From left to right: Takakura, Koyama, Yamada, Sajiki and Sawama
Introducing the researchers:
Ryoya Takakura obtained his B.S. (2016) from Gifu Pharmaceutical University. At present, he is pursuing his Ph.D. at Gifu Pharmaceutical University. He is developing new chemical methodologies for the convenient synthesis of medicine.
Kaho Koyama obtained her B.S. (2020) from Gifu Pharmaceutical University. Her B.S. research focused on the development of organic transformation catalyzed by hydroquinone and benzoquinone. She is currently working as a pharmacist in Japan.
Dr. Tsuyoshi Yamada was received his Ph.D. in 2017 from Gifu Pharmaceutical University under the direction of Prof. Hironao Sajiki. After serving as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Heidelberg University (Prof. A. Stephen K. Hashmi, 2017–2018), he moved to Gifu Pharmaceutical University as an Assistant Professor. His research interests include the development of acid-catalyzed rearrangement, cyclization reactions and flow reactions using heterogeneous catalysts.
Prof. Dr. Hironao Sajiki received his PhD from Gifu Pharmaceutical University in 1989 under the direction of Prof. Yoshifumi Maki. After serving as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the State University of New York at Albany (Prof. Frank M. Hauser, 1990–1991) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Prof. Satoru Masamune, 1991–1992), he joined Metasyn, Inc. (subsequently Epix Pharmacueticals), MA, USA as a group leader. In 1995, he moved to Gifu Pharmaceutical University as an Assistant Professor. He became an Associate Professor in 1999 and Professor in 2006. He has also been the president of the Japanese Society for Process Chemistry since 2017.
Dr. Yoshinari Sawama obtained his Ph.D. degree at Osaka University in 2006 under the supervision of Professor Yasuyuki Kita. After working as the postdoctoral fellows, he was appointed as an Assistant Professor at Gifu Pharmaceutical University (Professor Hironao Sajiki) in 2010. He was promoted to Lecturer in 2015 and Associate Professor at same university in 2017. His research interests include mechanochemical reaction, hydrogen generation, carbon capture and reuse, Lewis acidic chemistry, green sustainable chemistry, isotopic labeling and total synthesis of natural products.
What inspired your research in this area?
Our research group continuously developed the deuterium-labeling methods of organic compounds, which are widely utilized in various scientific fields, such as the mechanistic investigation of organic reactions, tracer in microanalyses, elucidation of drug metabolism, heavy drugs, quantitative mass spectrometry analysis, etc. To achieve the one-pot reaction of the deuteration of aldehyde and Knoevenagel condensation, it was necessary to develop the Knoevenagel condensation, which can proceed under milder reaction conditions in the aqueous phase.
What do you personally feel is the most important outcome of your study?
Although we have tested the aqueous Knoevenagel condensation using weak acidic hydroquinone at an earlier investigation stage, we found that the benzoquinone, slightly contaminated in hydroquinone, effectively facilitated the present desired reaction. This serendipity produced the first organic reaction catalyzed by the combination of hydroquinone and benzoquinone.
What directions are you planning to take with your research in future?
Another of our interests is green sustainable chemistry using the heterogeneous and reusable solid catalysts. Our plan is to create the functional supermoleculars bearing both of hydroquinone and benzoquinone skeletons, which are applicable to various organic reactions including the Knoevenagel condensation.
Read the full article: Hydroquinone and benzoquinone-catalyzed aqueous Knoevenagel condensation
See the other articles showcased in this month’s Editor’s Collection
See all the full articles on our publishing platform
