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Synthetic Organic Chemistry Lab
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A lab that uses molecular catalysts to selectively make right-handed and left-handed molecules.
AboutAbout the lab
Making pharmaceuticals and materials efficiently and cleanly
The Synthetic Organic Chemistry Lab works on developing reactions that allow the synthesis of any organic compound at will.
Its goal is to create methods for supplying pharmaceuticals, functional materials, and more efficiently, inexpensively, and cleanly.
Its particular focus is asymmetric synthesis, molecular catalysts, catalytic activity, and stereoselectivity, and it selectively makes either right-handed or left-handed molecules.
Some of the catalysts it has developed are sold as reagents, and joint research with companies has led to practical applications.
Key terms
- Asymmetric synthesis
- Selectively making only one of two molecules that are mirror images of each other, like a right hand and a left hand.
- Molecular catalyst
- A molecule combining a metal and an organic compound that makes reactions proceed quickly and precisely.
- Hydrogenation
- A reaction that adds hydrogen to a molecule. It produces few byproducts.
NewsLab news
A paper from joint research with Kyushu University has been published
A review article by Project Professor Ohkuma has been published
A book by Prof. Yurino has been published
A paper by Project Professor Ohkuma has been published
ResearchResearch themes
The lab develops reactions that produce organic compounds, the starting points of pharmaceuticals and functional materials, efficiently, inexpensively, and cleanly. The keys are asymmetric synthesis, which makes right-handed and left-handed molecules selectively, and the molecular catalysts that support it.
*Illustrative imageAsymmetric Hydrogenation of Ketones
Hydrogen is added selectively to either the front or back face of a planar ketone molecule, producing optically active alcohols as desired. The lab developed a highly active ruthenium catalyst, and through joint research with companies it has led to large-scale synthesis of pharmaceutical raw materials.
*Illustrative imageAsymmetric Hydrogenation of Imines
Building on what it learned with ketones, the lab developed a reaction that hydrogenates imines to produce optically active amines. By closely studying catalyst structure and reaction conditions, it achieves both high reactivity and high selectivity.
*Illustrative imageAsymmetric Isomerization of Allylic Alcohols
Using a catalyst consisting of a ruthenium complex and potassium hydroxide, the lab synthesized nearly optically pure aldehydes from allylic alcohols. The transformation is efficient, proceeding with only 1/1000 equivalent of catalyst.
*Illustrative imageAsymmetric Cyanation of Aldehydes
Aldehydes are reacted with cyanide to produce optically active cyanohydrins, which are raw materials for pharmaceuticals. By combining an original ruthenium complex with lithium carbonate, the lab achieved high activity and stereoselectivity.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Synthetic Organic Chemistry Lab are faculty members, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, and secretaries.As of 2026
- Project ProfessorTakeshi Ohkuma
- Associate ProfessorNoriyoshi Arai
- Associate ProfessorTaiga Yurino
VoicesStudent voices
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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: “Sinistral x dextral Limicolaria martensiana” Jxd / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Ketones: “Glass Perfume Bottles ( )” Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China / CC0 (cropped)
- Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Imines: “Methylamine-3D-balls” Benjah-bmm27 / Public domain (cropped)
- Asymmetric Isomerization of Allylic Alcohols: “Allyl-alcohol-3D-balls-2” Ben Mills and Jynto / Public domain (cropped)
- Asymmetric Cyanation of Aldehydes: “(R)-Mandelonitrile-3D-balls” Jynto (talk) / CC0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Catalytic Reaction Engineering Lab): “Nano-Legos” Snemani2023 / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Organoelement Chemistry Lab): “Mortar and Pestles - DPLA - ee6d0252453ce429f24c8d03e3ba32ae” 作者不詳 / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Energy Materials Chemistry Lab): “Solid oxide electrolyser cell 2x60cell stack” EERE / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Advanced Materials Hybrid Engineering Lab): “Atomic force microphotography of copper nanoparticles” Dr Anatoly / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
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