Dr. Rakesh Kumar Saunthwal
Dr Saunthwal completed his masters at the University of Rajasthan (Jaipur) India. Taking the opportunity to expand his horizons, he moved to Delhi (India) for doctoral studies as Junior Research Fellow (2012) at University of Delhi with Prof Akhilesh K Verma. During his doctoral studies he was awarded Dr. B. N. Mankad Award on presenting an Award Paper (Oral Presentation for a young scientist) in the 51st Annual Convention organized by Indian Chemical Society (2015). After completion of the doctoral study, he was awarded the Sailife-NOST Best Thesis Award (2017) by the National Organic Symposium Trust. In 2017 he was selected for SERB Overseas Postdoctoral Fellowship: (2017-18) and SERB Indo-U.S. Then he carried out postdoctoral research with the SERB Overseas postdoctoral fellowship in the group of Prof. Jonathan Clayden, University of Bristol, U.K. Since 2019. From 2019-2021, he worked as a Marie Curie Postdoctoral fellow at School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, U.K. under the supervision of Prof Jonathan Clayden. After Marie Curie Postdoctoral fellow, he moved to Illinois and joined Professor Denmark’s group at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UIUC) as a Postdoctoral Research Associate ( 2021-2023). Currently, he is working as an Assistant professor at Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi India.
ACADEMIC PROFILE:
2023-present: Assistant professor, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi India.
2021-2023: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign USA, Advisor: Prof. Scott E Denmark
2018-2021: SERB Overseas Postdoctoral Fellow and Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, UK, Advisor: Prof. Jonathan Clayden
2017-2017: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, India, Advisor: Prof. Akhilesh K. Verma
2012-2017: Doctor of Philosophy (Chemistry), Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, India, Advisor: Prof. Akhilesh K. Verma
2009-2011: Master of Science from University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, India
2006-2009: Bachelor of Science from University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, India
FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS:
2022: Best Productivity Award (As Judged by Continuous, Superior Performance in Solving Difficult Problems and Advancing Research Projects- Denmark Group)
2021: Best Productivity Award (As Judged by Continuous, Superior Performance in Solving Difficult Problems and Advancing Research Projects- Denmark Group)
2019: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship
2017: Sailife-NOST Best Thesis Award 2017 awarded by National Organic Symposium Trust, India
2017: SERB Overseas Postdoctoral Fellowship
2017: SERB Indo-U.S. Postdoctoral Fellowship (selected)
2015: Dr. B. N. Mankad Award awarded by Indian Chemical Society, on presenting an Award Paper (Oral Presentation for young scientist) in 51st Annual Convention of the Chemist
2014: Senior Research Fellowship
2012: Junior Research Fellowship
36. “A machine learning tool to predict substrate-adaptive conditions for Pd-catalyzed C-N couplings” N. Ian Rinehart, Rakesh K. Saunthwal, Joël Wellauer, Andrew F. Zahrt, Lukas Schlemper, Alexander S. Shved, Raphael Bigler, Serena Fantasia, Scott E. Denmark, Science 2023 381, 965–972 (DOI: 10.1126/science.adg2114)
35. "Enantioselective intramolecular α-arylation of benzylamine derivatives: synthesis of a precursor to levocetirizine" Rakesh K. Saunthwal, Maria Schwarz, Rajendra K. Mallick, William Terry-Wright, Jonathan Clayden, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed 2023, e202216758 (https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202216758)
