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Field

Molecular and Chemical Life Science :
Chemical Biology

Research

JAPANESE
Professor UEDA Hirofumi
Campus Katahira campus
Laboratory Biostructural Chemistry
Tel +81-22-217-6212
E-mail hirofumi.ueda.d8＠tohoku.ac.jp
Website http://sasaki-umehara-lab.moon.bindcloud.jp/
 
Our research aims to elucidate the detailed biofunctions of structurally complex natural products produced by plants, animals, and microorganisms based on the organic synthetic chemistry. Through these studies, we seek to contribute to the advancement of life science research. We also strive to achieve original and innovative syntheses that will surprise and inspire organic chemists around the world.
Career
Hirofumi Ueda received his Ph.D. (2010) from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University under the direction of Professor Hidetoshi Tokuyama. After receiving the Ph.D., he started soon his academic carrier as an Assistant Professor in the same group. He was promoted to Lecturer in 2018 and to Associate Professor in 2023. In 2026, he joined the Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, as Professor, where he currently serves. He spent 7 months in 2019 at the University of California, Berkeley as a visiting scholar with Prof. Richmond Sarpong. His research interests center on the development of novel synthetic methodology involving oxidation, and applications to the synthesis of complex alkaloids and nitrogen-containing molecules.
Selected Publications
  1. “Concise Total Synthesis of (+)-Pleiocarpamine and Convergent Total Syntheses of (+)-Voacalgine A and (+)-Bipleiophylline via an Aerobic Oxidative Coupling”
    K. Okada, K. Ojima, H. Ueda, H. Tokuyama
    J. Am. Chem. Soc., 145, 16337–16343 (2023) (DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c05811) 
  2.  “Iron-Catalyzed Biomimetic Dimerization of Tryptophan-Containing Peptides”
    H. Ueda, S. Sato, K. Noda, H. Hakamata, E. Kwon, N. Kobayashi, H. Tokuyama
    Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 62, e202302404 (2023) (DOI: 10.1002/anie.202302404) 
  3.  “A Concise Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (–)-Deoxoapodine”
    K. Yoshida, K. Okada, H. Ueda, H. Tokuyama
    Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 59, 23089–23093 (2020) (DOI: 10.1002/anie.202010759) 
  4. “Construction of Indole Structure on Pyrroloindolines via AgNTf2-Mediated Amination/Cyclization Cascade: Application to Total Synthesis of (+)-Pestalazine B”
    H. Hakamata, H. Ueda, H. Tokuyama
    Org. Lett., 21, 4205–4209 (2019) (DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.9b01399)
  5. “Bioinspired Total Synthesis of the Dimeric Indole Alkaloid (+)-Haplophytine by Direct Coupling and Late-Stage Oxidative Rearrangement”
    H. Satoh, K. Ojima, H. Ueda, H. Tokuyama
    Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 55, 15157–15161 (2016) (DOI: 10.1002/anie.201609285)
  6. “Total Synthesis of (–)-Isoschizogamine”
    A. Takada, H. Fujiwara, K. Sugimoto, H. Ueda, H. Tokuyama
    Chem. Eur. J., 21, 16400–16403 (2015) (DOI: 10.1002/chem.201503606) 
  7. “Auto tandem Catalysis: Synthesis of Pyrroles by Gold-Catalyzed Cascade Reaction”
    H. Ueda, M. Yamaguchi, H. Kameya, K. Sugimoto, H. Tokuyama
    Org. Lett., 16, 4948–4951 (2014) (DOI: 10.1021/ol5024695) 
  8. “Acetic Acid-Promoted Metal-Free Aerobic Carbon-Carbon Bond Forming Reactions at α-Position of Tertiary Amines”
    H. Ueda, K. Yoshida, H. Tokuyama
    Org. Lett., 16, 4194–4197 (2014) (DOI: 10.1021/ol5018883) 
  9. “Total Syntheses of Leuconoxine, Leuconodine B, and Melodinine E by Oxidative Cyclic Aminal Formation and Diastereoselective Ring-Closing Metathesis”
    A. Umehara, H. Ueda, H. Tokuyama
    Org. Lett., 16, 2526–2529 (2014) (DOI: 10.1021/ol500903e) 
  10. “Total Synthesis of (+)-Haplophytine”
    H. Ueda, H. Satoh, K. Matsumoto, K. Sugimoto, T. Fukuyama, H. Tokuyama
    Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 48, 7600–7603 (2009) (DOI: 10.1002/anie.200902192) 
    (Selected as Very Important Paper and for Inside Front Cover, Featured in Nature Highlight, Angewandte Chemie Highlight, C&E News, and Synfacts) 
Activities in Academic Societies
the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan; the Society of Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Japan
Teaching
Chemistry of Bioactive Compounds (Faculty of Agriculture 3rd year), Advanced Lecture on Biostructural Chemistry, Advanced Lecture on Biomolecular Sciences (graduate school)

Recent Activities

In our laboratory, we challenge the total synthesis of structurally complex and unique alkaloids whose chemical synthesis has not yet been achieved anywhere in the world. Furthermore, through the development of original and innovative synthetic methodologies that will surprise organic chemists worldwide, we aim to establish rapid and scalable synthetic routes to compounds useful for drug discovery research. In addition, inspired by the structures of natural products, we seek to create artificial bioactive molecules that do not exist in nature. Through the chemical synthesis of natural products and original molecules, our goal is to contribute to the advancement of life science research and generate broader impacts on society.

Message to Students

Our laboratory was newly established in April 2026. In my previous position, I conducted research on the total synthesis of alkaloids with complex and unique structures, based on the development of novel reactions using metal catalysis.

The chemical synthesis of natural products is often compared to mountain climbing. Among the countless compounds produced by nature, many remain as unexplored peaks because of their highly complex structures. The view from the summit after the first successful ascent is truly incomparable.
Why not join us in aiming for these yet-unreached summits (natural product synthesis) and share the excitement of discovery together? We welcome students who love chemistry and are eager to take on new challenges.
 

Research