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Laboratory of Organic Reaction Design and Synthesis
Professor / MAEKAWA Hirofumi
Technical Staff / KAWAHARA Natsue
- Enjoy synthetic reactions like puzzle of compounds!
- Design your original reactions and make them true!
- Synthesize complicated compounds with high techniques!
Professor / MAEKAWA Hirofumi
Prof. Maekawa is very approachable and always cares about his students. His broad knowledge of chemistry provides valuable learning opportunities for us. When we have questions or need advices on our research, he takes the time to direct the solution carefully and step by step. His supportive guidance helps students to deepen their understanding and to progress in their research.
Research Content
In recent years, eco-friendly and efficient reactions have been required with no harmful substance and less amount of reagents. In our laboratory, novel synthetic organic reactions characterized by high selectivity, low cost, and easy method are designed, tried and developed by use of magnesium metal with low toxicity and high reducing potential. In these reactions, coupling reactions between electrophilic carbon atoms can be achieved because one electrophilic carbon atom is converted into a nucleophilic one, which cannot be found in textbooks for beginners. Application of our reactions to preparation for organic materials may greatly shorten synthetic reaction steps.
Typical apparatus of a reductive coupling reaction by magnesium metal
A Day in the Lab
We have no core hours in our laboratory, and students can conduct their experiments at their own pace. We hold two weekly seminars, one is a seminar on organic reactions for studying organic synthesis, the other is a seminar to read recent research papers together, which help to deepen our knowledge of organic chemistry. In addition, a monthly research meeting is held to discuss our research results among all members. The office space and the experimental room are located next to each other, and students work at nearby benches, which makes it easy to communicate each other whenever problems arise.
TOF high resolution mass spectrometer. Synthesized compounds are measured and structurally characterized by the students themselves.
Thesis Subjects
- (M)Regioselective coupling reaction of ethyl cinnamate derivatives with α, β-unsaturated ketone by Mg-promoted reduction
- (B)Mg-promoted reductive coupling of acylsilanes and methyl acrylate
- (B)Reductive coupling reactions of diphenylfulvene with silylating agents by magnesium
The number of
PhD Graduates
13
Major employers of Graduates
- Ueno Fine Chemicals Industry, Ltd.
- Fujifilm Wako Chemical Corporation
- Kongou Chemical Co., Ltd.
- Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Next Company, Inc.
- Light Chemical Industries Co., Ltd.
- Kawaken Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd.
- Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Corporation
