Advanced Catalysis Research Group

Our group aims to develop new generations of catalysts, which are complementary or superior to the existing ones, for applications in efficient utilization of untapped resources and the synthesis of fine chemicals and functional polymer materials. Particular interests are directed to: (1) activation and utilization of N₂ for the synthesis of ammonia and nitrogen-containing organic compounds under mild conditions, (2) utilization of CO₂ as a chemical feedstock for the synthesis of high-value added fine chemicals, and (3) synthesis of high-performance polymer materials by selective copolymerization of commodity monomers having different properties.

Research Fields

Chemistry / Materials Sciences / Environment & Ecology / Multidisciplinary

Research Subjects

• Activation and Efficient Utilization of N₂
• Utilization of CO₂ as a Feadstock for the Synthesis of Fine Chemicals
• Presicion Copolymerization for High-Performance Polymer Materials

Publications

1. Oyamada, J., Hou, Z.
   "Regioselective C-H Alkylation of Anisoles with Olefins Catalyzed by Cationic Half-Sandwich Rare Earth Alkyl Complexes"
   Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 51, 12828-12832 (2012).
2. Zhang, L., Cheng, J., Carry, B., Hou, Z.
   "Catalytic Boracarboxylation of Alkynes with Diborane and Carbon Dioxide by an N-Heterocyclic Carbene Copper Catalyst "
   J. Am. Chem. Soc., 134, 14314-14317 (2012).
3. Cheng, J., Wang, H., Nishiura, M., and Hou, Z.
   "Binuclear Rare-Earth Polyhydride Complexes Bearing Both Terminal and Bridging Hydride Ligands"
   Chem. Sci., 3, 2230-2233 (2012).
4. Pan, L., Zhang, K., Nishiura, M., Hou, Z.
   "Chain-Shuttling Polymerization at Two Different Scandium Sites: Regio- and Stereospecific "One-Pot" Block Copolymerization of Styrene, Isoprene, and Butadiene"
   Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 50, 12012-12015 (2011).
5. Guan, B., Hou, Z.
   "Rare-Earth-Catalyzed C-H Bond Addition of Pyridine to Olefins"
   J. Am. Chem. Soc., 133, 18086-18089 (2011).
6. Oyamada, J., Nishiura, M., Hou, Z.
   "Scandium-Catalyzed Silylation of Aromatic C-H Bonds"
   Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 50, 10720-10723 (2011).
7. Shima, T., Luo, Y., Stewart, T., Bau, R., Mclntyre, G. J., Mason, S. A., Hou, Z.
   "Molecular Heterometallic Hydride Clusters Composed of Rare-Earth and d-Trantion Metals"
   Nature Chem., 3, 814-820 (2011).
8. Ohishi, T., Zhang, L., Nishiura, M. and Hou, Z.
   "Carboxylation of Alkylboranes by N-Heterocyclic Carbene Copper Catalysts:　Synthesis of Carboxylic Acids from Terminal Alkenes and Carbon Dioxide"
   Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 50, 8114-8117 (2011).
9. Zhang, L., Cheng, J., Ohishi, T. and Hou, Z.
   "Copper-Catalyzed Direct Carboxylation of C-H Bonds with Carbon Dioxide"
   Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 49, 8670-8673 (2010).
10. Takimoto, M., Usami, S. and Hou, Z.
    "Scandium-Catalyzed Regio- and Stereospecific Methylalumination of Silyloxy/Alkoxy-Substituted Alkynes and Alkenes"
    J. Am. Chem. Soc., 131, 18266-18268 (2009).