34. “Expedient Access to Polyaromatic Biaryls by Unconventional Ag-Catalyzed Cycloaromatization of Alkynylthiophenes and Au-Catalyzed Double C−H Activation” Rakesh K. Saunthwal, Kapil Mohan Saini, Nicolas Grimblat, Abhinandan K. Danodia, Sushil Kumar, Vincent Gandon and Akhilesh K. Verma, Org. Lett. 2022, 24, 5018–5022 (https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.orglett.2c01665)
33. “C(sp3)-Arylation by Conformationally Accelerated Intramolecular Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution (SNAr)”; Steven M. Wales, § Rakesh K. Saunthwal, § and Jonathan Clayden, Acc. Chem. Res. 2022. 55, 1731-1747 (These authors contributed equally to this work) Most Read article (https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.accounts.2c00184)
32. "Enantioselective one-carbon ring expansion of aromatic rings by simultaneous formation and chromoselective irradiation of a transient coloured enolate; Rakesh. K. Saunthwal, James Mortimer, Andrew Orr-Ewing and Jonathan Clayden, Chem. Sci., 2022, 13, 2079. (https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC06684F)
31. Tandem 6π-Azatriene Electrocyclization of Fused Amino-Cyclopentenones: Synthesis of Functionalized Pyrrolo- and Indolo-quinoxaline" Kapil Mohan Saini, Rakesh K. Saunthwal, Ankit Kumar and Akhilesh K. Verma, Org. Lett. 2021, 23, 7586-7591. (https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.orglett.1c02782)
30. Synthesis of Cyclopentaquinolinone and Cyclopentapyridinone from ortho-alkynyl-N-arylaldehyde via Superbase-promoted C-N, C-O and C-C Bonds Formation” Kapil Mohan Saini, Rakesh K. Saunthwal, Sushmita and Akhilesh K. Verma, Org. Biomol. Chem., 2020, 18, 5594-5601. (https://doi.org/10.1039/D0OB01281E)
29. Transition-Metal-Free Reverse Reactivity of (2-alkynyl)-Arylaldimines: Assembly of Functionalized Amino-Indinones” Kapil Mohan Saini, Rakesh K. Saunthwal, Sushmita, and Akhilesh K. Verma, Chem. Eur. J. 2020, 26, 1017–1021, Hot Paper (https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201904294)
28. “Dual Function of Cabon Tetrachloride: Synthesis of Chlorinated Heterocycles” Shiv Kumar,‡ Rakesh K Saunthwal,‡ Kapil Mohan Saini and Akhilesh K. Verma, Chem. Commun., 2019, 55, 10721-10724 (‡These authors contributed equally to this work.) (https://doi.org/10.1039/C9CC04746H)
27. Connective Synthesis of 5,5-Disubstituted Hydantoins by Tandem α-Amination and α-Arylation of Silyl Ketene Acetals” Rakesh K. Saunthwal, Matthew Cornall, Roman Abrams, John Ward and Jonathan Clayden. Chem. Sci. 2019, 10, 3408-3412 (https://doi.org/10.1039/C8SC05263H)
“Synthesis of 5,5-Disubstituted Hydantoins” Synfacts 2019, 15(07), 0729
26. “On Water: Iodine-Mediated Direct Construction of 1, 3-Benzothiazines from ortho-Alkynylanilines by Regioselective 6-Exo-dig Cyclization” Kapil Mohan Saini, Rakesh K. Saunthwal, Shiv Kumar, and Akhilesh K. Verma. Org. Biomol. Chem. 2019, 17, 2657-2662 (https://doi.org/10.1039/C9OB00128J)
25. On Water: Metal-free Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Benzothiazolylidene from ortho-Haloanilines” Kapil Mohan Saini, Rakesh K. Saunthwal, Shiv Kumar, and Akhilesh K. Verma. J. Org. Chem. 2019, 84 (5), 2689–26987 (https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.joc.8b03107)
24. “Base-Mediated Deuteration of Organic Molecules: A Mechanistic Insight” Monika Patel, Rakesh K. Saunthwal, Akhilesh K. Verma, ACS Omega, 2018, 3, 10612– 10623 (https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.8b01329)
23. “Pd-Catalyzed One-Pot Sequential Cross-Coupling Reactions of Tetrabromothiophene"Kapil Mohan Saini‡ Rakesh K. Saunthwal ‡ and Akhilesh K. Verma, Org. Biomol. Chem., 2017, 15, 10289-10298 (‡These authors contributed equally to this work) (https://doi.org/10.1039/C7OB02601C)
22. “Chemoselective Oxidative Esterification and Iodocyclization of Hydroxyalkynyl Aldehydes”Shiv Kumar,Monika Patel,Rakesh K. Saunthwal and Akhilesh K. Verma,Asian J. Org. Chem. 2017, 5, 1893–1902 ( https://doi.org/10.1002/ajoc.201700375)
