cataleesis

With the growing demand for diversity-oriented synthesis and the development of screening libraries for drug discovery, efficient strategies to access the stereochemical diversity of chiral molecules have become increasingly important. The three-dimensional arrangement of multi-stereogenic compounds plays a critical role in their biological activity, rendering structure–activity relationship (SAR) analysis essential in the development of chiral drugs.

We are developing catalytic strategies that enable the efficient and selective formation of multiple stereocenters—particularly through asymmetric conjugate addition reactions—allowing access to complex chiral architectures (Chem. Soc. Rev. 2025, 54, 715). Representative examples include synergistic, stereodivergent conjugate additions using two distinct chiral catalysts that proceed via iminium intermediates (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 73; ACS Catal. 2023, 13, 13838.). Ongoing efforts are directed toward the simultaneous control of three or more stereocenters, including those centered on heteroatoms.

With the growing demand for diversity-oriented synthesis and the development of screening libraries for drug discovery, efficient strategies to access the stereochemical diversity of chiral molecules have become increasingly important. The three-dimensional arrangement of multi-stereogenic compounds plays a critical role in their biological activity, rendering structure–activity relationship (SAR) analysis essential in the development of chiral drugs.

We are developing catalytic strategies that enable the efficient and selective formation of multiple stereocenters—particularly through asymmetric conjugate addition reactions—allowing access to complex chiral architectures (Chem. Soc. Rev. 2025, 54, 715). Representative examples include synergistic, stereodivergent conjugate additions using two distinct chiral catalysts that proceed via iminium intermediates (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 73; ACS Catal. 2023, 13, 13838.). Ongoing efforts are directed toward the simultaneous control of three or more stereocenters, including those centered on heteroatoms.