Santosh Kisan Pagire
Research Quest
My research is guided by a central question: How can we design selective, sustainable, and light-responsive catalytic systems to address challenges in modern synthetic chemistry and drug discovery? With a foundation in photocatalysis, asymmetric catalysis, and total synthesis, my work now focuses on developing site- and enantioselective catalytic strategies using visible-to-near-infrared (NIR) light as a sustainable energy input.
Photocatalysis has emerged as a powerful strategy to enable new bond formations under mild conditions. However, the potential of low-energy NIR light—with its deeper penetration, lower energy demand, and greater compatibility with biological systems—remains underexplored. My group aims to fill this gap by creating NIR-absorbing catalysts and dual catalytic systems capable of activating C–H bonds and other inert functionalities in a regio- and stereoselective manner.
A particular emphasis of my research is on late-stage functionalization—the selective modification of complex molecules at advanced stages of synthesis. This strategy is crucial for rapidly generating analogs of natural products, peptides, and pharmaceutical compounds. By integrating principles from chemical biology, I aim to develop methods that are not only synthetically powerful but also compatible with biomolecules and therapeutic targets.
My long-term vision is to establish a research platform that unifies photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and chemical biology for applications in drug development, agrochemicals, and green manufacturing. These efforts are supported by international collaborations with researchers in Germany, Japan, UK, and Australia, as well as industrial partnerships with organizations such as Syngene International and BASF India.
Equally important to me is mentoring the next generation of researchers. I am committed to building an interdisciplinary, inclusive, and globally connected research group that trains PhD students and postdocs in advanced catalysis, photochemistry, and translational science.
Ultimately, my research quest is to illuminate new chemical possibilities—using light as a sustainable tool to solve some of the most pressing challenges in synthesis, health, and the environment.
Academic Bio
Dr Santosh Kisan Pagire is an Organic Chemist and Assistant Professor at Chanakya University, Bengalore, India. He earned his Ph.D. with higher distinction at the University of Regensburg under Prof. Oliver Reiser, followed by the DFG–Walter Benjamin Fellowship in Japan with Prof.
Masakatsu Shibasaki and Prof. Naoya Kumagai, and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship in the UK with Prof. Varinder K. Aggarwal FRS. He is currently affiliated with the University of Tasmania (Australia) as a Research Fellow in collaboration with Prof. Alex C. Bissember on multiple ARC funded projects (AU$ >2.5 Million). Furthermore, he maintains strong global collaborations and has 3,000+ citations. His work in organic chemistry and photocatalysis aims to develop sustainable, cost-effective pharmaceutical solutions for global challenges.
Educational Qualification
Assistant Professor, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Chanakya University, and Research Fellow, School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Australia.Publications
- FeII vs FeIII: Serendipitous chemoselectivity switching of a BecaP reagent under photochemical conditions: Pagire, S. K.; Dong, Y.; Noble, A.; Aggarwal, V. K. (under preparation).
- Convergent Radical Deboronative and Decarboxylative Phosphorylation Enabled by Novel Phosphite Radical Trap: Pagire, S. K.; Shu, C.; Reich, D.; Noble, A.; Aggarwal, V. K. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023,145, 18649 –18657; DOI: (IF 16.4; Citations: 20); Reviewer 1: “Directly accept in JACS without change”.
- Highly Enantio- and Diastereoselective Synthesis of 1,2,3-Trisubstituted Cyclopropanes from α,β-Unsaturated Amides, and Stabilized Sulfur Ylides Catalyzed by a Chiral Copper(I) Complex (Letter):
Pagire, S. K.; Kumagai, N.; Shibasaki, M. ACS. Catal. 2021, 11, 11597–11606; DOI (IF 13.7; Citations: 18); Front Cover. The most viewed/downloaded article in September 2021. - The Different Faces of [Ru(bpy)3Cl2] and fac[Ir(ppy)3] Photocatalysts: Redox Potential Controlled Synthesis of Sulfonylated Fluorenes and Pyrroloindoles from Unactivated Olefins and Sulfonyl Chlorides (Letter): Pagire, S. K.; Kumagai, N.; Shibasaki, M. Org. Lett. 2020, 22, 7853-7858; DOI (IF 6.0; Citations: 33); Front Cover
- Introduction of a 7-aza-6-MeO-Indoline Auxiliary in Lewis acid/Photoredox Cooperative Catalysis: Highly Enantioselective Aminomethylation of α,β-Unsaturated Amides (Advance Article): Pagire, S. K.; Kumagai, N.; Shibasaki, M. Chem. Sci. 2020, 11, 5168–5174; DOI (IF 9.97; Citations: 24). Front Cover.
