2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Materials and Chemical Technology Department of Chemical Science and Engineering Graduate major in Chemical Science and Engineering

Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering I

Academic unit or major: Graduate major in Chemical Science and Engineering
Instructor(s): Jun Terao / Hideki Amii
Class Format: Lecture (HyFlex)
Media-enhanced courses: -
Day of week/Period (Classrooms): Intensive
Class: -
Course Code: CAP.T423
Number of credits: 100
Course offered: 2025
Offered quarter: 3-4Q
Syllabus updated: Sep 17, 2025
Language: Japanese

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

[Outline] In this lecture, we will comprehend the fundamental properties and reactivities of substances at the atomic / molecular level, advanced chemical technology systems on the design and conversion of useful substances including macromolecules, and chemistry In order to train people, researchers active at the forefront of Applied Chemistry field introduce research results from basic to applied.
[Objective] We aim to acquire a broad knowledge of researchers who are active at the forefront of applied chemistry field concerning research from basic to applied.

Course description and aims

Learn the following abilities by taking this lecture.
(1) It can explain basic properties and reactivity of substances at atomic / molecular level. (2) Explain the advanced chemical technology system on the design and conversion of useful substances. (3) Explain a wide range of knowledge from basic to applied research.

Keywords

Basic properties, atoms / molecules, materials, chemical technology, applied chemistry

Competencies

Specialist skills
Intercultural skills
Communication skills
Critical thinking skills
Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

Two lecturers will give intensive lectures in a hybrid manner with on-site and zoom for two days each. First half (18th Nov.): Prof. Hideki Amii (Gunma Univ.): Organic Fluorine Chemistry, and second half (15th Dec.): Prof. Jun Terao (Tokyo Univ.): Supramolecular Materials.

Course schedule/Objectives

	Course schedule	Objectives
Class 1	1-1 “Fundamentals of Organic Fluorine Chemistry” Fluorine is an element that plays a wide variety of roles in supporting comfortable modern lives. Organic fluorine compounds are applied in many aspects of daily life, including automobiles, household appliances, pharmaceuticals, and agrochemicals. To study organic fluorine chemistry, it is important to understand the key characteristics of the fluorine atom. This lecture will focus on its three major features of fluorine (highest electronegativity, small atomic size, and strong C–F bonds) and explain how these properties give rise to unique behaviors of fluorine compounds. 1-2 “Typical Reactions of Organic Fluorine Compounds” This lecture will present several examples of the electronic effects of fluorine in organic reactions. Topics will include the acidity of fluorine-containing molecules arising from the electronic effects of fluorine, the stabilization/destabilization of carbocation and carbanion intermediates caused by fluorine substitution, and nucleophilic substitution reactions on aromatic rings activated by fluorine. These will illustrate characteristic reactions of organic fluorine compounds. 1-3 “Trifluoromethylation and Related Reactions” This lecture will introduce current research on the synthesis of organic fluorine compounds, which is actively pursued worldwide. In particular, since 2010, catalytic methods for fluorination and trifluoromethylation of organic compounds have advanced dramatically. In this lecture, we will systematically describe our research on catalytic trifluoromethylation, difluoromethylation, and related synthetic reactions. 2-1 “Molecular Architectonics I: Precision Molecular Synthesis and Coupling at the Nanoscale” Overview: This lecture will provide an overview of the discovery histories and reaction mechanisms of asymmetric reduction/oxidation, olefin metathesis, and cross-coupling reactions, , which have been recognized with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. It will also introduce synthetic strategies for pharmaceuticals and functional materials that employ these transformations as key steps. 2-2 “Molecular Architectonics II: Designing Nanoscale Molecules to Exhibit The Functionalities Characteristic of Organic Materials” This lecture will address the precise synthesis, structural features, and functional properties of a wide variety of supramolecular and polymeric materials, ranging from commodity to advanced functional systems, with emphasis on their societal roles. It will also highlight their higher-order structures stabilized by noncovalent interactions, thereby linking architectures to a deeper understanding of biological systems. 2-3 “Development of High-performance Supramolecular Materials based on Molecular Architectonics” Recent advances in organic synthesis have made it possible to produce a wide variety of organic compounds. However, even when complex organic molecules are designed with the aim of achieving high functionality, their synthesis requires multiple steps, which inevitably increases cost. Based on the concept of molecular architectonics, we have developed high-performance supramolecular materials that can function with a single molecule, a few molecules, or only trace amounts. This lecture will highlight our recent achievements in the development of advanced functional materials employing rotaxane and catenane molecules, which serve as single-molecule electronic materials, nanoscale polymeric device materials, supramolecular catalysts, and polymer cross-linkers.	(1) Can explain the overview and applications of organic fluorine chemistry. (2) Can explain the overview of Molecular Architectonics based on organic chemistry and supramolecular chemistry.

