Research Interests

Research in the Matsubara group is focused on the discovery of new organic reactions and the development of functional molecules such as materials, catalysts and drugs. Curiosity is the main driving force of our daily experiments

Research Subjects

• Total syntheses of naturally occurring and/or bioactive compounds
• Development of novel nitric oxide donors as medicines or experimental tools
• Catalytic photochemical reduction of alcohols

Selected Publications

◆"Synthesis of Furoxans from Styrenes under Basic or Neutral Conditions;. R. Matsubara, Y. Saeki, J. Li, K. Eda Synthesis 45, 1524-1528 (2013). Highlighted by Synfacts “Furoxan Synthesis from Styrenes under Non-Acidic Conditions” Synfacts, 9, 819 (2013).

◆"Nickel-Catalyzed Allylic Substitution of Simple Alkenes", R. Matsubara, T. F. Jamison, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 132, 6880-6881 (2010).

◆"Sulfonylimidates as Nucleophiles in Catalytic Addition Reactions",R. Matsubara, F. Berthiol, S. Kobayashi, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 130, 1804-1805 (2008).

◆"Enamides and Enecarbamates as Nucleophiles in Stereoselective C-C and C-N Bond-Forming Reactions", R. Matsubara, S. Kobayashi, Acc. Chem. Res., 41, 292-301 (2008).