The University of Osaka · Materials Science
Professor Hidehiro Sakurai's research lab specializes in the design, synthesis, and application of bowl-shaped π-conjugated molecules, particularly sumanene and its derivatives, with a focus on their unique electronic properties and supramolecular architectures. The lab explores the development of heteroatom-doped fullerenes and nanocarbon materials, leveraging their potential in organic electronics, catalysis, and nanomaterials. A key direction involves the creation of two-dimensional π-networks through hydrogen bonding and non-covalent interactions, enabling structurally defined bumpy π-sheets with tunable functions. Additionally, the lab investigates gold nanocluster catalysts for sustainable oxidation reactions, emphasizing recyclability and mechanistic understanding.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
Bowl-shaped π-conjugated compounds are important not only as model compounds of fullerenes but also as possible synthetic intermediates for artificially designed fullerene derivatives, such as hetero-fullerenes ([ 1 ][1]). Most of the attention has been focused on the compounds derived from C 5v
The structure of sumanene in a solid state was elucidated. The silyl-substituted sumanene was stereoselectively synthesized through generation of the benzylic anions of sumanene.
Synthesis, properties, and functions of bowl-shaped pi-conjugated molecules including a hetero atom-doped system are reviewed.
Pd/C was found to catalyze the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction of halophenols in aqueous media. When halophenols were treated with ArB(OH)(2) and a catalytic amount of 10% Pd/C (0.3 mol % Pd) in aqueous K(2)CO(3) solution, the corresponding hydroxybiaryls were obtained in a high yield or quantitatively. The palladium catalyst was easily recovered and reused.
Recently, dispersions of gold nanoclusters in liquid media (colloidal nanogold) have been extensively used as quasi-homogeneous catalysts for various aerobic oxidation reactions. This review describes recent progress in such reactions, with a focus on our comprehensive studies on gold clusters (<2 nm) stabilized by poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) and their participation in oxidation reactions of alcohols, α-hydroxylation reactions of benzylic ketones, and homocoupling reactions of organoboronates, a
A hydrogen-bonded two-dimensionally networked buckybowl architecture is presented. Two types of hexagonal network (HexNet) structures (CPSM-1 and CPSM-2) have been achieved based on a sumanene derivative (CPSM) possessing 4,4'-dicarboxy-o-terphenyl groups in the periphery. CPSM-1 has a waved HexNet structure with an alternate alignment of upward and downward bowls. CPSM-2 has a bilayered HexNet structure composed of hamburger-shaped dimers of the bowls. This demonstrates that non-planar π-system
The ATPase activity of purified coupling factor 1 (CF1) of spinach chloroplasts [EC 3.6.1.3] was reversibly enhanced in some aqueous organic solvents, notably methanol, ethanol, and acetone. Pretreatment of CF1 with 20% (v/v) methanol did not affect the subsequent activity. The activity depended entirely on the final concentration of methanol in the reaction mixture. In the presence of 20% methanol, the Km of Ca2+-ATPase from ATP was lowered from 0.4 mM to 0.2 mM. Not only Ca2+, but also Cd2+, M
A macroscale quantity of bimetallic Au-Ag alloy nanoclusters was achieved through sequential reduction by simple mortar grinding. The chitosan biopolymer was used as both a stabilizing and reducing agent. These nanoclusters exhibit excellent catalytic activity toward the reduction of 4-nitrophenol.
Abstract An increasing number of boron‐mediated reactions have become leading synthetic tools in organic chemistry. The transition‐metal‐catalyzed oxidative coupling reactions of aryl‐ and alkylboron compounds have been intensively studied over recent decades. Palladium‐based catalysts are often used in the presence of an appropriate oxidant, and the reaction mechanism has been fully elucidated. Efficient homocoupling reactions that are catalyzed by nanosized (<2 nm) gold particles were intro
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