Kyushu University
Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Molecular Transformation Chemistry
Professor Takashi NIWA

Research Themes

Development of methods for the precise transformation of complex molecular structures

Research Overview

Synthetic organic chemistry has provided a wide variety of molecules that support our daily lives, including pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and functional materials. However, in recent years, the molecules demanded in drug discovery and life science research have become increasingly complex and massive, making it difficult to synthesize them entirely from scratch.

To address this challenge, our laboratory focuses not on “building complex molecules from the ground up,” but rather on “cleverly modifying existing complex molecules.” If we can selectively transform complex structures—such as natural products, pharmaceuticals, and biomolecules—only where needed, we can efficiently generate novel drug candidate molecules and chemical tools to elucidate biological phenomena.

We are dedicated to developing new reactions and catalysts that achieve such precise molecular transformations. To realize this goal, we mobilize a broad spectrum of knowledge across disciplines, ranging from fundamental organic chemistry to organometallic/elemental chemistry, photochemistry, medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, and even data science. Through collaboration with researchers across diverse fields, our goal is to accelerate drug discovery and life science research, ultimately contributing to human health.

Why We Chose EYELA

While it may be common across many laboratories, EYELA products offer exceptional reliability. Having used a variety of EYELA equipment—starting with rotary evaporators—for many years, we knew from the beginning that we would choose EYELA products when setting up our new laboratory.

Another major advantage is the robust after-sales support when issues arise. Regular visits from their team continue to provide dependable support for our daily laboratory operations.

User Feedback

In our laboratory, we use a large number of BBS-RCH aluminum block baths with magnetic stirrers. We used to rely heavily on oil baths, but transitioning to these has eliminated issues caused by residual oil on flasks and removed concerns about oil splashing during earthquakes or other unexpected events. We find them to be exceptionally superior in terms of safety.

Furthermore, our rotary evaporators and low temperature circulators operate with stable performance. As equipment we have grown accustomed to using over many years, we place our utmost trust in them.