RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science Advanced Organic Synthesis Research Team
Team Leader: Laurean Ilies (Ph.D.)
Research Summary

Our team aims at the development of “next generation synthesis” and its utilization for the creation of functional organic molecules. Our vision of “next generation synthesis” is inspired by the highly efficient reactions the Nature uses: direct and highly selective coupling of organic molecules without prefunctionalization with reactive groups. We envision that by precise design of ligands, efficient and selective catalysts enable the rapid assembly of complex functional molecules from simple building blocks. Also, we are particularly interested in the development of sustainable catalysis based on Earth-abundant metals such as manganese, iron, cobalt, copper, etc.
Main Research Fields
- Chemistry
Related Research Fields
- Complex Systems
- Engineering
Keywords
- Organic synthesis
- Earth abundant metal catalysis
- Functional materials
- C-H bond activation
Selected Publications
- 1.
Y. Jin, B. Ramadoss, S. Asako, L. Ilies,
"Noncovalent Interaction with a Spirobipyridine Ligand Enables Efficient Iridium-Catalyzed C–H Activation"
Nat. Commun.2024, 15, 2886. - 2.
S. Banerjee, N. Matsushita, E. Nakamura, N. T. Patil, S. Asako, L. Ilies,
"Molybdenum-Catalyzed Directed Activation of Aryl Chlorides and Fluorides",
Synlett2024, 35, 1141–1144 - 3.
P. B. De, L. Ilies, K. Takai, S. Asako,
"Synthesis of 2,2’-Bipyridines via Dehydrogenative Dimerization of Pyridines Using Sodium Dispersion"
Synlett2023, 34, A–E. - 4.
S. Asako, Laurean Ilies,
"Remote Steric Control for Site-Selective Synthesis"
Synlett2023, 34, 2110–2116 - 5.
B. Ramadoss, Y. Jin, S. Asako, L. Ilies,
"Remote Steric Control for Undirected meta-Selective C–H Activation of Arenes"
Science2022, 375, 658–663. - 6.
S. Banerjee, T. Kobayashi, K. Takai, S. Asako, L. Ilies,
"Molybdenum–Quinone-Catalyzed Deoxygenative Coupling of Aromatic Carbonyl Compounds"
Org. Lett.2022, 24, 7242–7246. - 7.
S. Asako, I. Takahashi, T. Kurogi, Y. Murakami, L. Ilies, K. Takai,
"Birch Reduction of Arenes Using Sodium Dispersion and DMI under Mild Conditions"
Chem. Lett.2022, 51, 38–40. - 8.
O. Kuleshova, S. Asako, L. Ilies,
"Ligand-Enabled, Iridium-Catalyzed ortho-Borylation of Fluoroarenes"
ACS Catal.2021, 11, 5968–5973. - 9.
S. Asako, I. Takahashi, H. Nakajima, L. Ilies, K. Takai,
"Halogen–Sodium Exchange Enables Efficient Access to Organosodium Compounds"
Commun. Chem.2021, 4, 76. - 10.
P. B. De, S. Asako, L. Ilies,
"Recent Advances in the Use of Sodium Dispersion for Organic Synthesis"
Synthesis2021, 53, 3180–3192.
Recent Research Results
Apr. 22, 2022
Selective synthesis of meta isomers now possible
Related Links
Lab Members
Principal investigator
- Laurean Ilies
- Team Leader
Core members
- Sobi Asako
- Senior Scientist
- Yuichiro Mutoh
- Senior Scientist
- Ikko Takahashi
- Special Postdoctoral Researcher
- Akash Tathe
- Postdoctoral Researcher
- Justin Steven Lamb
- Postdoctoral Researcher
Contact Information
Bioscience Building, 2F, room N211,
2-1 Hirosawa,
Wako, Saitama
351-0198, Japan
Email: laurean.ilies@riken.jp