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Organic Chemistry Lab
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The lab uses the power of chemistry to create useful natural organic compounds.
AboutAbout the lab
Creating at the molecular level through organic synthesis
The Organic Chemistry Lab studies the chemical synthesis of organic compounds that are "useful" to living organisms.
Through organic synthesis, the lab hopes to shed at least some light on how life works.
The lab also collaborates with other fields using the bioactive substances it synthesizes, and works on making compounds with stronger activity than natural products.
Built on close, intensive interaction through daily seminars and study sessions, the lab aims at "monotsukuri," the craft of making things.
Key terms
- Natural product
- An organic compound produced by living organisms, such as plants, microorganisms, and marine organisms
- Total synthesis
- Building up a complex compound from readily available starting materials through a series of chemical reactions
- Suicidal germination
- A weed control method in which seeds of root parasitic weeds are made to germinate in a field with no host crop, so that they die without parasitizing anything
- Structure-activity relationship
- The relationship between a compound's structure and the strength of its biological effect, studied by changing the structure little by little
NewsLab news
Synthesized Violaceoid E, a natural product produced by fungi, and revised its stereostructure
Developed a new synthetic method for the pleurospiroketal family of natural products
Achieved the total synthesis of the natural product 8-methoxybicolosin C
Improved the synthetic method for strigolactones, achieving synthesis with high optical purity
Achieved asymmetric synthesis of speciosins and related natural products in few steps
ResearchResearch themes
The lab researches the synthesis of biologically active natural organic compounds that may benefit society and people. It aims to discover new reactions and methods in the course of synthesis, and to bring new developments to academia and industry through the compounds it synthesizes.
*Illustrative imageSynthesis of Strigolactones
The lab synthesizes strigolactones, which are involved in the germination of root parasitic weeds and in plant shoot branching, in order to confirm the structures of natural products and to provide samples. It also works on designing non-natural compounds that induce suicidal germination of weeds.
*Illustrative imageTotal Synthesis of Natural Organic Compounds
The lab has worked on the total synthesis of a wide range of natural organic compounds, including insect pheromones, natural products made by marine organisms, and functional molecules related to plants. This work has led to first syntheses and to the revision and confirmation of structures.
*Illustrative imageEfficient Synthesis of Useful Natural Products
The lab develops methods to synthesize natural products that could lead to drugs and agrochemicals in few steps and with high yield. The compounds it makes are also used in collaborative research investigating structure-activity relationships and mechanisms of action.
*Illustrative imageExploring Biological Activity through Collaboration
Together with other universities, the lab uses synthesized molecules to investigate the mechanisms of biological activity. It has identified the target of a compound that inhibits cancer cell metastasis, and is also advancing research on useful lipids in foods such as rice bran.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Organic Chemistry Lab consist of faculty members, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, and commissioned researchers.As of 2026
- ProfessorHirosato TakikawaPublications ↗
- Associate ProfessorYusuke OguraPublications ↗
- Assistant ProfessorHironori OkamuraPublications ↗
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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: “Coloured column chromatography ( )” Максим Фомич / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Synthesis of Strigolactones: “Striga hermonthica between grass plants” Aneth David (SLU) / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Total Synthesis of Natural Organic Compounds: “Mycale laxissima (Strawberry Vase Sponge)” Nhobgood (talk) Nick Hobgood / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Efficient Synthesis of Useful Natural Products: “Thin layer chromatography under UV lamp” Minciw20 / CC0 (cropped)
- Exploring Biological Activity through Collaboration: “Rice bran” Palagiri / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (生物制御科学研究室): “3-day-old buckwheat sprouts” V.Boldychev / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (生物有機化学研究室): “Malcolmia littorea kz06” Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (細胞機能工学研究室): “Streptomyces hygroscopicus” Snuupo / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (分子育種学研究室): “20241028-R9HMNF-CB-001 Leafy ground” usfs_Eastern_Region / Public domain (cropped)
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