RESEARCH

Research

Our research is based on the development of new reactions facilitated by transition metal catalysts or external stimuli (such as light), and the rational selection and design of ligands and reagents that enable them. Through the development of these new reactions, we are solving long-standing limitations and serious problems in organic synthesis and creating useful and unexplored molecules. In these studies, we are combining theoretical calculations as well as experiments. Theoretical calculations are a powerful method for predicting reaction pathways and physical properties as well as interpreting reaction mechanisms and physical properties. The following are examples of research reported from our group so far.

     ✓ Annulation reactions
     ✓ σ-bond activation reactions
     ✓ Π-bond activation reactions
     ✓ 3D Nanocarbon synthesis by [2+2+2] cycloadditions
         Carbon nanorings / Single and multi-helicenes / Cyclophanes / Cages
     ✓ Synthesis of novel azahelicenes

Annulation reactions

・Rh(I)-catalyzed chemo- and regioselective [2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions
Tanaka et al. Org. Lett. 2003, 5, 4697–4699.
・Rh(I)-catalyzed asymmetric [2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions
Tanaka et al. Nature Synth. 2022, 1, 365–375.
・Rh(I)-catalyzed asymmetric [2+2+1] cycloaddition reactions
Tanaka et al. Nature Synth. 2024, 3, 1414-1426.

σ-bond activation reactions

・Rh(I)-catalyzed C-H activation reactions
Tanaka et al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2011, 50, 10917–10921.
Tanaka et al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 3590–3593.
・SFI-Rh(I)-catalyzed C-H activation reactions
Tanaka et al. Nature Synth. 2023, 2, 535–547.
・SFI-Ir(I)-catalyzed C-H activation reactions
　
Tanaka et al. ACS Catal. 2025, 15, 4061-4068.

Π-bond activation reactions

・Au(I)-catalyzed asymmetric annulation reactions
Tanaka et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 5555–5558.
・Au(I)-catalyzed cascade annulation reactions
Tanaka et al. ACS Catal. 2021, 11, 1937–1932.

3D Nanocarbon synthesis by [2+2+2] cycloadditions

・Carbon nanorings
Tanaka et al. Chem. Eur. J. 2015, 21, 18900−18904.

Tanaka et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, 141, 14955–14960.

Tanaka et al. Nature Synth. 2023, 2, 888–897.
・Single and multi-helicenes
Tanaka et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 12078–12079.

Tanaka et al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 59, 11020–11027.

Tanaka et al. Nature Synth. 2024, 3, 774–786.
・Cyclophanes
Tanaka et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 1522–1523.

Tanaka et al. Chem. Sci. 2023, 14, 3963–3972.
・Cages
Tanaka et al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 9439–9442.

Tanaka et al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2023, 62, e202304041.

Synthesis of novel azahelicenes

Maeda et al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 59, 7813−7817.
Maeda et al. Chem. Eur. J. 2021, 27, 15699−15705.
Maeda et al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, 63, e202404149.
Maeda et al. Chem. Eur. J. 2025, 31, e202404325.
Maeda et al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 63, e202418546.
C. Maeda, T. Ema, Chem. Commun. 2025, 61, 4757-4773.< Feature Article >