Biostructural Chemistry
Innovative Total Synthesis and Functional Analysis of Structurally Complex Alkaloids
Natural products exhibit highly selective and potent biological activities based on their highly evolved molecular architectures. For this reason, natural products have historically provided numerous useful substances that enrich human life, including pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and fragrances. However, many natural products possess valuable biological activities yet are available only in extremely small quantities from nature. As a result, their functions remain insufficiently understood, and many such compounds remain unexplored. The practical supply of these natural products through chemical synthesis is therefore essential for advancing drug discovery and life science research.
In our laboratory, we aim to achieve the total synthesis of alkaloids possessing complex and unique structures that have not yet been synthesized. In addition, we develop original synthetic methodologies that can surprise the global community of organic chemists, enabling the rapid and large-scale synthesis of valuable compounds for drug discovery research. Furthermore, inspired by the structures of natural products, we also pursue the creation of artificial bioactive molecules that do not exist in nature.
Through the chemical synthesis of natural products and our own designed molecules, we aim to contribute to the advancement of life science and drug discovery research.
Research Overview
Our research group was newly established in April 2026 and is currently in the early stages of building its research achievements. In the previously affiliated Tokuyama Laboratory (Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University), our research focused on the development of transition metal-catalyzed novel reactions and their application to the total synthesis of structurally complex alkaloids. Among the notable achievements, the first total synthesis of haplophytine was accomplished in competition with several leading groups worldwide. This accomplishment has been widely recognized internationally as a milestone in the synthesis of complex alkaloids. In addition, we achieved the first total synthesis of bipleiophylline, a compound described by the renowned organic chemist Professor Hanessian as a “mountain to climb” in the field of modern synthesis and known as one of the most challenging targets in natural product synthesis. In addition to accomplishing the first chemical syntheses of these molecules, we established the shortest synthetic route reported to date for the total synthesis of deoxoapodine. This work highlights our capability not only in tackling challenging synthetic targets but also in enabling the efficient and scalable supply of complex molecules that are crucial for drug discovery research.
Furthermore, we have actively pursued collaborative research with numerous groups across both academia and industry. In this new research group, we aim to leverage our expertise in synthetic organic chemistry to expand collaborative research in diverse fields, including drug discovery, agrochemical development, biosynthetic pathway elucidation, and the investigation of pathological mechanisms.
