SSCU Seminar
Name: Prof. Masaki Kawano
Affiliation: Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan
Title: “MOF Crystallography for Structure Elucidation of Natural Products”
Date & Time: Tuesday, 13th January 2026 at 04:00 p.m.
Venue: AG-09/11 Lecture Hall, Chemical Sciences Building
Abstract:
We have developed metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) incorporating interactive ligands to trap metastable structures and construct responsive pore environments. An interactive ligand is defined as a bridging ligand bearing functional groups capable of engaging in supramolecular interactions. These ligands enable a range of fascinating functions, including kinetic trapping [1], selective guest recognition [2], ion conductivity [3], non-volatile memory storage [4], and more.
Notably, we have designed adaptable pores capable of visualizing natural products at atomic-level resolution [5]. While the crystalline sponge method has proven effective for analyzing small molecules [6], it still faces several challenges, such as limitations in molecular size, chemical and physical stability, and issues arising from pseudo-symmetry.
To address these challenges, we are developing new MOF systems tailored for enhanced structural elucidation of natural products [7]. In this presentation, we will share our recent progress, with a particular emphasis on the structural analysis of medium-sized natural products and the key take-home messages derived from these studies.
References:
[1] Yakiyama, Y., Ueda, A., Morita, Y. & Kawano, M. (2012). Chem. Commun., 48, 10651-10653.
[2] Ohtsu, H., Choi, W., Islam, N., Matsushita, Y. & Kawano, M. (2013). J. Am. Chem. Soc., 135, 11449-11452.
[3] Lee, G. R., Ohtsu, H., Koo, J. Y., Yakiyama, Y., Park, M. J., Inoue, D., Hashizume, D. & Kawano, M. (2016). Chem. Commun., 52, 3962-3965.
[4] Kim, J., Ohtsu, H., Den, T., Deekamwong, K., Muneta, I. & Kawano, M. (2019). Chem. Sci., 10, 10888–10893.
[5] Wada, Y., Usov, P. M., Chan, B., Mukaida, M., Ohmori, K., Ando, Y., Fuwa, H., Ohtsu, H. & Kawano, M. (2024). Nat. Commun., 15, 81.
[6] Inokuma, Y., Yoshioka, S., Ariyoshi, J., Arai, T., Hitora, Y., Takada, K., Matsunaga, S., Rissanen, K. & Fujita, M. (2013). Nature, 495, 461–466.
[7] Nakagawa, T., Wada, Y., Chan, B., Baba, T., Hanaya, K., Koseki, Y., Asano, R., Aoki, K., Usov, P. M., Kawano, M. (2025). J. Am. Chem. Soc., 147, 29013–29025.