21. Ag(I)-Catalyzed Cycloisomerization Reactions: Synthesis of Substituted Phenanthrenes and Naphthothiophenes” Rakesh K. Saunthwal, Abhinandan K. Danodia, Kapil Mohan Sainiand Akhilesh K. Verma Org. Biomol. Chem. 2017, 15, 6934-6942 (https://doi.org/10.1039/C7OB01646H)
20. “TFA-Mediated One-Pot Synthesis of Furo-Fused Quinoxalines/ Pyrazines" Kapil Mohan Saini, Sonu Kumar, Monika Patel, Rakesh K. Saunthwal and Akhilesh Kumar Verma, Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2017, 3707–3715 (https://doi.org/10.1002/ejoc.201700541)
19. “Base-Mediated Hydroamination of Alkynes” Monika Patel, Rakesh K. Saunthwal, and Akhilesh K. Verma, Acc. Chem. Res 2017, 50, 240–254 (https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.accounts.6b00449)
18. "Regioselective Preferential C-H Activation of α, β-Sterically Hindered 1,3-Dienes over [4+2] cycloaddition” Rakesh K. Saunthwal, Kapil Mohan Saini, Monika Patel and Akhilesh K. Verma Tetrahedron. 2017, 73, 2415-2431 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tet.2017.03.028)
17. Metal and Protection-Free [4+2] Cycloadditions of Alkynes with Azadienes: An Efficient Assembly of Functionalized Quinolines” Rakesh K. Saunthwal, Monika Patel and Akhilesh K. Verma, Org. Lett. 2016, 18, 2200–2203 (https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.orglett.6b00817)
“Metal- and Protection-free [4+2] Cycloadditions of Alkynes with Azadienes of Functionalized Quinolines” Highlighted in Org. Process Res. Dev. 2016, 20, 1691
16. Regioselective 5-endo-dig Electrophilic Iodocyclization of Enediynes: A Convenient Route to Iodo-substituted Indenes” Rakesh K. Saunthwal, Abhinandan K. Dahanodia, Monika Patel and Akhilesh K. Verma, Chem. Asian J., 2016, 11, 3001–3007 ( https://doi.org/10.1002/asia.201601085)
15. Regioselective Synthesis of C-3 Functionalized Quinolines via Hetero Diels-Alder Cycloaddition of Azadienes with Terminal Alkynes” Rakesh K. Saunthwal, Monika Patel and Akhilesh K. Verma, J. Org. Chem., 2016, 81, 6563–6572; (https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.joc.6b01186) Highlighted in Organic Reaction Portal
14. “Pd-catalyzed One-Pot Sequential Unsymmetrical Cross-Coupling Reactions of Aryl/Heteroaryl 1,2-Dihalides” Abhinandan K. Danodia, ‡ Rakesh K. Saunthwal‡ Monika Patel, Rakesh K. Tiwari and Akhilesh K. Verma, Org. Biomol. Chem. 2016, 14, 6487-6496 (‡These authors contributed equally to this work.) (https://doi.org/10.1039/C6OB01049K)
13. Palladium-catalyzed Intramolecular Fujiwara-Hydroarylation: Synthesis of Benzo[a]phenazines Derivatives” Sonu Kumar, Rakesh K. Saunthwal and Akhilesh K Verma, J. Org. Chem., 2016, 81, 9912–9923 (https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.joc.6b02096)
12. Palladium Meets Copper: One-Pot Tandem Synthesis of Pyrido Fused Heterocycle via Sonogashira conjoined Electrophilic Cyclization” Sonu Kumar, Rakesh K. Saunthwal, Trapti Aggarwal and Akhilesh K. Verma, Org. Biomol. Chem. 2016, 14, 9063-9071; (https://doi.org/10.1039/C6OB01539E)
“When Palladium Meets Copper” SYNFACTS 2016, 12, 1255
11. "Metal-Free Intermolecular Hydro-phenoxylation of Aryl Alkynes" Monika Patel, Rakesh K.Saunthwal, Devendra K. Dhaked and Prasad V. Bharatam, Akhilesh Kumar Verma, Asian J. Org. Chem. 2016, 4, 213–221. (https://doi.org/10.1002/ajoc.201500479)
10. "Pd(II)-Catalyzed C-H Activation of Styrylindoles: Short, Efficient, and Regioselective Synthesis of Functionalized Carbazoles” Rakesh K. Saunthwal, Monika Patel, Sonu Kumar, Abhinandan K. Danodia, and Akhilesh K. Verma, Chem. Eur. J. 2015, 21, 18601 – 18605. (https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201503657) Hot article
9. "Palladium-Catalyzed Triple Successive C−H Functionalization: Direct Synthesis of Functionalized Carbazoles from Indoles” Akhilesh K. Verma, Abhinandan K. Danodia, Rakesh K. Saunthwal, Monika Patel, and Deepak Choudhary; Org. Lett. 2015, 17, 3658–3661, Most read article (https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.orglett.5b01476)
