Dr. Shigeki Matsunaga
(Associate Professor, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo)

Development of Multimetallic Concerto Asymmetric Catalysis Using Multidentate Chiral Ligands

On the basis of the unique design of multi-nucleating chiral ligands, Dr. Matsunaga has developed various types of multimetallic complexes for bifunctional asymmetric catalysis. The suitably aligned metal centers function in concerted fashion, promoting catalytic asymmetric carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions and other reactions in high enantioselectivity. Detailed mechanistic studies as well as synthetic applications to biologically active compounds have also been achieved.