- Shining Visible-Light on Vinyl-Halides: Expanding the Horizons of Photocatalysis (Comprehensive Account): Pagire, S. K.; Föll, T.; Reiser, O. Acc. Chem. Res. 2020, 53, 782–791; DOI (IF 22.4; Citations: 75). Editor’s congratulatory E-mail: One of the three most downloaded articles in March 2020 (Link).
- Visible-Light Photocatalysis: Does it Make a Difference in Organic Synthesis? (Review):
Marzo, L.; Pagire, S. K.; Reiser, O.; König, B. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2018, 57, 10034–10072; DOI
and Angew. Chem. 2018, 130, 10188–10228; DOI (IF 16.8; Citations: 2081).
This review is listed as one of the top reviews of photocatalysis as per Web of Science/Google Scholar. - Temperature Controlled Selective C-S or C-C Bond Formation: Photocatalytic Sulfonylation Versus Arylation of Unactivated Heterocycles Utilizing Aryl Sulfonyl Chlorides (Letter): Pagire, S. K.; Hossain, A.; Reiser, O. Org. Lett. 2018, 20, 648–651; DOI (IF 6.0; Citations: 91). Syngenta (Basel) is scaling it up.
- Visible-Light-Promoted Generation of α-Ketoradicals from Vinyl-Bromides and Molecular Oxygen: Synthesis of Indenones and Dihydroindeno[1,2-c]chromenes (Communication): Pagire, S. K.; Kreitmeier, P.; Reiser, O. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 10928–10932; DOI and Angew. Chem., 2017, 129, 11068–11072; DOI (IF 16.6; Citations: 46).
- Tandem Cyclization of Vinyl Radicals: A Sustainable Approach to Indolines utilizing Visible-Light Photocatalysis (Paper): Pagire S. K.; Reiser, O. Green Chem. 2017, 19, 1721–1725; DOI (IF 10.2; Citations: 46).
- Photosensitized Regioselective [2+2]–Cycloaddition of Cinnamates and Related Alkenes (Communication): Pagire, S. K.; Hossain, A.; Traub, L.; Kerres, S.; Reiser, O. Chem. Commun. 2017, 53, 12072–12075; DOI (IF 6.2; Citations: 94). Inside Front Cover.
- Visible-Light-Mediated Synthesis of Pyrazines from Vinyl-Azides Utilizing the Photocascade Process (Cluster): Hossain, A.; Pagire, S. K.; Reiser, O. Synlett. 2017, 28, 1707–1714; DOI (IF 2.5; Citations: 34).
This paper has been published under the special issue of heterocycles for the ISHC Congress 2017, Regensburg, Germany (Link). - Synthesis of β-hydroxy sulfones from Sulfonyl Chlorides and Alkenes Utilizing Visible-Light Photocatalytic Sequences (Letter): Pagire, S. K.; Paria, S.; Reiser, O. Org. Lett. 2016, 18, 2106–2109; DOI (IF 6.0; Citations: 182). Listed as a highly cited article as per Web of Science/Google Scholar.
This work has been highlighted/abstracted in (i) ChemInform 2016, 47, 39; DOI and (ii) Organic Chemistry Portal, (ID: J54–Y2016; Link). - Master Thesis: 2011 (Grade: “O”– Outstanding): Enantioselective Organocatalytic Synthesis of Benzomorphan Analogues (Submitted to Department of Chemistry, University of Pune, India).
- Ph.D. Thesis: 2017: Surprises and Discoveries in Visible-Light Photocatalysis (Thesis grade: Summa-Cum-Laude) Link (Publisher: University of Regensburg, Germany).
- Book: 2018: Surprises and Discoveries in Visible-Light Mediated Photocatalysis (Link)
(Publisher: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing, Mauritius). Also available on Amazon.
Projects
Project 1:
- Title: Total Synthesis of Quinagolide Analogue
- Ref. No.: 19-12/2010(i)EU-IV
- Duration: 1 year
- Granting Agency: CSIR New Delhi
- PIs/Co PIs: Prof. Subhash Chavan
- Purpose: Short Synthesis
- Short Description: To develop a sustainable and efficient route.
