Advanced Catalyst Research Team

Team Leader

Zhaomin Hou

  • D.Eng.
  • Zhaomin Hou
  • Brief resume
    1989
    D.Eng., Kyushu University
    1990
    Special Postdoctoral Researcher, RIKEN
    1991
    Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Windsor, Canada
    1993
    Research Scientist, Organometallic Chemistry Laboratory, RIKEN
    1997
    Senior Scientist, Organometallic Chemistry Laboratory, RIKEN
    2002
    Chief Scientist, Organometallic Chemistry Laboratory, RIKEN (-current)
    2010
    Group Director, Advanced Synthsis Research Group, RIKEN (-current)

Outline

Advanced Catalyst Research Team

We aim to develop highly active, highly selective functional-polymerization catalysts, advanced functional organic-synthesis catalysts and unique synergistic function catalysts for highly efficient, selective chemical synthesis, production of new functional materials, and activation and utilization of small molecules and unexploited raw materials. In particular we are developing rare earth and transition metal catalysts bearing various ligands and using them for precision olefin copolymerization and the efficient, selective construction of carbon-carbon bonds, as well as constructing polyheteronuclear metal complex catalysts exceeding current catalyst technology.

Recent Research Topic

A novel scandium catalyst for precision copolymerization of various monomers
Fig. 1: A novel scandium catalyst for precision copolymerization of various monomers

Selected Publications

  1. W. Zhang, Z. Wang, M. Nishiura, Z. Xi, Z. Hou, Ln4(CH2)4 Cubane-Type Rare-Earth Methylidene Complexes Consisting of "(C5Me4SiMe3)LnCH2" Units (Ln = Tm, Lu), J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 5712.
  2. M. Nishiura, Z. Hou, Novel polymerization catalysts and hydride clusters from rare-earth metal dialkyls, Nature Chem. 2010, 2, 257.
  3. L. Zhang, J. Cheng, . Ohishi, Z. Hou, Copper-Catalyzed Direct Carboxylation of C-H Bonds with Carbon Dioxide, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010, 49, 8670.
  4. A. Nakamura, S. Lectard, D. Hashizume, Y. Hamashima, M. Sodeoka, Diastereo- and Enantioselective Conjugate Addition of α-Ketoesters to Nitroalkenes Catalyzed by Chiral Ni(OAc)2 Complex under Mild Conditions, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 4036.
  5. X. Li, M. Nishiura, L. Hu, K. Mori, Z. Hou, Alternating and Random Copolymerization of Isoprene and Ethylene Catalyzed by Cationic Half-Sandwich Scandium Alkyls, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 13870.
  6. M. Takimoto, S. Usami, Z. Hou, Scandium-Catalyzed Regio- and Stereospecific Methylalumination of Silyloxy/Alkoxy-Substituted Alkynes and Alkenes, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 18266.
  7. W. Zhang, M. Nishiura, Z. Hou, Synthesis of (Z)-1-Aza-1,3-enynes by the Cross-Coupling of Terminal Alkynes with Isocyanides Catalyzed by Rare-Earth Metal Complexes, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 9700.
  8. L. Zhang, M. Nishiura, M. Yuki, Y. Luo, Z. Hou, Isoprene Polymerization with Yttrium Amidinate Catalysts: Switching the Regio- and Stereoselectivity by Addition of AlMe3, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 2642.
  9. T. Ohishi, M. Nishiura, Z. Hou, Carboxylation of Organoboronic Esters Catalyzed by N-Heterocyclic Carbene Copper(I) Complexes, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 5792.
  10. N. Umebayashi, Y. Hamashima, D. Hashizume, M. Sodeoka, Catalytic Enantioselective Aldol-type Reaction of β-Ketoesters with Acetals, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 4196.
  11. T. Suzuki, Y. Hamashima, M. Sodeoka, Asymmetric Fluorination of α-Aryl Acetic Acid Derivatives with the Novel Catalytic System Consisting of NiCl2-Binap/R3SiOTf/2,6-Lutidine, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2007, 46, 5435.

Core Members

Principal Investigator add delete
Zhaomin Hou Team Leader (Chief Scientist, Organometallic Chemistry Laboratory)    
Staff Scientist add delete
Mikiko Sodeoka  (Chief Scientist, Synthetic Organic Chemistry Laboratory)    
Masayoshi Nishiura Senior Research Scientist (Senior Research Scientist, Organometallic Chemistry Laboratory)    
Takanori Shima Senior Research Scientist (Senior Research Scientist, Organometallic Chemistry Laboratory)    
Masanori Takimoto Senior Research Scientist (Senior Research Scientist, Organometallic Chemistry Laboratory)    
Yoshihiro Sohtome Research Scientist (Research Scientist, Synthetic Organic Chemistry Laboratory)    
Postdoctoral Fellow add delete
Jianhua Cheng Foreign Postdoctoral Researcher (Foreign Postdoctoral Researcher, Organometallic Chemistry Laboratory)    
Juzo Oyamada Postdoctoral Researcher (Postdoctoral Researcher, Organometallic Chemistry Laboratory)    
Bingtao Guan Postdoctoral Researcher (Postdoctoral Researcher, Organometallic Chemistry Laboratory)    
Hongxia Zhang Postdoctoral Researcher (Postdoctoral Researcher, Organometallic Chemistry Laboratory)    
Koji Nemoto Postdoctoral Researcher (Postdoctoral Researcher, Organometallic Chemistry Laboratory)    
Student Trainee add delete
Technical Assistant add delete
Administrative Assistant add delete
Visiting Research Staff add delete
Other Staff add delete

( ) indicates primary affiliation in RIKEN.

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