Organization
School of Materials and Chemical Technology Assistant Professor
Title
Assistant Professor
External link
KUBO Tomohiro
Degree
-
Ph.D. ( 2018.5 University of Florida )
Research Interests
-
高分子合成、高分子反応
Education
-
University of Florida Department of Chemistry
2013 - 2018
-
University of Minnesota Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
2009 - 2013
Research History
-
Institute of Science Tokyo School of Materials and Chemical Technology Assistant Professor
2024.10
-
Tokyo Institute of Technology School of Materials and Chemical Technology Assistant Professor
2020 - 2024.9
-
University of Michigan Department of Chemistry Postdoctoral Researcher
2018 - 2019
Professional Memberships
-
American Chemical Society
-
高分子学会
-
日本接着学会
-
日本化学会
Papers
-
Synthesis and Evaluation of Novel Thermoplastic Elastomers via Anionic Polymerization of Bio‐Based α‐Methyl‐p‐Methylstyrene
Goki Hattori, Gaishi Murakami, Tomohiro Kubo, Kotaro Satoh
Journal of Polymer Science 2025.12
-
Enhancing the degradability of poly(lactic acid) through the introduction of main-chain thionoester linkages by ring-opening copolymerization
Tomohiro Kubo, Kotaro Satoh
Polymer Journal 2025.10
-
Propargyl Amines as Simple Alkyne Initiators for Chain‐Growth Controlled/“Living” Click Polymerization Reviewed
Satoshi Sakai, Yuta Yamazaki, Tomohiro Kubo, Kotaro Satoh
Journal of Polymer Science 2025.10
-
RAFT Copolymerization of Glycerol-Derived Vinyl Ethers Possessing Acetal-Protected Diols for Biobased Hydrophilic and Thermoresponsive Polymers Reviewed
Riko Kashima, Tomohiro Kubo, Kotaro Satoh
Macromolecules 2025.8
-
Iterative Synthesis and Marine-Biodegradation Assessment of Discrete Oligomers Based on Poly(Butylene Succinate), Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate), Polyamide 6, and Polyisoprene
Tomohiro Kubo, Ravi Teja Ananthu, Takumi Noda, Yoshifumi Amamoto, Hironori Taguchi, Yingjun An, Ryoya Kamiki, Chihiro Homma, Hiroyasu Masunaga, Sono Sasaki, Mineto Uchiyama, Masami Kamigaito, Takako Kikuchi, Yasuhiro Kohsaka, Atsushi Takahara, Kotaro Satoh
Macromolecules 2025.8
-
Controlled/″Living″ Click Polymerization with Possible Bidirectional Chain-Growth Propagation during Polyaddition Reviewed
Satoshi Sakai, Takuya Nakamura, Seiichiro Uchida, Yuto Nakauchi, Mineto Uchiyama, Tomohiro Kubo, Masami Kamigaito, Kotaro Satoh
Journal of the American Chemical Society 2025.6
-
Polyaddition of Discrete Oligo(butylene succinate)s with Divinyl Ethers for Periodic and Selectively Cleavable Main-Chain Acetal Linkages Reviewed
Ravi Teja Ananthu, Yingjun An, Yusaku Tajima, Hironori Taguchi, Takako Kikuchi, Tomohiro Kubo, Hiroyasu Masunaga, Sono Sasaki, Atsushi Takahara, Kotaro Satoh
Macromolecules 2025.3
-
Development of a bio-based adhesive by polymerization of Boc-protected vinyl catechol derived from caffeic acid Reviewed
Shiho Tanizaki, Tomohiro Kubo, Yosuke Bito, Shigeki Mori, Hiroyuki Aoki, Kotaro Satoh
RSC Sustainability 2025
-
