Brief summaries of our goals can be illustrated by three research directions shown below:
 
1. Supramolecular Materials
 
Design of robust H-bonds in water is a fundamentally challenging task in supramolecular studies. On the other hand, the pivotal roles of non-covalent bonding, particularly H-bonding in the determination of higher-order structures of natural biopolymers, e.g. DNA double helix, have spurred tremendous studies on the assembly of synthetic molecular strands towards well-defined supramolecular materials. This knowledge base prompts us to design ion-pair-assisted H-bonding building units with high binding affinities in water. Decoration of molecular strands with the ionic H-bond precursors leads to ionic strands capable of self-organizing into various supramolecular complexes such as polymers and nanotubes. Functionalization of the molecular strands could ultimately lead to functional materials.
 
2. Supramolecular Catalysis
 
A second focal point concerns the development of novel catalysts utilizing a non-covalent bonding strategy. Analogous to catalysts arising form metal-ligand complexation, we proposed a concept of supramolecular catalysts deriving from the assembly of chiral scaffolds and achiral organocatalysts. The goal of this protocol is to provide efficient access to a library of catalytic systems and facilitate the studies of novel orgaocatalytic methodologies.
 
3. Organo, Metal Catalysts and Organo-Metal Co-catalysis
 
Small organic molecules and transition metal-mediated catalysis have become the major research themes in modern organic synthetic chemistry. Our interests in this broad area consist of the development of new organo-catalysts, transition metal-catalyzed non-classical cross-couplings and asymmetric catalysis involving organo- and metal-catalysts. We target solutions for challenging issues residing in modern organic synthesis. The ongoing projects include the development of silanol-based H-bond-donor catalysts, Transition metal-catalyzed cross-coupling of two electrophiles, and asymmetric radical reactions catalyzed by metal-organo co-catalysts.