Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structures are called isomers. Isomers in which the order of atomic bonds is the same but the relative positions of substituents (stereo conformation) are different are classified as stereoisomers, and cis-trans isomers and mirror image isomers are well-known examples. Conformers, a type of stereoisomer, are isomers produced by rotation around a single bond in a molecule. The number of possible conformers increases rapidly as the number of single bonds in a molecule increases. Since the conformation of polymers and biomolecules changes flexibly when the conformation changes, it is important to investigate the reason why a particular conformer is formed from a very large number of conformations to understand the mechanism by which a molecule expresses its function.
I am studying the structure and reactivity of molecular conformers using a proprietary experimental technique called cryo-ion mobility mass spectrometry (cryo-IM-MS). Cryo-IM-MS allows us to separate and observe multiple coexisting conformers, and to determine the ratio of their presence and discuss the stability of individual conformers.
Even molecules that change their conformation flexibly at room temperature can be separated and their conformations revealed by freezing their conformational changes at low temperatures. The separation of conformers by cryo-IM-MS is expected to lead to a better understanding of the mechanism by which certain conformers are selectively formed from many conformational configurations.
My research field is physical chemistry, which uses experimental techniques and theories from physics to reveal molecular structures and chemical reactions. When I was in high school, I loved my chemistry classes. As I memorized the names, molecular formulas, and structures of numerous molecules, I became fascinated with the world of chemistry woven by molecules.
After entering Tohoku University, I continued to enjoy listening to chemistry classes, but I realized that there are far more types of molecules in the world than I could have imagined at the time, and I could not remember the properties of the various molecules. Just when I was beginning to feel that my memory was limited, I learned in a physical chemistry class at university that the seemingly wide variety of molecular properties could be explained using theory. For example, frontier orbital theory can neatly explain how chemical reactions occur in various molecules. I chose the physical chemistry lab because I was interested in exploring a single theory that could explain all 100 reactions.
In addition to accumulating knowledge, university studies require students to develop the ability to discover and solve questions on their own. To this end, it is important to have an attitude of spontaneous action. To graduate from college, find employment in a variety of fields, and solve complex problems in society, one needs not only "education and knowledge" but also "self-motivated action”.
On the other hand, there may be limits to the abilities that individuals possess. Thinking alone may lead to self-serving actions. Modern society is based on a diverse and intricate social background, and the mountain of issues must be solved from multiple perspectives rather than from a single direction. For this reason, I think it is essential to have "communication skills" to be able to interact with people from various fields. I enjoy presenting my research in front of researchers from different fields who gather at the university and receiving a variety of opinions, as it sometimes makes me realize things that I had never thought of.
I believe that there is no fixed right answer to research methods in the natural sciences, and it is important to always explore with curiosity. By reading textbooks and papers, we can learn how our predecessors used methods and logical thinking to solve various phenomena in the natural sciences. I believe that by referring to the wisdom of our predecessors, we can obtain clues to unravel the mysteries that remain in the natural sciences. I believe that it is very important for us, who live in the present, to write papers and books to preserve the results of our research in a tangible form, so that future researchers will be able to conduct research with curiosity.