Research
Faculty Members
Synthetic Medicinal Chemistry（Chemistry）
Sawama YoshinariProfessor
Yoshinari Sawama has been an Associate Professor at Osaka University since 2021 and Full Professor in 2025. He received his Ph.D. in 2006 in the laboratory of Prof. Dr. Yasuyuki Kita at Osaka University. After working as the postdoctoral fellows at Osaka University, Dortmund Technical University, and Ritsumeikan University, he was appointed as an Assistant Professor at Gifu Pharmaceutical University in 2010 and an Associate Professor at Gifu Pharmaceutical University since 2017.
Research theme
Synthesis of deuterated compounds (H/D exchange reactions) and its applications
Deuterium is a stable isotope of hydrogen, and organic compounds containing deuterium atoms can be used for heavy drugs and molecular imaging using instrumental analysis (neutron scattering, Raman spectroscopy, etc.). We have developed an original method for introducing deuterium atoms into organic compounds, and hope to contribute to the development of drug discovery research.
Total synthesis of bioactive natural products
Our goal is to achieve efficient synthesis of complicated natural organic compounds with biological activity and drug discovery using their derivatives.
Development of green sustainable reactions
We develop the reactions using water as solvent and heterogeneous catalysts for synthesizing useful molecules.
Development of novel skeleton construction method utilizing Lewis acid catalyst
We are challenging to synthesize new frameworks by using the interesting reactivity of Lewis acids.
Representative achievements
Photocatalytic and Highly Regioselective H/D Exchange at α-thio C(sp3)-H Bonds
R. Ogasahara, M. Mae, Y. Itabashi, K. Ohkubo, K. Matsuura, M. Togami, H. Shimizu, K. Ban, T. Udagawa, H. Fujioka, M. Kamiya, S. Akai, Y. Sawama*
ChemRxiv 2024, DOI:10.26434/chemrxiv-2024-pc5qz
Photocatalytic Multiple Deuteration of Polyethylene Glycol Derivatives using Deuterium Oxide
R. Ogasahara, M. Mae, K. Matsuura, S. Yoshimura, T. Ishimoto, T. Udagawa, K. Harada, H. Fujioka, M. Kamiya, R. Asada, H. Uchiyama, Y. Tozuka, S. Akai, Y. Sawama*
Chem. Eur. J. 2025, e202404204.
Deuterated-Alkylation Reagents based on Sulfonium Salts as Cation and Radical Sources
K. Ban, J. Tokunaga, S. Yoshimura, S. Akai, Y. Sawama*
Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn. 2024, 97, uoae109.
Deuterated Alkyl Sulfonium Salt Reagents; Importance of H/D Exchange Methods in Drug Discovery
R. Ogasahara, K. Ban, M. Mae, S. Akai, Y. Sawama*
ChemMedChem (Concept), 2024, e202400201.
Construction of Functionalized ortho-Naphthoquinone Methides via Site-Selective Ring Opening of 1-Siloxy-1,4-epoxy-1,4-dihydronaphthalenes
T. Aijima, S. Komagawa, S. Akai, Y. Sawama*
Adv. Synth. Catal. 2023, 365, 3981–3986.
Impact of Multiple H/D Replacement on the Physicochemical Properties of Flurbiprofen
H. Uchiyama,* K. Ban, S. Nozaki, Y. Ikeda, T. Ishimoto, H. Fujioka, M. Kamiya, R. Amari, H. Tsujino, M. Arai, S. Yamazoe, K. Maekawa, T. Kato, M. Doi, K. Kadota, Y. Tozuka, N. Tomita, H. Sajiki, S. Akai, Y. Sawama*
RSC Med. Chem. 2023, 14, 2583–2592.
Sulfonium Salt Reagents for the Introduction of Deuterated Alkyl Groups in Drug Discovery
K. Ban, K. Imai, S. Oyama, J. Tokunaga, Y. Ikeda, H. Uchiyama, K. Kadota, Y. Tozuka, S. Akai, Y. Sawama*
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2023, e202311058.
Multiple deuteration of triphenylphosphine and live-cell Raman imaging of deuterium-incorporated Mito-Q
S. Moriyama, M. Mae, D. Shibata, H. Yamakoshi, S. Kajimoto, T. Nakabayashi, T. Ishimoto, K. Mogi, H. Sajiki, S. Akai, Y. Sawama*
Chem. Commun. 2023, 59, 12100–12103.
Oxidative Two-way Regiocontrolled Coupling of 3-Methoxycarbonylcatechol and Indoles to Arylindoles
Y. Sawama* S. Kuwata, M. Mae, T. Udagawa, S. Akai, H. Sajiki
Chem. Commun. 2022, 58, 12935–12938.