Photocontrolled <scp>RAFT</scp> Polymerization for the Preparation of Catechol‐Functionalized Surfaces Reviewed
Rui Guo, Shiho Tanizaki, Yuta Nabae, Hiroyuki Aoki, Tomohiro Kubo, Kotaro Satoh
Journal of Polymer Science 2024.12
-
Precision Synthesis of End-Functionalized Star Poly(vinyl alcohol)s by RAFT Polymerization and Post-polymerization Modification Reviewed
Gaishi Murakami, Tomohiro Kubo, Kotaro Satoh
Precision Chemistry 2023.6
-
Effect of Oligomers Derived from Biodegradable Polyesters on Eco- and Neurotoxicity Reviewed
Naoto Yoshinaga, Ayaka Tateishi, Yasuaki Kobayashi, Tomohiro Kubo, Hitoshi Miyakawa, Kotaro Satoh, Keiji Numata
Biomacromolecules 2023.4
-
Addition–Fragmentation Ring‐Opening Polymerization of Bio‐Based Thiocarbonyl l‐Lactide for Dual Degradable Vinyl Copolymers Reviewed
Ryoya Kamiki, Tomohiro Kubo, Kotaro Satoh
Macromolecular Rapid Communications 2023.1
-
Interlocking degradation of vinyl polymers via main‐chain CC bonds scission by introducing pendant‐responsive comonomers Reviewed
Sota Yamamoto, Tomohiro Kubo, Kotaro Satoh
Journal of Polymer Science 2022.12
-
Novel Bio‐Based Catechol‐Containing Copolymers by Precision Polymerization of Caffeic Acid‐Derived Styrenes Using Ester Protection Reviewed
Shiho Tanizaki, Tomohiro Kubo, Kotaro Satoh
Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics 2022.6
-
Adhesion Promoting Copolymer of Acetate-Protected Vinyl Catechol with Glycidyl Methacrylate: Unraveling Deprotection, Adsorption, and Adhesion Behaviors on Metal Substrates Reviewed
Chien-Wei Chu, Yucheng Zhang, Tomohiro Kubo, Shiho Tanizaki, Ken Kojio, Kotaro Satoh, Atsushi Takahara
ACS Applied Polymer Materials 2022.5
-
Hydrophilic bio-based polymers by radical copolymerization of cyclic vinyl ethers derived from glycerol Reviewed
Riko Kashima, Akito Kajita, Tomohiro Kubo, Masami Kamigaito, Kotaro Satoh
Chemical Communications 2022
-
Air‐tolerant poly(3‐hexylthiophene) synthesis via catalyst‐transfer polymerization Reviewed
Tomohiro Kubo, Morgan S. Young, Kendra D. Souther, Matthew D. Hannigan, Anne J. McNeil
Journal of Polymer Science 59 ( 3 ) 268 - 273 2021.2
-
Cyclic Poly(4-methyl-1-pentene): Efficient Catalytic Synthesis of a Transparent Cyclic Polymer Reviewed
Zhihui Miao, Digvijayee Pal, Weijia Niu, Tomohiro Kubo, Brent S. Sumerlin, Adam S. Veige
Macromolecules 53 ( 18 ) 7774 - 7782 2020.9
-
Adapting Meaningful Learning Strategies to Teach Liquid–Liquid Extractions Reviewed
Nancy Wu, Tomohiro Kubo, Ariana O. Hall, Danielle M. Zurcher, Sameer Phadke, Rachel L. Wallace, Anne J. McNeil
Journal of Chemical Education 97 ( 1 ) 80 - 86 2019.11
-
Student-Designed Green Chemistry Experiment for a Large-Enrollment, Introductory Organic Laboratory Course Reviewed
Nancy Wu, Tomohiro Kubo, Kikelomo N. Sekoni, Ariana O. Hall, Sameer Phadke, Danielle M. Zurcher, Rachel L. Wallace, Devki B. Kothari, Anne J. McNeil
Journal of Chemical Education 96 ( 11 ) 2420 - 2425 2019.10
-
pH-Responsive Water-Soluble Cyclic Polymer Reviewed
Zhihui Miao, Tomohiro Kubo, Digvijayee Pal, Brent S. Sumerlin, Adam S. Veige
