are particularly interested in exploiting diazo compounds and isocyanides as versatile building blocks for the development of novel cascade and multicomponent reactions. Our recent work has established sustainable electrochemical methodologies for oxidative coupling reactions, C–C bond cleavage processes, heterocycle synthesis, and selective C–N bond formation. These studies demonstrate that electrochemistry can eliminate the need for stoichiometric oxidants or reductants while providing precise control over reaction pathways under mild conditions. Nevertheless, challenges such as substrate compatibility, electrode optimization, and limited reaction scope continue to restrict the broader application of electrosynthesis, motivating us to develop more practical and universally applicable electrochemical methodologies.

 Enzyme-Catalyzed Abiotic Transformations:

A second major focus of our laboratory is the exploration of enzyme promiscuity for developing new-to-nature (abiotic) organic transformations. We employ enzymes not only for their native catalytic functions but also for their ability to catalyze non-natural reactions with exceptional chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivity. Our research primarily utilizes hydrolases (especially lipases and α-amylase) and transaminases to construct structurally diverse nitrogen-containing heterocycles and other biologically important molecules. During the past three years, we have developed numerous enzyme-catalyzed Friedel–Crafts reactions, multicomponent reactions, domino transformations, and heterocycle syntheses, demonstrating that inexpensive and readily available enzymes can efficiently replace conventional catalysts in several valuable organic transformations. These studies highlight the advantages of biocatalysis, including operation under mild conditions, high selectivity, excellent functional-group tolerance, catalyst recyclability, and compatibility with aqueous media. Despite these benefits, enzyme catalysis is often limited by narrow substrate scope, enzyme stability, and restricted reaction diversity, which inspires our continued efforts toward enzyme engineering and reaction development.

 Merging Electrosynthesis and Biocatalysis:

 Recognizing that electrosynthesis and biocatalysis possess complementary strengths and limitations, our laboratory has pioneered the integration of electrochemical and enzymatic catalysis in a single reaction vessel. This emerging catalytic platform combines the sustainability and tunable redox capability of electrochemistry with the remarkable selectivity of enzymes, enabling transformations that are difficult to achieve using either catalytic approach independently.  Our recent contributions include one-pot electro-biocatalytic methodologies for the synthesis of oxindoles, fluorinated carboxylic acids, aminobenzonitriles, and other pharmaceutically valuable scaffolds. By carefully designing compatible reaction conditions, these integrated catalytic systems avoid intermediate isolation, improve overall process efficiency, reduce solvent consumption, and minimize waste generation while maintaining excellent chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivity. These studies establish electro-biocatalysis as a promising strategy for the sustainable synthesis of high-value organic molecules.

Through the integration of electrochemistry and enzyme catalysis, the VT Lab aims to establish versatile catalytic platforms that enable the efficient synthesis of pharmaceuticals, natural-product-inspired scaffolds, and other value-added organic molecules. Our long-term vision is to bridge the gap between traditional synthetic chemistry and sustainable catalytic technologies by developing practical methodologies that are scientifically innovative, environmentally responsible, and industrially relevant. 

Research Grants:

Ongoing grants: 

1. Upgradation of biomass-derived building blocks to high-value chemicals by the integration of biocatalysis and electrosynthesis, DBT (Emerging Frontiers in Biotechnology), 2025-2028.

2. Experimental and computational investigation towards the synthesis of novel indole-based scaffolds and their biological evaluation, TIET_Virginia Tech-Center of Excellence in Emerging Materials (CEEMS)- research grant, 2023.

3. Development of a highly sustainable and cost-effective protocol to synthesize highly demanded furfuryl amines from biomass using electricity,  TIET_Virginia Tech-Center of Excellence in Emerging Materials (CEEMS)- research grant, 2025

Completed grants:

1. A combined experimental and computational investigation of abiotic bio-transformations: Application in the sustainable and highly selective synthesis of indole-based drugs or their precursors; SERB-Core research grant, 2021-2024. 

2. Optimization of the myoglobin enzyme production and development of biocatalytic cyclopropanation process for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals precursors, DBT-BIRAC (PACE), 2020-2021.

3. Development of enzyme-based catalyst for accessing non-natural activities; DST-INSPIRE Research grant,  2018- 2023.

4. Amylase catalyzes non-natural organic reactions, TIET Seed-grant, 2020-2022.

5. Construction of enzyme-metal hybrid catalysts for concurrent chemo-enzymatic reactions, CEEMS-TIET Seed grant, 2021-2022.