Our laboratory explores new frontiers in organic synthesis through three approaches: external energy, photochemistry, and computational science.
The first develops molecular transformations driven by external energy such as light, ultrasound, and electricity. Focusing on heterogeneous reaction fields such as water/organic and solid/liquid interfaces, we use external energy to control how molecules localize, transfer electrons, and move at the interface, drawing out reactivity and selectivity unattainable in homogeneous solution. This work extends to societal challenges such as reducing organic solvent use and upgrading underutilized carbon resources, and to the design and synthesis of bioactive molecules as new drug candidates.
The second is photo-organic synthesis, which uses visible light to precisely control weak intermolecular interactions such as single-electron transfer, energy transfer, and donor–acceptor interactions, enabling bond formations that were previously difficult to achieve. Spectroscopic analysis, electrochemical measurement, and quantum chemical calculation together reveal why these reactions proceed at the molecular and electronic level.
The third is data-driven organic chemistry, combining quantum chemical calculations with AI and machine learning to predict molecular reactivity and interactions. By extracting rules that experiments alone cannot reveal, we identify promising molecules and reaction conditions in advance.
Integrating experiment, theory, and computation, we aim to create the next generation of synthetic organic chemistry.