Jagadeesh Rajenahally

Prof. Jagadeesh Rajenahally is currently a Group Leader at the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (LIKAT), Germany and at the Materials-Env Lab (MEL), Nanotechnology Center (CNT), Center for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET), VSB-Technical University of Ostrava, Czech Republic. He obtained PhD (2006) in Chemistry from Bangalore University, India. After having performed Postdoctoral Research (2006-2008) at the University of Florida, USA and worked as Assistant Professor (2009-2010) at VIT University, India he joined the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (LIKAT), Germany in the year 2010, initially as a Scientist in the Department of Prof. Matthias Beller and then became Group Leader in the year 2016. Since the beginning of 2024, he is also associated with the Nanotechnology Center, CEET, VSB-Technical University of Ostrava, Czech Republic, where he leads and supervises the catalysis research team in the Materials-Env Lab. 

His groups research is broadly focus on catalysis (homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis; nanoparticles- and single atoms-based catalysis), sustainable organic synthesis, and circular chemistry. More specifically his research groups work on sustainable catalytic processes for the synthesis of essential fine and bulk chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and agrochemicals as well as for the valorization of renewable feedstocks (biomass, CO₂…) and circular chemistry for enabling circular economy (conversion/recycling of waste-materials, plastics-waste and use them as resources/feedstocks for chemicals upgrading). 

Important works of his group have been published in Science (3 research papers), Nature Publishing Journals (around 10 research papers) and Cell-Press Journals (3 research papers). Interestingly, one work related to the development of iron-based nanocatalyst for an industrially relevant hydrogenation process is highlighted and featured on the ‘Cover of Science’.  In addition, key works have also been highlighted in Science, Nature, Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), Chemistry World and other international scientific portals/news.

Research Group website links @ Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (LIKAT), Germany

• https://www.catalysis.de/en/people/rajenahally-jagadeesh
• https://www.catalysis.de/en/research/applied-homogeneous-catalysis/synergy-between-homogeneous-and-heterogeneous-catalysis

Selected publications

1. V. G. Chandrashekhar, W. Baumann, M. Beller, R. V.  Jagadeesh, Science, 2022, 376, 1433-1441. Nickel-catalyzed hydrogenative coupling of nitriles and amines for general amines synthesis.
2. R. V. Jagadeesh, K. Murugesan, A. S. Alshammari, H. Neumann, M.-M. Pohl, J. Radnik, M. Beller, Science, 2017, 358, 326-332. MOF-derived cobalt nanoparticles catalyze a general synthesis of amines.
3. R. V. Jagadeesh, A. E. Surkus, H. Junge, M. M. Pohl, J. Radnik, J. Rabeah, H. Huan, V. Schünemann, A. Brückner, M. Beller, Science, 2013, 342, 1073-1076. Nanoscale Fe₂O₃-based catalysts for selective hydrogenation of nitroarenes to anilines.
4. Y. Hu, M. Liu, S. Bartling, H. Lund, H. Atia, P. J. Dyson, M. Beller, R. V. Jagadeesh, Science Advances, 2023, 9, eadj822. A general and robust Ni-based nanocatalyst for selective hydrogenation reactions at low temperature and pressure.
5. V. G. Chandrashekhar, T. Senthamarai, R. G. Kadam, O. Malina, J. Kašlík, R. Zbořil, M. B. Gawande, R. V. Jagadeesh, M. Beller, Nature Catalysis, 2022,5, 20-29. Silica supported Fe/Fe-O nanoparticles for the catalytic hydrogenation of nitriles to amines in the presence of aluminium additives.
6. K. Murugesan, Z. Wei, V. G. Chandrashekhar, H. Neumann, A. Spannenberg, H. Jiao, M. Beller, R. V. Jagadeesh, Nature Communications, 2019, 10, 5443. Homogeneous cobalt-catalyzed reductive amination for synthesis of functionalized primary amines.
7. 67. K. Murugesan, M. Beller, R. V. Jagadeesh, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2019, 58, 5064-5068. Reusable nickel nanoparticles-catalyzed reductive amination for selective synthesis of primary amines.
8. T. Senthamarai, K. Murugesan, J. Schneidewind, N. V. Kalevaru, W. Baumann, H. Neumann, P. C. J. Kamer, M. Beller, R. V. Jagadeesh, Nature Communications, 2018, 9, 4123. Simple ruthenium-catalyzed reductive amination enables the synthesis of a broad range of primary amines.
9. T. Senthamarai, V. G. Chandrashekhar, N. Rockstroh, J. Rabeah, S. Bartling, R. V. Jagadeesh, M. Beller, Chem, 2022, 8, 508-531. A “universal” catalyst for aerobic oxidations to synthesize (hetero)aromatic aldehydes, ketones, esters, acids, nitriles and amides.
10. Q. Wang, H. Qi, Y. Ren, K. Junge, R. V. Jagadeesh, M. Beller, Chem, 2024, 10, 1897-1909. A general non-noble metal-based single-atom catalyst for C-O, C-N and C-C bond formation by carbene insertion reactions.
11. B. Zhou, V. Chandrashekhar, Z. Ma, C. Kreyenschulte, S. Bartling, H. Lund, M. Beller, R. V. Jagadeesh, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2023, 62, e20221569. Development of a general and selective nanostructured cobalt catalyst for the hydrogenation of benzofurans, indoles and benzothiophenes.
12. Z. Ma, C. Kuloor, C. Kreyenschulte, S. Bartling, O. Malina, M. Haumann, P. W. Menezes, R. Zbořil, M. Beller, R. V. Jagadeesh, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2024, e202407859. Development of iron-based single atom materials for general and efficient synthesis of amines.