SAMEER URGAONKAR
** ******** ****, *** ***, Arlington, MA 02474, Ph: 515-***-****
******.*********@*****.***
VISA STATUS: Permanent Resident
HIGHLIGHTS
Over three years of experience IN AN INTEGRATED PUBLIC-PRIVATE ENTERPRISE
FOCUSED ON ANTIMALARIAL drug discovery, two years of postdoctoral
experience, AND A Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry. Expertise in a wide range of
synthetic organic techniques, INCLUDING METAL-CATALYZED CROSS-COUPLINGS,
homogenous catalysis, amination chemistry.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Research Chemist I, Broad Institute, Infectious Disease Initiative Program,
2007-Present
. Designed and developed a novel two step (compared to 4-5 steps in the
literature) synthetic methodology to access 2-aminoindoles, a novel class
of antimalarials with potent in vitro and in vivo antimalarial activity
expediting the SAR exploration.
. Planned and executed several synthetic routes to access 2-aminoindoles in
gram quantities for DMPK and toxicology studies.
. Developed a short and concise methodology to afford a novel family of
antimalarials based on a benzothiazepine scaffold, prepared ~40 analogs
to establish the SAR and to address the aqueous solubility issues.
. Designed and Conducted SAR studies and lead optimization for antimalarial
drug candidates hydroxythiazoles and benzothiazepine imines.
. Synthesized a solution phase library of more than 2000 plasmodium
falciparum selective HDAC inhibitors.
. Worked closely with Biologists to develop novel antimalarial lead
compounds, in selecting analogs for resistance selection studies and
transfection strategies to explore the mechanism of action of the various
compound classes.
. Interacted with Cheminformatics Scientists to define the chemical space
occupied by global collection of antimalarial compounds.
. Extensively collaborated with Scientists at Genzyme Corporation in the
development of antimalarial drugs.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, 2005-2007
Advisor: Prof. Jared T. Shaw
Completed the synthesis of two natural products, dichamanetin and 2"'-
hydroxy-5"-benzylisouvarinol B that targets FtsZ, an essential bacterial
cell division protein, by developing a synthetic methodology in less than
four months.
Designed and executed the synthesis of a diglycosylated flavone,
Kaempferitrin, for which significant antibacterial activity had been
reported.
. Synthesized several alkyne-tagged photo-affinity probes to identify the
target of a small molecule 534F6, discovered in a high-throughput screen,
with bactericidal properties that induces extensive cell filamentation by
an FtsZ-independent mechanism.
. Designed and developed the synthesis of Viriditoxin, a natural product
that targets FtsZ.
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Candidate (Organic Chemistry), Iowa State University, 1999-2004
Advisor: Prof. John G. Verkade
. Developed commercially available proazaphosphatranes (Verkade's
superbases) as ligands for palladium-catalyzed Buchwald-Hartwig
amination, Stille, and Suzuki coupling reactions.
. Designed and synthesized a new triaminophosphine ligand for Buchwald-
Hartwig amination reaction.
. Developed a ligand-, copper-, and amine-free Sonogashira reaction.
. Developed a synthetic methodology for the transition-metal free synthesis
of diaryl ethers promoted by proazaphosphatranes.
B. S. (Hons.), (Chemistry), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT),
Kharagpur, India, 1995-1998
SKILLS
. Strong synthetic organic chemistry knowledge, with a particular emphasis
in designing and executing multi-step syntheses.
. Experience in medicinal chemistry - Hit-to-Lead development, design and
optimization of synthetic routes to afford compound libraries for rapid
SAR exploration.
. Skilled in purification methods (flash chromatography, preparative HPLC)
and analytical techniques (NMR, IR, LC/MS, GC/MS, chiral HPLC, SFC, X-
ray).
. Experience with Databases, eg. Scifinder and Beilstein and Microsoft
Excel, Word, Powerpoint, ChemDraw, E-notebook, Spotfire, Chemaxon.
. Strong interpersonal, communication, and written skills.
AWARDS, HONORS & ACTIVITIES
. Broad Institute's Exceptional Year Award (2008).
. Frank J. Moore and Thoreen Beth Moore Fellowship (2004).
. Invited as a reviewer for the: Journal of the American Chemical Society,
Journal of Organic Chemistry, Organic Letters, Tetrahedron Letters,
Tetrahedron, and Canadian Journal of Chemistry.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
1. Dong, C.; Urgaonkar, S.; Cortese, J.; Gamo, F-J.; Lafuente-Monasterio,
M.; Patel, V.; Ross, L.; Dvorin, J.; Duraisingh, M. T.; Wirth D. F.;
Clardy, J.; Mazitschek, R. Identification and validation of tetracyclic
benzothiazepines as Plasmodium falciparum cytochrome bc1 inhibitors. PNAS
2010 submitted. [shared first author]
2. Urgaonkar, S.; Cortese, J. F.; Barker, R. H.; Cromwell, M.; Serrano, A.
E.; Wirth D. F.; Clardy, J.; Mazitschek, R. A Concise Silylamine
Approach to 2-Amino-3-hydroxy-indoles with Potent in vivo Antimalaria
Activity. Org. Lett. 2010, 12, 3998.
