Our research program in general is aimed at the
development of new synthetic methodologies based on the organic
chemistry of hypervalent main-group elements. Hypervalent compounds
are generally defined as “ions or molecules of the elements of Groups
15-18 bearing more electrons than the octet within a valence shell”.
In current synthetic literature, this terminology is commonly applied
toward the synthetically useful organic reagents, derivatives of
main-group elements in high oxidation states, such as polyvalent
iodine, tellurium, selenium, antimony, and bismuth. It has been
recognized that there are many similarities between hypervalent main
group compounds and organic transition metal complexes. The reactions
of hypervalent molecules are commonly discussed in terms of oxidative
addition, reductive elimination, ligand exchange, and ligand coupling,
which are typical of the transition metal chemistry. Exploration and
practical utilization of these similarities may lead to the
development of new useful methodologies for modern organic synthesis.
Compared to other hypervalent main-group elements, the chemistry of
hypervalent iodine(III) and iodine(V) compounds has attracted a
special research interest due to the very useful oxidizing properties
of these compounds, combined with their benign environmental
character.
Specific objectives of our current research program include: (i)
development of new oxidizing reagents based on organic compounds of
iodine(III) and iodine(V), (ii) development of environmentally
sustainable recyclable hypervalent iodine reagents, and (iii) the
catalytic applications of hypervalent organoiodine compounds.
Other areas of our research interests include the
chemistry of organoxenon(II) compounds, organoboronic acids, synthetic
organofluorine chemistry, and the chemistry of acetylenes.
