Uraguchi Lab

AboutAbout the lab

Creating molecular catalysts to control chemical reactions

The Uraguchi Lab studies how to control chemical reactions by using molecules that have never existed before as catalysts.
To efficiently supply the organic molecules that support our daily lives, such as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and plastics, it is necessary to understand and control the chemical reactions that join molecules together.
The lab draws out the catalytic power inherent in molecular structures and takes on the challenge of freely controlling the reactive species involved in reactions (anions, radicals, and cations).
The lab is part of the Division of Molecular Catalysis at the Institute for Catalysis, and third-year students of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences are also assigned to it.

ResearchResearch themes

To efficiently supply functional organic molecules, the lab aims to understand and control the chemical reactions that join molecules together. It creates its own original molecular catalysts and works on controlling reactive species, developing new molecular transformations, and selectively modifying biomolecules.

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Molecular catalysts that control reactive species↗

The lab creates molecules that have never existed before, draws out the catalytic power inherent in their structures, and takes on the challenge of freely controlling the reactive species involved in reactions (anions, radicals, and cations).

*Illustrative image

New catalytic molecular transformations↗

The molecular behavior revealed in the process of controlling reactive species with new catalysts is studied through both experiments and theory, and used as the basis for creating new catalytic molecular transformations.

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Selective transformation and modification of biomolecules↗

Using the catalyst systems it has developed, the lab aims to elucidate the movements and functions of the organic molecules that make up living organisms, such as proteins and sugars. To do so, it is developing techniques to transform and modify only specific biomolecules in a targeted environment.

VoicesStudent voices

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