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Organic Reaction Chemistry Lab
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A synthetic organic chemistry lab that creates new molecules by designing catalysts.
AboutAbout the lab
Change the world with molecules you create yourself
The Organic Reaction Chemistry Lab designs catalysts that exploit the properties of organic molecules and metal complexes, and develops new methods for molecular transformation.
The lab aims to realize reactions that selectively produce only the desired molecule, as well as asymmetric synthesis, which produces only one of a pair of enantiomers, while keeping environmental impact low.
Its research leads to the creation of biologically active and functional substances.
The lab belongs to the Department of Chemistry in the Faculty of Science and the Department of Chemistry in the Graduate School of Science at Tohoku University.
Key terms
- Asymmetric synthesis
- Synthesis that selectively produces only one of a pair of enantiomers. It is an essential method for manufacturing substances with medicinal effects, such as pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals.
- Enantiomers
- Two kinds of molecules that are mirror images of each other and cannot be superimposed. Also called mirror-image isomers.
- Chemical space
- A term for the whole collection of compounds. The lab aims to expand this range.
- Skeletal rearrangement reaction
- A reaction that cleaves the bonds forming a molecule's skeleton and reorganizes it into a structural isomer.
NewsLab news
A master's student received the Dr. Shinichiro Fujise Scholarship Award for fiscal 2026 (Reiwa 8)
A master's student received a poster award at the 52nd Symposium on Main Group Element Chemistry
A master's student received a poster award at the 54th Symposium on Heterocyclic Chemistry
A master's student received a poster award at the 53rd Symposium on Heterocyclic Chemistry
A paper from the lab was selected for ChemComm 60th Anniversary Historic Papers
ResearchResearch themes
The lab creates next-generation molecular catalysts that exploit the properties of organic molecules and transition metal complexes, and develops new methods for molecular transformation. Centered on catalyst design and reaction development, it pursues selectivity, generality, and efficiency, aiming to explore new chemical space and achieve low environmental impact.
*Illustrative imageSubstrate-recognizing acid catalysts and natural product synthesis
The lab designs chiral Brønsted acid catalysts that recognize substrates through hydrogen bonding, achieving asymmetric synthesis that selectively produces one enantiomer. This knowledge is also applied to developing efficient methods for synthesizing natural products and pharmaceuticals.
*Illustrative imageMolecular transformations with strong base catalysts
Focusing on Brønsted base catalysts, the lab develops asymmetric transformations using chiral catalysts with far higher basicity than conventional ones. It also develops methods for synthesizing heterocyclic compounds with substituents introduced regioselectively, making use of anions.
*Illustrative imageSkeletal rearrangement reactions with metal catalysts
The lab develops metal-catalyzed skeletal rearrangement reactions, which cleave the covalent bonds forming a molecule's skeleton and reorganize it into a structural isomer. Through original substrate design and the search for metal catalysts, it has achieved syntheses of molecules that were difficult with conventional methods.
*Illustrative imageConstructing skeletons of functional π-electron molecules
To build π-extended fused-ring skeletons with new reactivity, new structures, and luminescence or charge-transport functions, the lab develops transition metal–catalyzed reactions such as tandem single-electron-transfer reactions and C–H bond activation reactions.
MembersFaculty
The lab's members consist of faculty, postdoctoral researchers, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, and secretaries. Faculty from other departments also take part in supervision.As of 2026
- ProfessorMasahiro Terada
- ProfessorItaru Nakamura
- ProfessorTienan Jin
- Associate ProfessorAzusa Kondoh
- Assistant ProfessorShigenobu Umemiya
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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: “Laborglas-divers hg” Hannes Grobe / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Substrate-recognizing acid catalysts and natural product synthesis: “Mecoprop-racemic-dimer-from-xtal-labelled-3D-balls” Ben Mills / Public domain (cropped)
- Molecular transformations with strong base catalysts: “Strong base enolate formation” User:Omegakent / Public domain (cropped)
- Skeletal rearrangement reactions with metal catalysts: “PincerEg's” Smokefoot / Public domain (cropped)
- Constructing skeletons of functional π-electron molecules: “Kevlar-3D-balls” Ben Mills and Jynto / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Molecular Transformation Lab): “"Party" in a chemical laboratory” Botasuleimen / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Inorganic Chemistry Lab): “Laboratory Glassware (Medilab Exports Consortium)” PhotoCave / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Organic Physical Chemistry Lab): “RIAN archive 804046 Production of FemtoScan scanning probe microscopes (SPM) at Advanced Technologies Center” Ruslan Krivobok / Руслан Кривобок / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Interdisciplinary Fundamental Chemistry Lab): “Round bottom flask in salem” Dhivyabsk / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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