- Status: Completed
- Grant Amount: INR 1.9 Lakhs
Project 2:
- Title: Enantioselective Photocatalysis
- Ref. No.: A/12/74526
- Duration: 4 years
- Granting Agency: DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)
- PIs/Co PIs: Prof. Oliver Reiser
- Purpose: New methods
- Short Description: To develop asymmetric photocatalysts
- Status: Completed
- Grant Amount: INR 75 Lakhs
Project 3:
- Title: Cooperative Photocatalysis
- Ref. No.: PA 3350/1–1; Project Number: 407495001
- Duration: 3 years
- Granting Agency: DFG (German Research Foundation)
- PIs/Co PIs: Prof. Masakatsu Shibasaki
- Purpose: New methods
- Short Description: To develop asymmetric methods
- Status: Completed
- Grant Amount: INR 1.9 Crores
Project 4:
- Title: Decarboxylative Phosphonylations
- Ref. No.: 101027513–PhotoPhos
- Duration: 2 years
- Granting Agency: European Commission
- PIs/Co PIs: Prof. Varinder K. Aggarwal
- Purpose: New methods
- Short Description: To develop photocatalytic Phosphonylations
- Status: Completed
- Grant Amount: INR 2.2 Crores
Honours, Memberships, Special Trainings and Certifications
Honours:
2025 ARC-Funded Fellow (Australia)
2021 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow (UK)
2018 Walter Benjamin (DFG) Fellow (Japan/Germany)
2013 DAAD-Fellow (Germany)
2012 CSIR–Fellow (India)
2011 NRF–Fellow (South Africa)
2009 & 2010 Eklavya Fellow (India)
2009 & 2010 Kawathekar Scholarship on merit-basis (India)
2009 Ranked 1st in CET (Chemistry Entrance Test for entry to the master program) conducted by New Arts, Commerce, and Science College, Ahilyanagar (Affil. to University of Pune).
Memberships:
2023–present Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, UK (MRSC No. 740225)
2016–present Member of the German Chemical Society, Germany (GDCh)
2016–present Member of the American Chemical Society, USA (ACS)
2018–2021 Member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan (PSJ)
2013–2018 Integral member of the DFG Research Training Group in Chemical Photocatalysis (GRK 1626), University of Regensburg, Germany.
Selected Talks:
- Oral Presentation: Pagire, S. K. “Serendipity and Strategy in Visible-Light Photocatalysis” at TIFR, Hyderabad, India (2025). The selected oral presentation.
- Oral Presentation: Pagire, S. K.; “BecaP: Introducing an efficient Phosphonylation Reagent” In the “Chemiedozententagung” Aachen, Germany (2024). The selected oral presentation.
- Flash-talk and Poster Presentation: Pagire, S. K.; “Decarboxylative Phosphorylation” In the “International Conference on Organometallics and Catalysis”, Goa, India (2023). This talk was selected based on my exceptional achievements by Prof. D. Maiti, Prof. A. Biju, and Prof. S. Mandal. Link
- Oral Presentation (Invited): Pagire, S. K.; “Shining Visible-Light on Vinyl Halides: Unlocking new avenues” in the PDRA seminar series at the University of Bristol, United Kingdom (2022).
- Oral (flash-talk) and Poster Presentation: Pagire, S. K.; Enantioselective Cooperative Copper and visible-light photocatalysis for GABA synthesis: in the 27th ISHC Conference, Kyoto, Japan (2019).
- Poster Presentation: Pagire, S. K.; Synthesis of β-hydroxysulfones: In the ACS Conference “Chemistry of the people, by the people, for the people” at Philadelphia, USA (2016).
- Best presentation award in the “Professor M. S. Wadia Lecture Competition” conducted by New Arts, Commerce and Science College, Parner (Affi. University of Pune) (2011).
Additional Information
- Best teaching feedback by BTech students of Chanakya University, Bangalore, India (2025).
- Supervised Dr. Y. Dong (a new postdoc from China in the Aggarwal group) on the Fe-catalyzed C–H activation project at the University of Bristol, UK (2022–2023). Awaiting a joint publication.
- Supervised a final year master’s student (Mr. M. Webley) for a “Photocatalysis on ChemSpeed (Robot)” project at the University of Bristol, UK (2022–2023).
- Conducted the synthetic chemistry modules/workshops for first- and second-year undergraduates at the University of Bristol, UK (2022).
- Supervised a master’s thesis student (Mr D. Weinland) and successfully directed a few photocatalysis projects with junior PhD students (Dr A. Hossain, Dr L. Traub, Dr S. Kerres, Dr J. Yedoyan, and Dr T. Föll) at the University of Regensburg, Germany (2014-2018); Four of these projects already documented in the joint publications (see my publication list).