Macromolecules 52 ( 16 ) 6260 - 6265 2019.8
-
Toward one‐pot olefin/thiophene block copolymers using an in situ ligand exchange Reviewed
Amanda K. Leone, Amanda L. Dewyer, Tomohiro Kubo, Paul M. Zimmerman, Anne J. McNeil
Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 57 ( 14 ) 1601 - 1605 2019.6
-
Polypropylene: Now Available without Chain Ends Reviewed
Weijia Niu, Stella A. Gonsales, Tomohiro Kubo, Kyle C. Bentz, Digvijayee Pal, Daniel A. Savin, Brent S. Sumerlin, Adam S. Veige
Chem 5 ( 1 ) 237 - 244 2019.1
-
Synthesis of functional and boronic acid-containing aliphatic polyesters via Suzuki coupling Reviewed
Tomohiro Kubo, Georg M. Scheutz, Tristin S. Latty, Brent S. Sumerlin
Chemical Communications 55 ( 39 ) 5655 - 5658 2019
-
Synthesis of Multifunctional Homopolymers through Using Thiazolidine Chemistry and Post-Polymerization Modification Reviewed
Tomohiro Kubo, Jeremy L. Swartz, Georg M. Scheutz, Brent S. Sumerlin
Macromolecular Rapid Communications 40 ( 1 ) 1800590 - 1800590 2018.10
-
Alternating Radical Ring-Opening Polymerization of Cyclic Ketene Acetals: Access to Tunable and Functional Polyester Copolymers Reviewed
Megan R. Hill, Tomohiro Kubo, Sofia L. Goodrich, C. Adrian Figg, Brent S. Sumerlin
Macromolecules 51 ( 14 ) 5079 - 5084 2018.7
-
Synthesis of multifunctional homopolymers via sequential post-polymerization reactions Reviewed
Tomohiro Kubo, Charles P. Easterling, Rebecca A. Olson, Brent S. Sumerlin
Polymer Chemistry 9 ( 37 ) 4605 - 4610 2018
-
Maximizing the symbiosis of static and dynamic bonds in self-healing boronic ester networks Reviewed
Jessica J. Cash, Tomohiro Kubo, Daniel J. Dobbins, Brent S. Sumerlin
Polymer Chemistry 9 ( 15 ) 2011 - 2020 2018
-
Domain Spacing and Composition Profile Behavior in Salt-Doped Cyclic vs Linear Block Polymer Thin Films: A Joint Experimental and Simulation Study Reviewed
Thomas E. Gartner, Tomohiro Kubo, Youngmi Seo, Maxym Tansky, Lisa M. Hall, Brent S. Sumerlin, Thomas H. Epps
Macromolecules 50 ( 18 ) 7169 - 7176 2017.9
-
Catalyst-Free Photoinduced End-Group Removal of Thiocarbonylthio Functionality Reviewed
R. Nicholas Carmean, C. Adrian Figg, Georg M. Scheutz, Tomohiro Kubo, Brent S. Sumerlin
ACS Macro Letters 6 ( 2 ) 185 - 189 2017.2
-
Synthetic upcycling of polyacrylates through organocatalyzed post-polymerization modification Reviewed
Charles P. Easterling, Tomohiro Kubo, Zachary M. Orr, Gail E. Fanucci, Brent S. Sumerlin
Chem. Sci. 8 ( 11 ) 7705 - 7709 2017
-
Modular and rapid access to amphiphilic homopolymers via successive chemoselective post-polymerization modification Reviewed
Tomohiro Kubo, Kyle C. Bentz, Kristin C. Powell, C. Adrian Figg, Jeremy L. Swartz, Maxym Tansky, Anuj Chauhan, Daniel A. Savin, Brent S. Sumerlin
Polym. Chem. 8 ( 39 ) 6028 - 6032 2017
-
Mild and efficient synthesis of ω,ω-heterodifunctionalized polymers and polymer bioconjugates Reviewed
C. Adrian Figg, Ashton N. Bartley, Tomohiro Kubo, Bryan S. Tucker, Ronald K. Castellano, Brent S. Sumerlin