Course schedule

Objectives

Class 1

1-1 “Fundamentals of Organic Fluorine Chemistry”
Fluorine is an element that plays a wide variety of roles in supporting comfortable modern lives. Organic fluorine compounds are applied in many aspects of daily life, including automobiles, household appliances, pharmaceuticals, and agrochemicals. To study organic fluorine chemistry, it is important to understand the key characteristics of the fluorine atom. This lecture will focus on its three major features of fluorine (highest electronegativity, small atomic size, and strong C–F bonds) and explain how these properties give rise to unique behaviors of fluorine compounds.

1-2 “Typical Reactions of Organic Fluorine Compounds”
This lecture will present several examples of the electronic effects of fluorine in organic reactions. Topics will include the acidity of fluorine-containing molecules arising from the electronic effects of fluorine, the stabilization/destabilization of carbocation and carbanion intermediates caused by fluorine substitution, and nucleophilic substitution reactions on aromatic rings activated by fluorine. These will illustrate characteristic reactions of organic fluorine compounds.

1-3 “Trifluoromethylation and Related Reactions”
This lecture will introduce current research on the synthesis of organic fluorine compounds, which is actively pursued worldwide. In particular, since 2010, catalytic methods for fluorination and trifluoromethylation of organic compounds have advanced dramatically. In this lecture, we will systematically describe our research on catalytic trifluoromethylation, difluoromethylation, and related synthetic reactions.

2-1 “Molecular Architectonics I: Precision Molecular Synthesis and Coupling at the Nanoscale”
Overview: This lecture will provide an overview of the discovery histories and reaction mechanisms of asymmetric reduction/oxidation, olefin metathesis, and cross-coupling reactions, , which have been recognized with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. It will also introduce synthetic strategies for pharmaceuticals and functional materials that employ these transformations as key steps.

2-2 “Molecular Architectonics II: Designing Nanoscale Molecules to Exhibit The Functionalities Characteristic of Organic Materials”
This lecture will address the precise synthesis, structural features, and functional properties of a wide variety of supramolecular and polymeric materials, ranging from commodity to advanced functional systems, with emphasis on their societal roles. It will also highlight their higher-order structures stabilized by noncovalent interactions, thereby linking architectures to a deeper understanding of biological systems.

2-3 “Development of High-performance Supramolecular Materials based on Molecular Architectonics”
Recent advances in organic synthesis have made it possible to produce a wide variety of organic compounds. However, even when complex organic molecules are designed with the aim of achieving high functionality, their synthesis requires multiple steps, which inevitably increases cost. Based on the concept of molecular architectonics, we have developed high-performance supramolecular materials that can function with a single molecule, a few molecules, or only trace amounts. This lecture will highlight our recent achievements in the development of advanced functional materials employing rotaxane and catenane molecules, which serve as single-molecule electronic materials, nanoscale polymeric device materials, supramolecular catalysts, and polymer cross-linkers.

(1) Can explain the overview and applications of organic fluorine chemistry.

(2) Can explain the overview of Molecular Architectonics based on organic chemistry and supramolecular chemistry.

Study advice (preparation and review)

Textbook(s)

None required.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

None

Evaluation methods and criteria

Attendance will be checked in every class. Full attendance is required in principle. Course score will be based on the reports evaluation. In the case of unavoidable circumstances such as official duties, students may consult the contact (Shoji and Ito) listed below.

Related courses

CAP.T411 ： Elements of Innovative Molecular Chemistry I
CAP.A424 ： Advanced Organic Synthesis II
CAP.A481 ： Advanced Instrumental Analysis
CAP.T412 ： Elements of Innovative Molecular Chemistry II
CAP.A521 ： Advanced Molecular Design for Organic Synthesis I
CAP.I533 ： Advanced Strategic Organic Synthesis

Prerequisites

No prerequisites.

Other

Schedule
1st lecture: November 18　(Tue), 10:45-17:05 (On-site: Suzukakedai, HyFlex: Ookayama)
2nd lecture: December 15 (Mon), 10:45-17:05 (On-site: Ookayama, HyFlex: Suzukakedai)