Our lives are supported by organic compounds having different functions, such as those used in medical goods, organic electronic materials, and textiles. This department focuses on advanced specialized knowledge concerning the properties/synthesis and application of all organic compounds, from small molecules to large molecules (macromolecules and supramolecules). Researchers eager to participate actively in the development of society are taught through the world's most advanced research in a wide number of fields.
Professor: Hiroshi Shinokubo
Associate Professor: Norihito Fukui
Assistant Professor: Hideaki Takano
π-Conjugated molecules have attracted much interest in material science due to their interesting photophysical and electronic properties. We are focusing on the development of novel and beautiful organic compounds with unique properties on the basis of modern organic synthesis such as transition metal-catalyzed reactions. Our research also includes development and applications of our own novel reactions for the synthesis of π-conjugated molecules.
Professor: Takashi Ooi (ITbM)
Designated Associate Professor: Kei Muto
Assistant Professor: Yoshitaka Aramaki
Assistant Professor: Tsubasa Nakashima
Toward the realization of sustainable society, our group focuses on the design of novel functional (ionic) organic molecular catalysts and catalysis, and their application to the development of selective organic transformations.
Professor: Kazuaki Ishihara
Associate Professor: Muhammet Uyanik
Assistant Professor: Shuhei Ohmura
The development of highly efficient and practical synthetic processes to provide pharmaceuticals and advanced materials with high purity and low cost is demanded in the fields of medicinal chemistry, material chemistry and industrial chemistry. We have studied on the rational design of high-performance catalysts which control the reactivity and selectivity of various organic reactions based on acid-base combination chemistry. In particular we focus on multiselective control using U-shaped supramolecular catalysts. The ultimate goal of our research is the design of tailor-made artificial catalysts in place of enzymes.
Designated Professor: Atsushi Takano
Lecturer: Atsushi Noro
Thermodynamic equilibrium and non-equilibrium structures of complex polymers in condensed systems and their rheological properties have been studying in aiming to produce high-performance polymeric new materials.
Professor: Masami Kamigaito
Lecturer: Mineto Uchiyama
Assistant Professor: Hironobu Watanabe
Our research focuses on stereospecific living radical polymerization that can simultaneously control the molecular weights and stereochemistry during radical polymerization and the precision polymer synthesis for functional polymers. Our recent research areas are now further extended to sequence-regulated vinyl polymers based on the design of monomers and the polymerization reactions and precision polymerization of naturally-occurring bio-based monomers for the environmentally benign and sustainable functional polymeric materials.
Associate Professor : Yukikazu Takeoka
The photochromic molecules change their shape and properties by light irradiation. When they are attached to a polymer chain, fascinating photo-polymer based systems are produced. Our interest is focused to photoinduced dynamic motions of these systems such as photoinduced mass motion and morphological change, photomanipulation and photopatterning of molecules and nanostructures in various organic and inorganic materials. These investigations can be connected to potential applications in molecular actuators, sensors, optical devices, information displays and storage systems. Our actual activities range from the design, synthesis of new polymers to evaluation of their properties directing creation of various devices.
Professor: Tomoyuki Ikai
Assistant Professor: Masaya Yoshida
We have been studying on the design and synthesis of helical molecules, supramolecules, and polymers with novel structures including double helical structures and specific functions such as chirality sensing, chiral recognition and separation of enantiomers, asymmetric catalysis, and spring-like motions.
Professor: Yoshihiko Yamamoto
Associate Professor: Takeshi Yasui
The molecular design of candidate organic compounds that are expected to function as pharmaceutical agents plays an extremely important role in pharmaceutical sciences. During the development process from a candidate compound to the final pharmaceutical agent, both rational molecular design—which envisions derivatives with enhanced desired properties and reduced adverse drug reactions—and efficient synthesis of the final product are indispensable. Our laboratory implements creative research and education in molecular design chemistry, based on synthetic organic chemistry. This field endeavors to design new physiologically active molecules as part of the drug development pipeline. In addition, we emphasize the development of rational synthetic routes to generate these target compounds.
