Research

From Photons to Pharmaceuticals: Catalysis for the Future

Vision

Illuminating new pathways in chemical synthesis and drug discovery through next-generation photocatalysis and selective molecular functionalization.

Research Theme

Developing Next-Generation Catalytic Technologies for Sustainable Molecular Synthesis and Drug Discovery

We develop innovative catalytic strategies for the selective construction and functionalization of organic molecules. Our research integrates photocatalysis, asymmetric catalysis, flow chemistry, and medicinal chemistry to address fundamental challenges in modern synthesis and accelerate the discovery of biologically relevant molecules. By harnessing visible and near-infrared light, we aim to create sustainable, energy-efficient, and highly selective synthetic methodologies with applications in pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, and advanced functional materials.

Research Areas

(1) Near Infra-Red (NIR) Photocatalysis

Our research focuses on near-infrared (NIR) photochemistry and photocatalysis as a sustainable platform for enabling novel chemical transformations. We develop and study NIR-responsive photocatalysts, combining their design, synthesis, and mechanistic understanding with applications in organic synthesis, photoredox catalysis, and solar-driven processes. The overarching goal is to establish NIR light as a practical tool for scalable and precise chemical synthesis.

See: S. K. Pagire,* W. J. Olivier,* D. Maiti,* and A. C. Bissember,* Angewandte Chemie International Edition 138, no. 17 (2026): 65, e26147, https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202526147

(2) Light-Driven Selective Hydrocarbon Functionalization

Development of photocatalytic methods for the direct and selective activation of inert C–H bonds, enabling efficient molecular diversification under mild and sustainable conditions.

See: Ya Dong, W. Han, H. Zhang, S. K. Pagire, H. Meats, A. Noble,* V. K. Aggarwal,* Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2026): e6650940

https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.6650940

(3) Enantioselective Photocatalysis

Introducing chiral photocatalysts to develop enantioselective radical transformations for the synthesis of chiral molecules relevant to pharmaceuticals and biologically active compounds.

See: S. K. Pagire, N. Kumagai,* M. Shibasaki,* Chem. Sci., 2020, 11, 5168-5174

https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC01890B

(4) Late-Stage Functionalization / Drug Development

We explore near-infrared (NIR) photochemistry and photocatalysis to enable selective late-stage functionalization of complex molecules, with a particular focus on drug-like scaffolds. By developing NIR-responsive catalytic systems, we aim to introduce site-selective modifications under mild and functional-group-tolerant conditions. This approach provides a powerful platform for rapid diversification of bioactive molecules and accelerated drug discovery workflows.

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