Polymer Chemistry 8 ( 16 ) 2457 - 2461 2017
-
Introducing “Ynene” Metathesis: Ring-Expansion Metathesis Polymerization Leads to Highly Cis and Syndiotactic Cyclic Polymers of Norbornene Reviewed
Soufiane S. Nadif, Tomohiro Kubo, Stella A. Gonsales, Sudarsan VenkatRamani, Ion Ghiviriga, Brent S. Sumerlin, Adam S. Veige
Journal of the American Chemical Society 138 ( 20 ) 6408 - 6411 2016.5
-
Highly Tactic Cyclic Polynorbornene: Stereoselective Ring Expansion Metathesis Polymerization of Norbornene Catalyzed by a New Tethered Tungsten-Alkylidene Catalyst Reviewed
Stella A. Gonsales, Tomohiro Kubo, Madison K. Flint, Khalil A. Abboud, Brent S. Sumerlin, Adam S. Veige
Journal of the American Chemical Society 138 ( 15 ) 4996 - 4999 2016.4
-
Multifunctional Homopolymers: Postpolymerization Modification via Sequential Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution Reviewed
Tomohiro Kubo, C. Adrian Figg, Jeremy L. Swartz, William L. A. Brooks, Brent S. Sumerlin
Macromolecules 49 ( 6 ) 2077 - 2084 2016.3
-
Efficient and Chemoselective Synthesis of ω,ω-Heterodifunctional Polymers Reviewed
C. Adrian Figg, Tomohiro Kubo, Brent S. Sumerlin
ACS Macro Letters 4 ( 10 ) 1114 - 1118 2015.9
-
Illustrating the Utility of X-ray Crystallography for Structure Elucidation through a Tandem Aldol Condensation/Diels–Alder Reaction Sequence Reviewed
Giang T. Hoang, Tomohiro Kubo, Victor G. Young, Jacob A. Kautzky, Jane E. Wissinger
Journal of Chemical Education 92 ( 8 ) 1381 - 1384 2015.7
-
Room-Temperature Self-Healing Polymers Based on Dynamic-Covalent Boronic Esters Reviewed
Jessica J. Cash, Tomohiro Kubo, Abhijeet P. Bapat, Brent S. Sumerlin
Macromolecules 48 ( 7 ) 2098 - 2106 2015.3
-
Morphology, Modulus, and Conductivity of a Triblock Terpolymer/Ionic Liquid Electrolyte Membrane Reviewed
Lucas D. McIntosh, Tomohiro Kubo, Timothy P. Lodge
Macromolecules 47 ( 3 ) 1090 - 1098 2014.1
-
Sustainable Polymers in the Organic Chemistry Laboratory: Synthesis and Characterization of a Renewable Polymer from δ-Decalactone and l-Lactide Reviewed
Deborah K. Schneiderman, Chad Gilmer, Michael T. Wentzel, Mark T. Martello, Tomohiro Kubo, Jane E. Wissinger
Journal of Chemical Education 91 ( 1 ) 131 - 135 2013.11
Presentations
-
Pendent Hetero-Difunctionalized Polymers Prepared from 2,4,6-Trichloro-1,3,5-triazine
Kubo, T., Figg, C. A., Brooks, W. L. A., Sumerlin, B. S.
91st Florida Annual Meeting and Exposition 2015
-
Multifunctional Homopolymers: Post-Polymerization Modification via Sequential Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution
Kubo, T., Figg, C. A., Swartz, J. L., Brooks, W. L. A., Sumerlin, B. S.
3rd Annual Applied Polymer Technology Extension Consortium Meeting 2015
-
User-Friendly Catalyst-Transfer Polymerization
Kubo, T., Souther, K. D., Young, M. S., McNeil, A. J.
12th SPSJ International Polymer Conference 2018
-
Multifunctional Homopolymers: from Synthesis to Applications
Kubo, T., Figg, C. A., Swartz, J. L., Bentz, K. C., Powell, K. C., Chauhan, A., Savin, D. A., Sumerlin, B. S.
