Assist. Prof. Dr. Kiranmai Nayani | Organic Chemistry | Research Excellence Award 

Assist. Prof. Dr. Kiranmai Nayani | Organic Chemistry | Principal Scientist at CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology | India

Organic Chemistry stands at the core of the academic, research, and professional contributions of Assist. Prof. Dr. Kiranmai Nayani, an accomplished synthetic organic chemist whose work spans total synthesis, asymmetric catalysis, functional peptide design, bioactive molecule development, late-stage functionalization, and innovative process chemistry solutions. Throughout her career, Assist. Prof. Dr. Kiranmai Nayani has consistently advanced the frontiers of Organic Chemistry, demonstrating exceptional expertise in designing complex synthetic pathways, developing new catalytic methodologies, and contributing to translational science that supports both pharmaceutical innovation and chemical biology research. Her educational foundation is distinguished and robust: she earned a Ph.D. in Synthetic Organic Chemistry from the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, preceded by an M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry with distinction from the National Institute of Technology, a B.Ed. in Biological Sciences and English as an institute topper, and a B.Sc. in Chemistry, Botany, and Zoology with distinction. This strong academic background laid the intellectual framework that fuels her continued contributions to Organic Chemistry. Professionally, Assist. Prof. Dr. Kiranmai Nayani has accumulated extensive multi-tiered research experience across leading scientific institutions, government-funded laboratories, and industry settings. Her key roles include Senior Scientist and Project Scientist at CSIR-IICT, Project Investigator under the DST Women Scientists Scheme, Research Associate, CSIR-Senior Research Associate under the Scientist’s Pool Scheme, and Postdoctoral Fellow at Université Paris Descartes, where she contributed to neurochemical studies on glutamatergic transmission. She has also served as Associate Scientist at Chemveda Life Sciences, Senior Research Associate at Sai Advantium Pharma, and Senior Executive at Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories. Across these roles, she has developed deep research skills in asymmetric catalysis, complex molecule synthesis, peptide synthesis, heterocyclic transformation, Aza-Piancatelli rearrangement applications, natural product synthesis, VGLUT-modulator development, solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis, and multistep reaction design. Her research interests reflect a rich and evolving engagement with Organic Chemistry, encompassing synthetic strategy development, advanced reaction mechanisms, peptide and peptidomimetic chemistry, bioactive molecule design, and innovative methodologies for transforming complex organic scaffolds. Her research skills include multistep synthesis, reaction optimization, stereoselective synthesis, mechanistic evaluation, structural characterization, peptide engineering, literature synthesis, process development, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Throughout her career, Assist. Prof. Dr. Kiranmai Nayani has been recognized for academic excellence, including prestigious honors such as the Eli Lilly and Company Asia Outstanding Thesis Award as well as multiple distinctions earned during her academic studies. Her publication record reflects high-impact contributions to Organic Chemistry, including total drug synthesis, catalytic cascade reactions, heterocycle construction, nucleoside chemistry, and novel foldamer development. These accomplishments showcase her ability to integrate fundamental scientific inquiry with real-world chemical innovation. In conclusion, Assist. Prof. Dr. Kiranmai Nayani exemplifies the highest standards of excellence in Organic Chemistry, contributing original research, developing complex synthetic methodologies, mentoring young scientists, advancing peptide and natural product chemistry, and influencing both academic and industrial research landscapes. Her career reflects a powerful combination of intellectual rigor, innovative thinking, and sustained dedication to advancing the global discipline of Organic Chemistry, positioning her as a leading scholar whose work continues to shape the future of chemical science.

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Featured Publications 

Nayani, K. (2022). Total synthesis of antiviral drug, nirmatrelvir (PF-07321332). Tetrahedron Chem, 4, 100033. Citations: 28.

Nayani, K., Cinsani, R., Hussaini, A. S. D., Mainkar, P. S., & Chandrasekhar, S. (2017). Brønsted acid catalyzed domino Aza-Piancatelli rearrangement/Michael reaction: Construction of 1,4-benzodiazepin-5-ones in one pot. European Journal of Organic Chemistry. Citations: 19.

Chandrasekhar, S., Srihari, P., Nagesh, C., Kiranmai, N., Nagesh, N., & Idris, M. M. (2010). Synthesis of readily accessible triazole-linked dimer deoxynucleoside phosphoramidite for solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis. Synthesis. Citations: 18.

Donikela, S., Mainkar, P. S., Nayani, K., & Chandrasekhar, S. (2019). Metal-free domino β-azidation/[3+2] cycloaddition reaction for the synthesis of 1,2,3-triazole-fused dihydrobenzoxazinones. The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 84(16), 10546–10553. Citations: 17.

Reddy, C. R., Kiranmai, N., Babu, G. S. K., Sarma, G. D., & Jagadeesh, B. (2007). Palladium-catalyzed addition of hydroxylamine derivatives to Baylis–Hillman acetate adducts. Tetrahedron Letters, 48(2), 215–218. Citations: 17.

Chandrasekhar, S., Kiranmai, N., Kiran, M. U., Devi, A. S., Reddy, G. P. K., & Idris, M. (2010). Novel helical foldamers: Organized heterogeneous backbone folding in α/nucleoside-derived β-amino acid sequences. Chemical Communications, 46(37), 6962–6964. Citations: 16.

Vonteddu, N. R., Solanke, P. R., Nayani, K., & Chandrasekhar, S. (2020). Cation-triggered domino Aza-Piancatelli rearrangement/Friedel–Crafts alkylation of indole-tethered furfuryl alcohols to access cycloocta[b]indole core of alkaloids. Organic Letters, 22(21), 8555–8560. Citations: 15.