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Organic Functional Molecular Chemistry Lab
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A lab that challenges conventional wisdom in organic chemistry with catalysts and new molecules.
AboutAbout the lab
Challenging conventional wisdom in organic chemistry by exploiting the characteristics of metal elements
The Organic Functional Molecular Chemistry Lab makes new molecules through organic synthesis and aims to cause targeted reactions to occur selectively through catalyst design.
Centered on transition metals, the lab combines a variety of elements across the periodic table to synthesize original molecules.
Not bound by the conventional wisdom of organic chemistry, the lab is working on designing catalysts that select and react sites of low reactivity.
The lab's website presents it under the name “Iwasaki Lab.”
Key terms
- Functional group
- The part of a molecule that takes part in chemical reactions.
- Cross-coupling reaction
- A powerful reaction method for joining carbon atoms to each other.
- Counteranion
- A negatively charged ion that exists paired with a metal cation.
NewsLab news
Press release on joint research with the University of Tokyo and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) on the selective decomposition of mixed waste plastics
A doctoral student won a Student Presentation Award at the 106th Annual Meeting of the Chemical Society of Japan (Spring)
A master's student won an Excellent Poster Presentation Award at the 15th CSJ Chemistry Festa 2025
A master's student won a Poster Award at the joint seminar of the Kyushu Branch of the Chemical Society of Japan and the Busan Branch of the Korean Chemical Society
ResearchResearch themes
The lab makes new molecules through organic synthesis and, centered on transition metals, combines them with a variety of elements across the periodic table to synthesize original molecules. It explores new and interesting chemistry from multiple perspectives, including molecular function, structural beauty, and potential benefits to society.
*Illustrative imageOverturning the conventional wisdom of organic chemistry with catalysts
The lab aims to design original catalysts that selectively react functional groups of low reactivity. It works on reactions that convert ureas and urethanes with hydrogen gas, and on cross-coupling reactions using ethers and alkyl fluorides.
*Illustrative imageSynthesis of molecules with structural beauty
The lab synthesizes the beautiful molecules it envisions. It has synthesized a highly symmetric molecule with six phenyl groups bound to a single transition metal atom and determined its structure with X-rays.
*Illustrative imageCatalytic functions created by ions
Aiming for a reaction environment in which adjacent cations and anions each have a catalytic function, the lab focuses on counteranions. It has shown that using a boron-containing anion as the counteranion of an iridium catalyst improves catalytic activity.
*Illustrative imageNew π-electron molecules such as porphyrins
Associate Professor Shimizu works on creating new π-electron molecules based on porphyrins and phthalocyanines. The research keywords are porphyrin, phthalocyanine, and π-conjugation.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Organic Functional Molecular Chemistry Lab consist of faculty, secretaries, and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorTakanori Iwasaki
- Associate ProfessorSoji Shimizu
- Assistant Professor (Specially Appointed Project Faculty)Pavel Zatsepin
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Organic Chemistry Lab by marthou” Marthou / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Overturning the conventional wisdom of organic chemistry with catalysts: “Three Schlenk flasks” Ichwarsnur / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Synthesis of molecules with structural beauty: “1-Undecanol molecular model” RandomKatze / CC0 (cropped)
- Catalytic functions created by ions: “Selpologne” Didier Descouens / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- New π-electron molecules such as porphyrins: “Single crystal of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-ethoxycarbonylphenyl)porphine” Leiem / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (応用無機化学研究室): “Bishnoi -- Brennofen” Wolfgang Sauber / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (安田研究室
（高等研究院） ): “OLED SUBPIXELS” TECH EDU / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped) - Related lab (人工酵素化学研究室): “Rubber bung with flask” Nadans. / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (反応・物性理論研究室
（先導物質科学研究所） ): “L-menthol-3D-molecular-model-engraved-render-CAS” MolGod Scientific / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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