12th SPSJ International Polymer Conference 2018
-
User-Friendly Catalyst-Transfer Polymerization
Kubo, T., Souther, K. D., Young, M. S., McNeil, A. J.
42nd Annual Macro Symposium 2018
-
Macrocyclization of Block Copolymers via Click Chemistry
Kubo, T., Tansky, M., Sumerlin, B. S.
17th Florida Heterocyclic and Synthetic Conference 2016
-
Pendent Hetero-Difunctionalized Polymers Prepared from 2,4,6-Trichloro-1,3,5-triazine
Kubo, T., Figg, C. A., Brooks, W. L. A., Sumerlin, B. S.
16th Florida Heterocyclic and Synthetic Conference 2015
-
New Strategies for Polymer Synthesis and Functionalization Invited
Kubo, T., Hill, M. R., Easterling, C. P., Sumerlin, B. S.
12th SPSJ International Polymer Conference 2018
-
Polypropylene: Now Available without Chain Ends
Kubo, T., Gonsales, S. A., Veige, A. S., Sumerlin, B. S.
Gordon Research Conference in Polymers 2017
-
Sequential and Chemoselective Post-Polymerization Modification Strategy
Kubo, T., Figg, C. A., Swartz, J. L., Tansky, M., Bentz, K. C., Powell, K. C., Chauhan, A., Savin, D. A., Sumerlin, B. S.
255th American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition 2018
-
Catalysts for Cyclic Polymer Synthesis Invited
Kubo, T.
Sigma Seminar 2018
-
Expanding the Scope of Catalyst Transfer Polymerization Invited
Kubo, T., Young, M. S., Souther, K. D., McNeil, A. J.
258th American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition 2019
-
Sequential and Chemoselective Post-Polymerization Modification Strategy
Kubo, T., Figg, C. A., Swartz, J. L., Tansky, M., Bentz, K. C., Powell, K. C., Chauhan, A., Savin, D. A., Sumerlin, B. S.
18th Florida Heterocyclic and Synthetic Conference 2018
-
Improved Degradability of Poly(Lactic Acid) by Introducing Thionoester Linkages
Kubo, T, Satoh, K
71st SPSJ Annual Meeting 2022.5
-
Air- and Moisture-Tolerant Synthesis of Poly(3-hexylthiophene) via Catalyst-Transfer Polymerization
Kubo, T., McNeil, A. J.
3rd G'L'owing Polymer Symposium in KANTO 2020.11
-
Rapid and Straightforward Access to Well-defined Conductive Polymers
Kubo, T., Souther, K. D., Young, M. S., McNeil, A. J.
11th HOPE Meeting 2019
-
Air-Tolerant Catalyst-Transfer Polymerization
Kubo, T., Young, M. S., Souther, K. D., McNeil, A. J.
