The keyword of our reseach is "Development of transition metal complexes for molecular conversion reaction".
             We have been investigating syntheses and properties of transition metal complexes. We would like to achieve
             "molecular conversion" or "synthesis of more useful compounds through formation and cleavage of chemical bond in
             molecules or ions" on transition metal complexes .

             In nature, various metalloenzymes, in which the reaction center(s) is(are) (transition) metal(s), function quite well
             as molecular conversion reaction centers under ambient conditions. For example, "Nitrogenase" , which utilizes
             Iron (Fe) and Molybdenum (Mo) as reaction centers, represents the metalloenzyme in rhizobium for Nitogen fixation.

             Photosynthesis is also a good example of molecular conversion reaction system, in which many metal complexes
             play important roles. Water oxidation or splitting, which is the first and most difficult step in the photosystem (PS) II,
             is well achieved by a coordination cluster composed of Manganese (Mn) and Calcium (Ca), bridged by oxygen
             ("OEC"; oxygen evolving center). Not limitted to the water oxidation process, for the light harvesting and electron
             transfer to the PS I, coordination compounds with e.g. the Magnesium (Mg) or the Iron (Fe) center(s) are incoorperated.

              The reactions in nature, as mentioned above, are attractive and we hope to learn a lot for the artificial systems.
              However, the fast reaction rate or efficient reaction means understanding each reaction step or isolation of intermediates
              is rather challenging even under low temperature or anaerobic conditions. Then we focus on the second-row transition
              metal, Ruthenium (Ru). In general, ruthenium complexes are stabilized in the six-coordinate octahedral geometry
              even in solution and show moderate reactivity though classified as an "inert" metal. Therefore complexes with the
              ruthenium center(s) are appropriate for molecular design that we need and for studies on reactivity in homogeneous
              reaction systems. Moreover, in recent years, synthesis of complexes with the Cobalt(Co) or Iron center(s) for the
              development of reaction center(s) with higher activity.

              If you are interested, please visit the research projects of "Staffs".