8. "On Water: Catalyst−free Chemoselective Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Tetrahydroquinazolines from 2-Aminophenylacrylate” Rakesh K. Saunthwal, Monika Patel, Sushil Kumar and Akhilesh K. Verma; Green Chem. 2015, 17, 1434-1441 (10.1039/C4GC02154A )
7. "Pd-catalyzed Heck-conjoined Amidation and Concomitant Chemoselective Michael-addition: An Efficient Tandem Approach to Highly Functionalized Tetrahydroquinazolines from o-Haloanilines” Rakesh K. Saunthawal, Monika Patel, Abhinandan K. Danodia, Akhilesh K. Verma; Org. Biomol. Chem., 2015,13, 1521-1530. (https://doi.org/10.1039/C4OB02286F)
6. "Cu(II)-Catalyzed Tandem Synthesis of 2-Imino[1,3]benzothiazines from 2-Aminoaryl acrylates via Thioamidation and Concomitant Chemoselective thia-Michael Addition” Rakesh K. Saunthwal, Monika Patel, Sushil Kumar and Akhilesh K. Verma; Tetrahedron Lett., 2015, 56, 677-681 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tetlet.2014.12.058)
5. "Nu-Addition vs SNAr study: Chemo-, Regio- and Stereoselective Preferential Hydrothiolation of Haloarylalkynes over S-arylation of aryl halides” Monika Patel, Rakesh K. Saunthwal and Akhilesh K. Verma; Asian J. Org. Chem. 2015, 4, 894 –898 (https://doi.org/10.1002/ajoc.201500239)
4. "Tandem Approach to Benzothieno- and Benzofuropyridines from o-Alkynyl Aldehydes via Silver-Catalyzed6-endo-dig Ring Closure” Sonu Kumar, Carlos Cruz-Hernández, shilpi Pal, Rakesh K. Saunthwal, Monika Patel, Rakesh K. Tiwari, Eusebio Juaristi, and Akhilesh K. Verma; J. Org. Chem., 2015, 80, 10548–10560. (https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.joc.5b01647)
Silver-Catalyzed Heteroannulation Route to Benzofuro- and Benzothienopyridines” SYNFACTS 2016, 12, 0024
3. Stereoselective tandem synthesis of thiazolo fused naphthyridines and thienopyridines from o-alkynyl-aldehydes via Au(III)-catalyzed regioselective 6-endo-dig ring closure” Rajeev R. Jha, Rakesh K. Saunthwal and Akhilesh K. Verma ; Org. Biomol. Chem., 2014,12, 552-556 (10.1039/C3OB42035C )
2. Base-Catalyzed Stereoselective Intermolecular Addition of Imidazoles onto Alkynes: An Easy Access to Imidazolyl Enamines” Monika Patel, Rakesh K. Saunthwal, Akhilesh K. Verma; Tetrahedron Lett., 2014, 55, 1310−1315 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tetlet.2013.12.100)
1. On Water: Silver-Catalyzed Domino Approach for the Synthesis of Benzoxazine/Oxazine-Fused Isoquinolines and Naphthyridines from o-Alkynyl Aldehydes, Akhilesh K. Verma, Deepak Choudhary, Rakesh K. Saunthwal, Vineeta Rustagi, Monika Patel and Rakesh K. Tiwari. J. Org. Chem., 2013, 78, 6657−6669 (https://doi.org/10.1021/jo4009639)
Novel High Yielding, Economical, Eco-Friendly and Selective Method for The Preparation of Deuterated Alkyl Arenes” Akhilesh K. Verma, Monika Patel, Rakesh K. Saunthwal (IN201711013462, 17 April 2017) (https://patentscope.wipo.int/
Ph.D. Students:
Divakar Chaudhary (PMRF Fellow, Ph.D. 2023 to -)
Sumit Kumar (Teaching Assistant, Ph.D. 2023 to -)
M.Sc. Students:
Nitin Yadav (M.Sc 2023 to -)
AKASH (M.Sc 2023 to -)
UG/IDD Student:
Budarapu Madhuvani (UG Project- CHI-491)
Yash Bajpai (Exploratory Project CHI-291)
We are always looking for enthusiastic, self-motivated, and passionate candidates to join the synthetic organic chemistry group. Applications can be submitted throughout the year.
Ph.D. Positions
Highly motivated students with CSIR/UGC-JRF fellowship are encouraged to apply directly to Dr. Rakesh K. Saunthwal (rakesh.chy@iitbhu.ac.in) with their application package.
Postdoctoral research fellowships
If you have a very strong CV, you can email (rakesh.chy@iitbhu.ac.in) to discuss external funding (e.g. SERB National Postdoctoral Fellowship and others.)