Gordon Research Conference in Polymers 2019
-
User-Friendly Poly(3-hexylthiophene) Synthesis via Catalyst-Transfer Polymerization
Kubo, T, McNeil, A. J
69th Symposium on Macromolecules 2020.9
-
Air-Tolerant Poly(3-hexylthiophene) Synthesis via Catalyst-Transfer Polymerization
Kubo, T, McNeil, A. J
69th SPSJ Annual Meeting 2020.5
Awards
-
Outstanding Reviewer for Polymer Chemistry
2021
-
Future Faculty Scholar
2019 PMSE
-
Graduate Student Mentoring Award
2018
-
Graduate Student Teaching Award
2015
-
Townes R. Leigh Prize
2014
-
Grinter Fellowship
2013
Research Projects
-
転位反応を活用した高分子機能化手法の開発
Grant number：25K18069 2025.4 - 2028.3
日本学術振興会 科学研究費助成事業 若手研究
久保 智弘
Grant amount：\4810000 （ Direct Cost: \3700000 、 Indirect Cost：\1110000 ）
-
高分子側鎖における変換反応を活用したアップサイクル手法の開発
Grant number：23K13790 2023.4 - 2025.3
日本学術振興会 科学研究費助成事業 若手研究
久保 智弘
Grant amount：\4680000 （ Direct Cost: \3600000 、 Indirect Cost：\1080000 ）
プラスチックの環境への流出が世界的な問題になる中で、汎用高分子を高付加価値物へと変換する技術の開発がこれまで以上に求められている。本研究では、高分子反応を用いた種々ポリマーのアップサイクル手法の開発を目的とする。具体的には、カルボニルの変換を基点とする高分子反応手法を探索し、得られる官能基の反応性を駆使することで、機能性高分子材料や特殊構造高分子といった高付加価値物を創出することを目指す。
これまでに、種々のポリマーを用いたカルボニルにおける変換反応を検討し、本研究課題の遂行で基盤となる高分子構造変換技術が達成できることを明らかにした。その中で、高分子構造と反応性の関係についての重要な知見を得た。より具体的には、高分子中のカルボニル周りの嵩高さが反応率に及ぼす影響を評価するだけでなく、低分子モデル化合物の反応性評価を通した最適条件の解明を進めた。その一方で、高分子反応においてわずかに副反応も進行していることが示唆されており、様々な条件で変換反応を行うことでの副反応の機構解明、及びその抑制について検討を続けている。
高分子構造変換を行うことで得られる官能基の反応性の評価も行った。これまでに、求核剤や金属塩に対しての高い反応性が観測されている。今回、その反応性を活用することによる高分子への機能付与について検討し、ラジカル機構により高分子鎖間で反応が進行し、本研究課題で1つの目標とした架橋構造が得られることを明らかにした。 -
2022 - 2025
科学技術振興機構 戦略的な研究開発の推進 戦略的創造研究推進事業 さきがけ
久保 智弘
Authorship：Principal investigator
本研究では、自然環境下で速やかに低分子量化し、使用時の安定性と使用後の分解性を両立するサステイナブル材料の設計指針を構築することを目的とします。具体的には、高分子主鎖中の官能基の一部を変換することで分解性を制御する手法を開発します。高分子構造と機能の関係を明確化し、高分子反応による分解性官能基導入手法、および廃棄物を用いた分解性付与手法を確立することを目標とします。
-
主鎖分解性をもつ導電性高分子の精密合成
Grant number：20K22524 2020.9 - 2023.3
日本学術振興会 科学研究費助成事業 研究活動スタート支援
久保 智弘
Grant amount：\2860000 （ Direct Cost: \2200000 、 Indirect Cost：\660000 ）
本研究では、導電性と分解性を併せ持つ高分子を合成し、その諸物性を評価することで、高分子構造と諸機能の相関解明を進めることを目的とする。本目的達成のため、分解性官能基が導入された共役型モノマーを合成し、そのモノマーの精密重合法を確立することで、明確な構造をもった分解性高分子の合成を目指す。具体的には、様々な分解性共役型モノマーの触媒移動型縮合重合を検討し、分解性が付与された導電性高分子の合成手法の開発を検討する。今年度は、種々の共役型モノマーの合成を達成し、金属触媒を用いた精密重合を検討した。開始剤とモノマーの仕込み比や重合溶媒などの重合条件の検討を行うことで、分子量分布が狭く、分子量の制御された共役系ポリマーの合成を行った。モノマーの側鎖に長鎖アルキル基を導入することで、得られる高分子の溶解性向上を図り、単独重合体の合成を達成した。さらに、非共役型モノマーとのランダム共重合を行うことで、分解可能な官能基が任意の割合で導入された高分子量体の合成に成功した。得られた共役系ポリマーの光学的及び溶液中での特性を評価し、単独重合体とランダム共重合体間での比較を行った。今後は、モノマー構造と得られる高分子の分解性の体系的な評価、さらに光学的特性や導電性などの多面的な解析を行う。これらの評価で得られる知見を発展させ、構造と諸機能の関係の明確化を進めることで、分解性を示す導電性高分子の設計指針構築を目指す。