Research in our group is centered on the field of organic synthesis and catalysis. We are inspired by the pursuit of new concepts in synthetic organic chemistry involving designation of new chiral ligand and organocatalyst, metal-mediated catalysis, organocatalysis, and total synthesis of optically active pharmaceuticals.

Over the past several years, we have sought and identified new classes of chiral catalysts, and several of these have found widespread application in asymmetric catalytic reactions. These catalysts include chiral N,N’-dioxide organocatalysts and ligands, chiral guanidine-amide organocatalysts and ligands, bispidine-based chiral diamines, chiral organic salts, and combined catalysts and others. The reaction type involves the enantioselective formation of carbon-carbon bond, carbon-oxygen bond, carbon-nitrogen bond, carbon-hydrogen bond, and other carbon-hetero atom bonds.

While the identification of novel ligands and catalysts represents an immediate goal of our work, the critical objective is to help lay the foundation for the highly efficient and enantioselective design and synthesis of chiral molecules, since most biologically active compounds, such as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, flavorings and functional materials, exhibit chirality. Moreover, the broader objective is to identify general design principles, which will allow scientists to approach the ideal goal of perfect chemical reactions via rational design of both novel catalysts and other functional molecules, resulting in 100% selectivity, 100% yield, and without unwanted waste products.