FACULTY RESEARCH ACTIVITY 2014

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Yoshinori NishiiAssociate ProfessorTetsuya FujimotoAssociate ProfessorApplied ChemistryUtilizing organic chemistry to solve biological phenomena: Searching for biologically active substances and developing new reactions and medicinesDivision of Chemistry and MaterialsI use organic chemistry as a surgeon's knife to delve into life and biological phenomena. For instance, my lab successfully synthesized a natural substance with antiviral and blood platelet coagulation-inhibiting properties (that is, we synthesized a substance that is identical to a natural substance in a flask). We have also synthesized biologically active substances such as antibacterial and bactericidal substances and pheromones.Associate Professor Nishii took his current position in 2007 after serving as a doctoral researcher at the University of Pittsburgh and participating in the Special Postdoctorate Research Program at RIKEN. His principal areas of research include organic chemistry for natural substances, organic synthetic chemistry, and organic reactions.Exciting potential applications made possible by examination at the molecular level include development of medications that learn from natural substances, development of medicinal treatments for previously untreatable diseases, treatments for crop diseases, capture of harmful organisms using pheromones, and control of valuable organisms through the use of pheromones.Outlook for researchMost graduates are employed by pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturers. They are active in a wide range of research domains throughout society.Outlook for students after graduationApplied ChemistryControlling the chirality of organic molecules to develop a highly selective asymmetric catalystDivision of Chemistry and MaterialsOrganic molecules sometimes come in a chiral form with an enantiotopic relationship. I am carrying out research focused primarily on the development of an asymmetrical catalyst to selectively synthesize one side of a chiral molecule. My goal in doing so is to create new catalysts that are highly selective and highly activated, that do not use rare metals, and that can be synthesized simply.Associate Professor Fujimoto rst completed a Shinshu University Graduate School of Engineering research course specializing in the study of functional polymers. His area of research is organic synthetic chemistry, and his work focuses on new methods for organic synthesis and the development of new catalysts.Expected applications include the functionalization of glycerin, a type of biomass, using the asymmetric esterication reaction and the easy supply of optically active alcohol and amine, in addition to the carbon-carbon bond-forming reaction that is important for organic synthesis.Outlook for researchGraduates have gone on to work for manufacturers of low- and high-polymer products and pharmaceuticals.Outlook for students after graduationAn asymmetric esterication solution designed based on atomic principles, and associated reactions. Esterication proceeds by dierentiating between the two symmetrical hydroxyls in the diol.A view of the lab. Numerous reagents, solvents, and glass containers are used to synthesize the target organic compounds, yielding substances whose structure can be conrmed using NMR.NNOPh2PCatalystRROHOHCatalystC6H5COCl, i -Pr2EtNRROCOC6H5OHUp to 94 % eeMy lab has been successful in synthesizing several natural substances with antiviral and anti-HIV properties as well as blood platelet coagulation-inhibiting properties.OOOMeOMeOOOOOMeOMeOOMeOWe are conducting R&D work to create a bactericidal substance to help farmers deal with a disease that aects the trunks of pear and apple trees.We are also involved in research to uncover sh pheromones and explain their molecular structure and the relationship between structure and activity.32

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