研究室に来訪してくれた卒業生を不定期に紹介する第2弾。 今回は、2018年度修士修了の米山亮くんです。 実験が大好きで、とても素直な学生でした。 彼の素晴らしい成果は2019年の論文として報告していますが、大量合成から最先端の微量合成まで、全てそつなくやり遂げてくれました。 現在は、無機リン酸塩や活性炭を主力製品とする化学メーカーに勤めていますが、研究室で学んだ有機化学の知識もとても役立っているとのことで、私も嬉しく思いました。 この4月に「主任」になったとのこと。 責任ある立場で周りからの期待も大きいと思いますが、あまり気負わずに頑張ってください！ さて、米山君の特長と言えば、剣道で鍛えた体力と「大きな手」。 この「大きな手」で細かい作業もできるのですから、本当に素晴らしい能力です！ 米山君が作ったサンプルはまだ研究室に大事に保管されています。 勿体なくてなかなか使えないというのが本音ですが、時期が来たら有効活用させてもらいます！

On Sunday, August 23, we presented four programs at the "Open Lab" event during our second summer open campus. All our laboratory members welcomed the visiting high school students. We hope that through these hands-on programs, the students were able to experience the fun and appeal of organic chemistry. We look forward to seeing you again—whether next year, the year after, or sometime further in the future!

Prof. Kobayashi, second-year master's student Audreyana Ariella, and Yui Kanda gave presentations at the 5th International Symposium on Process Chemistry (ISPC 2026), held at Act City Hamamatsu from July 1 to 3.

Our research findings regarding the synthesis of oxysterols derived from mushrooms have been published in ChemistryEurope, the flagship journal of Wiley! Bioinspired Aerobic Oxidation to Functionalize the CD Ring of the Steroid Framework: Synthesis and Stereochemical Assignments of Gargalol C and Related Oxysterols Hinata Togo, Yui Kanda, Shoji Kobayashi* The original paper is here. （Open Access）

Our Laboratory started in 2010, and this year marks its 17th year. The days pass really quickly. The number of graduates from the Natural Products Chemistry Laboratory has exceeded 100. Some graduates occasionally come to visit, so we'll introduce them from time to time. This time we would like to introduce Mai Endo, a 2014 graduate. She has been cheerful and positive since her laboratory days, and even now she is full of energy and always has a smile on her face

This year's university guide features Hinata Togo, a graduate of the Natural Products Chemistry Laboratory. The interview article is available online, so please take a look! Hinata Togo Master's Program, Completed March 2026 Employed at Mitsuwaka Pure Chemicals Research Institute Limited "I will tackle organic synthesis research with a persistent and unwavering attitude."

In my previous blog post, I wrote about the gifts of lion's mane mushrooms to the incoming fourth-year students. I've received photos of the cooked mushrooms, so I'm sharing them on the blog. (Don't worry, I also gave lion's mane mushrooms to the three students who didn't win in the gacha lottery.) According to the students' feedback, they taste good boiled or steamed, but grilling them brings out a slight bitterness. These frank opinions are very valuable.

As soon as graduation season ends, the new school year begins. This year, nine fourth-year students have been assigned to the Natural Products Research Lab. Due to bad weather, we couldn't have our planned cherry blossom viewing party, but we held a pizza party in the lab to welcome the new fourth-year students. Let's all get along, have fun, and conduct research actively! As has become customary, I gave lion's mane mushrooms for the new fourth-year students.

Yesterday, the graduation ceremony was held, and one graduate student and eight undergraduate students graduated from the Natural Product Chemistry Laboratory. Some of you may have faced difficulties as your research did not proceed as planned, but your efforts will certainly not be in vain and will surely become a valuable asset in your future lives. I sincerely wish you all the best in your future endeavors!

At the 106th Spring Annual Meeting of the Chemical Society of Japan (2026) held at the Funabashi Campus of the College of Science and Technology, Nihon University, Master's student Audreyana and undergraduate student Qiu gave oral presentations.

In my previous blog, I mentioned final lecture and retirement party of Professor Araki Masuyama, and several graduates from Kobayashi's lab also attended his party. The photo shows the initial members of Kobayashi's lab who joined the party. I hope everyone continues to get along well and do their best!

Last Saturday, Professor Araki Masuyama, who is also in the Materials and Life Chemistry Division, gave his final lecture. I joined Osaka Institute of Technology as a lecturer in April 2010. Thanks to the generous support and guidance of Professor Masuyama, we were able to start research activities. We owe it all to Professor Masuyama that we are able to carry out our research today. I helped out as much as I could at Professor Masuyama's final lecture, and the large nu

A Happy New Year everyone! The Natural Product Laboratory began research activities on Monday, January 5th. January and February are busy months every year with thesis season, but everyone in the lab is working hard together to produce great research results this year!

Time flies, and there are only about two weeks left until end of 2025. The lab is busy every day preparing master's and graduation theses and academic presentations. Now, our paper has been published in the Journal of Natural Products! Bioinspired Chemical Transformations of Grayanotoxin III to Kalmanol, seco -Rhodomollone, and Rhodomolleins XXIII and XXIV The original paper is here.

At the '68th Symposium on the Chemistry of Terpenes, Essential Oils and Aromatics (TEAC)' held at the Tokushima Campus of Tokushima Bunri University from November 1st to 4th, M2 student Hinata Togo and M1 student Yui Kanda gave presentations on the following topics.

Master's students Noda and Audreyana gave presentations at the 15th CSJ Chemistry Festa 2025, held at Tower Hall Funabori in Tokyo from October 22nd to 24th.

Audreyana Ariella, a first-year master's student, gave an oral presentation at the "JSBBA Kansai 12th Student Forum" held on October 19th at Kyoto University's Yoshida Campus.

The second semester has already begun, and this year five third-year students have been pre-assigned to NPC laboratory. They will first meet once a week to acquire the organic chemistry knowledge and skills necessary for their graduation research. A welcome party was held at a yakitori restaurant. The third-year students were nervous at first, but gradually they opened up, and by the time they left the restaurant they were all smiling with V signs!

It's still hot in Osaka, but the autumnal equinox has passed and signs of autumn are gradually beginning to appear. Ms. Audreyana Ariella, a first-year master's student, is highly creative. In just a short amount of time, she created a wonderful flyer explaining the changing of the autumn leaves! She even made it in both Japanese and English! Please take a look. 〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜 🍂Why do leaves change color in autumn?🍂 In fact, it's all the work of molecules🧪