个人简介

B.A./M.A., Boston University, 1996 Ph.D., The University of Chicago, 2002 Associate Professor, Florida Institute of Technology, 2015 — Visiting Associate Professor, Florida Institute of Technology, 2014-2015 Assistant Professor, University of Miami, 2005-2014 Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Chicago, 2002-2005

研究领域

The Takenaka group is interested in synthetic organic chemistry in broad terms, which range from asymmetric catalysis to synthesis of complex natural products. New methods offer new ways to assemble the complex molecular architecture and execution of resulting new synthetic strategies, in turn, lead to new insights and discoveries in method development. Methodology and synthesis are expected to complement to each other. The group’s focus is on the design and development of conceptually new catalysts for the promotion of selective chemical transformations of broad synthetic utility. Of particular interest is the development of environmentally benign, highly versatile Lewis/Brønsted acids that catalyze carbon-carbon bond formation with the highest level of selectivity and efficiency, which is of central importance in organic synthesis. The second major focus of our program is on the synthesis of structurally interesting and biologically significant natural products that not only encompass our own synthetic methods but also inspire further methodology and strategy development, including mechanistic aspects. The objectives of such endeavors are the discovery and development of new synthetic technology that provides efficient access to potential pharmaceuticals in green, non-toxic fashion, as well as better understanding of organic chemistry.

Development of New Artificial Enzymes Drug therapy is among the most successful and reliable treatments for various health issues. However, it is impeded by limitations in chemists’ ability to make the absolutely “correct” drug molecule in a timely and cost-effective manner. The development of artificial enzymes is a new approach in chemistry dedicated to the preparation of molecules with defined 3-D structure (molecular shape), and is of paramount importance to the drug discovery and development because the function of a drug is determined by its overall shape. Researchers in the Takenaka Lab have developed a new class of artificial enzymes that shape-selectively synthesize molecules with the desired 3-D structure from easily available chemicals. Such technology will provide scientists ready access to precious medicinally active agents, and thus will not only accelerate the drug discovery process, but also lower costs of prescription drugs. Synthesis of Natural Products Natural products are the secondary metabolites (small organic molecules) produced in organisms and have long been the source of the great majority of drugs and drug candidates. Indeed, 78% of the antibacterial compounds and 74% of anticancer agents available today are either natural products or their chemical derivatives. The complete chemical synthesis of natural products is the first and key step in such drug discovery endeavors that aim to treat currently incurable diseases. The researchers in the Takenaka Lab are currently working toward the complete chemical synthesis of the alkaloid Acutumine isolated from the moonseed Sinomenium acutum.

近期论文

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17) Narcis, M. J.; Takenaka, N. “Helical-Chiral Small Molecules in Asymmetric Catalysis” Eur. J. Org. Chem., 2014, 21-34. (This work was among the 25 most accessed articles of the year.) 16) Peng, Z.; Narcis, M. J.; Takenaka, N. “Enantio- and Periselective Nitroalkene Diels-Alder Reactions Catalyzed by Helical-Chiral Hydrogen Bond Donor Catalysts” Molecules, 2013, 18, 9982-9998. 15) Peng, Z.; Takenaka, N. “Application of Helical-Chiral Pyridines as Organocatalysts in Asymmetric Synthesis” The Chemical Record, 2013, 13, 28- 42. 14) Narcis, M. J.; Sprague, D. J.; Captain, B.; Takenaka, N. “Enantio- and periselective nitroalkene Diels-Alder reaction” Org. Biomol. Chem., 2012, 10, 9134-9136. 13) Chen, J.; Captain, B.; Takenaka, N. “Helical Chiral 2,2’-Bipyridine N-Monoxides as Catalysts in the Enantioselective Propargylation of Aldehydes with Allenyltrichlorosilane” Org. Lett., 2011, 13, 1654-1657. 12) Aguado, A.; Takenaka, N. “Intramolecular Nitroalkene Diels-Alder Reaction Catalyzed by Brønsted Acids” Synlett, 2011, 9, 1259-1261. 11) Takenaka, N.; Chen, J.; Captain, B.; Sarangthem, R. S.; Chandrakumar, A. “Helical Chiral 2-Aminopyridinium Ions: A New Class of Hydrogen Bond Donor Catalysts” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 4536-4537. (Highlighted in Synfact 2010, 6, 712.) 10) Chen, J.; Takenaka, N. “Helical Chiral Pyridine N-Oxides: A New Family of Asymmetric Catalysts” Chem. Eur. J. 2009, 15, 7268-7276. 9) Takenaka, N.; Sarangthem, R. S.; Captain, B. “Helical-Chiral Pyridine N-Oxides, a New Family of Asymmetric Catalysts” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 9708- 9710. (This work was among the 12 most accessed articles of the month.) 8) Takenaka, N.; Sarangthem, R. S.; Seerla, S. K. “2-Aminopyridinium Ions Activate Nitroalkenes through Hydrogen Bonding” Org. Lett., 2007, 9, 2819- 2822. 7) Takenaka, N.; Abel, J. P.; Yamamoto, H. “Asymmetric Conjugate Addition of Silyl Enol Ethers Catalyzed by Tethered Bis(8-Quinolinolato) Aluminum Complexes” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 742-743. 6) Unni, A. K.; Takenaka, N.; Yamamoto, H.; Rawal, V. H. “Axially Chiral Biaryl Diols Catalyze Highly Enantioselective Hetero-Diels-Alder Reactions through Hydrogen Bonding” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 1336-1337. 5) Takenaka, N.; Xia, G.; Yamamoto, H. “Catalytic, Highly Enantio- and Diastereoselective Pinacol Coupling Reaction with a New Tethered Bis(8- quinolinolato) Ligand” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 13198-13199. 4) Takenaka, N.; Huang, Y.; Rawal, V. H. “The First Catalytic Enantioselective Diels-Alder Reactions of 1,2-Dihydropyridine: Efficient Syntheses of Optically Active 2-Azabicyclo-[2.2.2]octanes with Chiral BINAM Derived Cr (III) Salen Complexes” Tetrahedron, 2002, 58, 8299-8305. 3) Hu, T.; Takenaka, N.; Panek, J. S. “Asymmetric Crotylation Reactions in the Synthesis of Polypropionate Derived Macrolide: Application to the Total Synthesis of Oleandolide” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 12806-12815. 2) Hu, T.; Takenaka, N.; Panek, J. S. “Total Synthesis of Oleandolide” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1999, 121, 9229-9230. 1) Jain, N. F.; Takenaka, N.; Panek, J. S. “Double-Stereodifferentiating Crotylation Reactions with Chiral (E)-Crotylsilanes. Evaluation of a New Approach for the Synthesis of Polypropionate-Derived Natural Products” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996, 118, 12475-12476.