Carbon-Heteroatom Bond Formation  

Using transition metals such as copper and palladium as catalysts, we are developing new methods for C-heteroatom bond formation and applying the methods to the synthesis of molecules with C-heteroatom bonds. More specifically, we are interested in copper-catalyzed C-O and C-S bond-forming reactions.

Aqueous Organic Redox Flow Battery 

With the shift of energy sources from fossil fuels to renewable ones, large-capacity energy storage systems (ESS) have become important. The redox flow battery, as an ESS, is gaining attention, and various organic molecules are being investigated as redox-active materials in RFBs. For several reasons, organic materials are preferred, but so far, only a few of them are compatible with aqueous systems with acceptable life-cycles. Our research focuses on the identification of lead compounds of water-soluble redox-active organic molecules for the redox flow battery by design and synthesis.