3. Patel, V.; Mazitschek, R.; Coleman, B.; Nguyen, C.; Urgaonkar, S.;
Cortese, J.; Barker, R. H.; Greenberg, E.; Tang, W.; Bradner, J. E.;
Schreiber, S. L.; Duraisingh, M. T.; Wirth D. F.; Clardy, J.
Identification and characterization of small molecule inhibitors of a
class I histone deacetylase from Plasmodium falciparum. J. Med. Chem.
2009, 52, 2185.
4. Mukherjee, S.; Robinson, C. A.; Howe, A. G.; Mazor, T.; Wood, P. A.;
Urgaonkar S.; Hebert, A. M; Raychaudhuri, D.; Shaw, J. T. N-Benzyl-3-
sulfonamidopyrrolidines as novel inhibitors of cell division in E. coli.
Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2007, 17, 6651.
5. Urgaonkar, S.; Shaw, J. T. Synthesis of kaempferitrin. J. Org. Chem.
2007, 72, 4582.
6. Urgaonkar, S.; La Pierre, H. S.; Meir, I.; Lund, H.; RayChaudhuri, D.;
Shaw, J. T. Synthesis of Antimicrobial Natural Products Targeting FtsZ: -Dichamanetin and -2 Hydroxy-5"-benzylisouvarinol-B. Org. Lett.
2005, 7, 5609.
7. Urgaonkar, S.; Verkade, J. G. P(i-BuNCH2CH2)3N: An Efficient Promoter
for the Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution Reaction of Aryl Fluorides
with Aryl TBDMS (or TMS) Ethers. Org. Lett. 2005, 7, 3319.
8. Su, W.; Urgaonkar, S.; Verkade, J. G. Highly Active Palladium Catalysts
Supported by Bulky Proazaphosphatrane Ligands for Stille Cross-Coupling:
Coupling of Aryl and Vinyl Chlorides, Room Temperature Coupling of Aryl
Bromides, Coupling of Aryl Triflates, and Synthesis of Sterically
Hindered Biaryls. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 16433.
9. Urgaonkar, S.; Verkade, J. G. Scope and Limitations of Pd2(dba)3/P(i-
BuNCH2CH2)3N-Catalyzed Buchwald-Hartwig Amination Reactions of Aryl
Chlorides. J. Org. Chem. 2004, 69, 9135.
10. Urgaonkar, S.; Verkade, J. G. Ligand-, Copper-, and Amine-Free
Sonogashira Reaction of Aryl Iodides and Bromides with Terminal Alkynes.
J. Org. Chem. 2004, 69, 5752.
11. Urgaonkar, S.; Verkade, J. G. Palladium/Proazaphosphatrane-Catalyzed
Amination of Aryl Halides Possessing a Phenol, Alcohol, Acetanilide,
Amide or an Enolizable Ketone Functional Group: Efficacy of Lithium
Bis(trimethylsilyl)amide as the Base. Adv. Synth. Catal. 2004, 346, 611.
12. Urgaonkar, S.; Nagarajan, M.; Verkade, J. G. P[N(i-Bu)CH2CH2]3N: A
Versatile Ligand for the Pd-Catalyzed Amination of Aryl Chlorides. Org.
Lett. 2003, 5, 815.
13. Urgaonkar, S.; Xu, J.-H.; Verkade, J. G. Application of a New Bicyclic
Triaminophosphine Ligand in Pd-Catalyzed Buchwald-Hartwig Amination
Reactions of Aryl Chlorides, Bromides, and Iodides. J. Org. Chem. 2003,
68, 8416.
14. Urgaonkar, S.; Nagarajan, M.; Verkade, J. G. P(i-BuNCH2CH2)3N: An
Effective Ligand in the Palladium-Catalyzed Amination of Aryl Bromides
and Iodides. J. Org. Chem. 2003, 68, 452.
PATENTS
1. Synthesis of flavanone inhibitors of FtsZ as antibiotics. Shaw, J.;
Urgaonkar, S.; RayChaudhuri, D.; La Pierre, H., PCT Int. Appl. (2007),
WO 200-***-****.
2. Triaminophosphine Ligands for Carbon-Nitrogen and Carbon-Carbon Bond
Formation. Verkade, J. G., Urgaonkar, S.; Xu, J.-H., US Patent (2008),
US 7385058.
3. Palladium-catalyzed coupling of aryl halides with alkynes. Urgaonkar,
S.; Verkade, J. G., US Patent (2010), US 7642391.
SELCTED PRESENTATIONS
1. Urgaonkar, S.; Mazitschek, R.; Celatka, C.; Cortese, J. F.; Liu, H.;
Cromwell, M.; Barker Jr., R. H.; Garcia Rosa, M. I.; Serrano, A. E.;
Wirth, D. F.; Clardy, J.; Wiegand, R.; Sybertz, E. A Novel Chemotype with
Potent Activity Against Plasmodium Falciparum and P. Berghei. Poster
Presentation at The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
57th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, December 7-11, 2008.
2. Verkade, J. G., Urgaonkar, S.; Nagarajan, M. P[N(i-Bu)CH2CH2]3N: A
Versatile Ligand for the Pd-Catalyzed Amination of Aryl Chlorides. Paper
# 52, Oral Presentation at 225th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA,
March 23-27, 2003.