Deuterium Science

The purpose of this project is to cultivate a deep understanding of the properties of deuterated materials and to explore a research field "Deuterium Science". Through this research activity, we wish to propose a new material design concept "Deut-Switch", which aims to maximize the material functions by precise, logical deuteration of materials.

Deuterated materials/molecules occasionally exhibit properties significantly different from those of the original, non-deuterated ones. Deuterium-control on the properties of materials is an emerging concept in material design worldwide. To achieve our objective, we will promote research on deuterated materials in the following four fields: (1) development of synthetic methodology of deuterated materials, (2) a better understanding of the properties of deuterated materials with the aid of computational methods, (3) a better understanding of the reactivity of deuterated materials using spectroscopic measurements, and (4) Application of deuterated drugs for metabolic research.

Project Name: MEXT KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (B) "Deuterium Science"
Head Investigator: Hiroshi Naka (Kyoto University)

• 2022/01/20 Prof. Naka gave a poster presentation at J-PARC Workshop 2022, Deuterium Science Entering a New Phase.

• 2022/11/16 Prof. Naka gave an oral presentation at the DEUNET Virtual meeting.

• 2022/09/30 Hosted the 7th Deut-Switch Seminar online.
  Prof. Julia Khusnutdinova (Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology)
  "Smart ligand design for selective transformations: pincers, naphthyridines and beyond"
  Prof. Fujita Ken-ichi (Kyoto University)
  "Development and application of iridium catalysts for efficient dehydrogenative reactions of organic molecules"