• 1955. 1. 15. Born in Seoul, Korea
• 1975. 3 – 1980. 3. B.S., Chemistry, Chungang University
• 1980.4 – 1985. 12. Diplom, Chemistry, RWTH Aachen (Germany)
• 1985. 12 – 1988. 6. Dr. rer. nat., Chemistry, RWTH Aachen (Germany)
• 1989. 1. – 2004. 2. Principal Research Scientist, Korea Institute of Science and Technology
• 2004. 3. – present, Professor, Sungkyunkwan University
  
  

1. Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Asymmetric Catalysis
2. Green Chemistry using Ionic Liquids
3. Development of New CO Releasing Drugs

For economic, environmental and social reasons, the trend towards the application of optically pure compounds is undoubtedly increasing. Among the various methods to selectively produce single enantiomer, asymmetric catalysis is the most attractive method for the atom-economic point of view. Over last thirty years, numerous catalytic reactions allowing the enantioselective formation of C-H, C-C, C-O, C-N and other bonds have been discovered. A number of homogeneous chiral catalysts have gained wide acceptance in terms of efficiency and selectivity, and some of them are even used on an industrial scale. However, in spite of the huge amount of work devoted to this subject in both academic and industrial fields, the contribution of asymmetric catalysis in the overall production of chiral chemicals is much lower than originally expected. One of the major drawbacks of the homogeneous catalysis is the need for separation of the relatively expensive catalysts from the reaction mixture at the end of the process. Therefore, development of practical immobilization method of chiral homogeneous catalysts is highly desirable, since immobilized chiral catalysts offer several practical advantages over soluble catalysts such as facilitation of catalyst separation from reagents and products, simplification of methods for catalyst recycle, and the possible adaptation of the immobilized catalyst to continuous-flow processes. For this purpose, some of homogeneous chiral catalysts have been immobilized either by anchoring the catalyst on a solid support or by using a two-phase system. All of these approaches are interesting but usually require additional modifications of the catalyst. Moreover, such approaches frequently lead to partial loss of activity and/or enantioselectivity. Recently, a new approach has been adopted for catalyst separation and recycling in a few types of catalytic reactions involving the use of a solvent known as an ionic liquid, which is simply a salt mixture that has a melting point below ambient. Especially, air and moisture stable room temperature ionic liquids consisting of 1,3-dialkylimidazolium cations and their counter anions have attracted growing interest in the last few years. In these solvents, catalysts bearing polar or ionic character can be immobilized and thus the ionic solutions containing the catalyst can be easily separated from reagents and products. Moreover, our recent examples on this area demonstrate this immobilization method provides additional advantage of use of catalyst without any modification of the structure, which frequently causes partial loss of activity and/or enantioselectivity. It has also been observed by us that the ionic liquids can act as powerful media in some of catalytic organic reactions not only for facilitating of catalyst recovery and but also for accelerating reaction rate and improving selectivity.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced naturally in humans at a rate of between 3 and 6 cm3 per day, and this rate is increased in certain inflammatory states and pathological conditions that are associated with red blood cell haemolysis and oxidant-mediated stress. This endogenous CO is derived from the degradation of intracellular heme by a family of constitutive (HO-2) and inducible (HO-1) heme oxygenase enzymes. Over the past ten tears, interest in the biological effects of CO has greatly increased and CO is now regarded as a versatile signaling molecule, having essential regulatory roles in a variety of physiological and pathophysiological processes that take place within the cardiovascular, nervous and immune systems. However, research into the biological effects of CO and its potential therapeutic exploitation has been hampered by the practical inconvenience and danger involved in administering low doses of the toxic gas. Thus, we are now developing a stable, solid, water-soluble carbon monoxide-releasing molecular systems.

1. C. E. Song, “Asymmetric Catalysis in Ionic Liquids”, ACS-Book, in press (2004).
2. C. E. Song, “Enantioselective Chemo- and Biocatalysis in Ionic Liquids”, Chem. Commun. Advance Article (2003).
3. C. E. Song and S.-g. Lee, “Supported Chiral Catalysts on Inorganic Materials”, Chem. Rev. 102, 3495, (2002).
4. C. E. Song, “Alkaloids as Chirality Transmitters” in “The Alkaloids: Chemistry and Biology” G. A. Cordell (Ed.), Vol 53, 1-58, Academic Press, New York (2000).
   
   

1. C. H. Jo, S.-H. Han, J. W. Yang, E. J. Roh, U.-S. Shin, C. E. Song, “Osmylated macroporous resins: safe, highly efficient and recyclable catalysts for asymmetric aminohydroxylation of olefin”, Chem. Commun. 1312, (2003).
2. C. R. Oh, D. J. Choo, W. H. Shim, D. H. Lee, E. J. Roh, S.-g. Lee, C. E. Song, “Chiral Co(III)(salen)-catalysed hydrolytic kinetic resolution of racemic epoxides in ionic liquids” Chem. Commun. 1100, (2003).
3. J. W. Yang, H. Han, E. J. Roh, S.-g. Lee, C. E. Song, “Osmium tetroxide anchored to porous resins bearing residual vinyl groups: a highly active and recyclable solid for asymmetric dihydroxylation of olefins” Org. Lett. 4,, 4685, (2002).
4. C. E. Song, D.-u. Jung, E. J. Roh, S.-g. Lee, D. Y. Chi, “Osmium tetroxide-(QN)2PHAL in an ionic liquid: a highly efficient and recyclable catalyst system for asymmetric dihydroxylation of olefins. Chem. Commun. 3038, (2002), (24).
5. C. E. Song, J. W. Yang, E. J. Roh, S.-g. Lee, J. H. Ahn, H. Han, “ Heterogeneous Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution using resin-supported Trost-type bisphosphane ligands” Angew. Chem., International Ed. 41, 3852, (2002), 41(20).
6. D. W. Kim, C. E. Song, D. Y. Chi, “ New method of fluorination using potassium fluoride in ionic liquid: significantly enhanced reactivity of fluoride and improved selectivity” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 124, 10278 (2002).