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Molecular Catalytic Chemistry Lab
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The lab develops new reactions by taking advantage of the properties of molecules that act as catalysts.
AboutAbout the lab
New reactions created with molecules that act as catalysts
The Molecular Catalytic Chemistry Lab focuses on the properties of molecules that act as catalysts and studies the development of new reactions that use them.
By modifying and tuning the structures of metal complex catalysts and organic molecular catalysts, the lab aims to realize difficult reactions that have not been possible until now.
The research is built on three pillars: asymmetric synthesis, which produces only one of a pair of molecules that are mirror images of each other; molecular transformations using positively charged cations; and direct transformation of carbon–hydrogen bonds.
On the lab's website, it is introduced under the name "Hirano Lab."
Key terms
- Asymmetric synthesis
- Synthesis that selectively produces only one of a pair of molecules that are mirror images of each other (enantiomers).
- Cation
- A positively charged chemical species. It is known to add to electron-rich molecules and drive a wide variety of reactions.
- Carbon–hydrogen (C–H) bond
- The most common bond among those that make up organic molecules, and an extremely robust one.
NewsLab news
A master's student received the Outstanding Poster Award at the 42nd Organic Synthesis Seminar
A master's student received the Chemistry Letters Young Researcher Award at the Young Researchers' Association of Organometallic Chemistry
Assistant Professor Yasui received a Special Lecture Certificate for the Younger Generation (40th) from the Chemical Society of Japan
Professor Hirano has been selected as a recipient of the Mukaiyama Award
ResearchResearch themes
The lab focuses on the properties of molecules that act as catalysts and aims to create new reactions that use them. Its research is built on three pillars: asymmetric synthesis, molecular transformations using highly active cations, and direct transformation of carbon–hydrogen bonds.
*Illustrative imageAsymmetric synthesis with chiral catalysts
The lab studies asymmetric catalytic reactions that selectively produce only one of a pair of molecules that are mirror images of each other. This technology underpins the production of pharmaceuticals, fragrances, and more, and the lab's work includes palladium-catalyzed asymmetric substitution reactions.
*Illustrative imageMolecular transformations using highly active cations
Positively charged chemical species (cations) drive a wide variety of reactions, starting from addition to electron-rich molecules. The lab studies new methods of generating highly reactive cations and develops efficient molecular transformations that use them.
*Illustrative imageDirect transformation of carbon–hydrogen bonds
Carbon–hydrogen bonds are the most common bonds in organic molecules and are extremely robust. The lab develops original reactions that cleave them using metal catalysts such as palladium, copper, and rhodium and join them with other molecules.
MembersFaculty
The Molecular Catalytic Chemistry Lab (the Hirano Lab) consists of faculty, secretaries, and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorKoji Hirano
- Associate ProfessorYuji Nishii
- Assistant ProfessorKosuke Yasui
- Project Assistant ProfessorYuki Kojima
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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: “Vintage laboratory glassware, Chemical Faculty, Gdansk University of Technology, Poland” LukaszKatlewa / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Asymmetric synthesis with chiral catalysts: “Salbutamol-S-enantiomer-3D-balls” Ben Mills / Public domain (cropped)
- Molecular transformations using highly active cations: “Schlenk flask 500mL” Ichwarsnur / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Direct transformation of carbon–hydrogen bonds: “C-H bond activation by phosphenium” Treverb / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (分子設計化学領域): “Schrenk tube” Iodomethane / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (機能有機化学領域): “Schlenk filtration” Self / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (有機金属化学領域): “(benzene)chromium-tricarbonyl-from-xtal-1987-3D-balls” Ben Mills / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (有機電子材料化学領域): “LG gram Pro Z90SPG OLED DISPLAY RGB DOT MATRIX, OLED PANEL MADE BY SAMSUNG DISPLAY” Dinkun Chen / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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