Supported by the 2024 Sakura Science Program Course D (Annual Mutual Exchange Course), we conducted an exchange project including mutual visits between Hiroshima University and BITS Pilani (Birla University of Technology and Science, Pilani) in India from December 2024 to March 2025. The objective of this project is to actively promote joint research based on the strengths of researchers at each university in the fields of element-based organic materials chemistry, and organic synthesis and photo functional evaluation of organic dyes. Accordingly, we planned to synthesize new organic π-conjugated boron complexes and evaluate their photocatalytic activities in this project. Faculty members and several students of Hiroshima University and BITS Pilani visit each other universities and carried out joint experiments in order to not only exchange knowledge through seminars and lectures, but also promote practical scientific exchange.

The Laboratory of Element-based Organic Materials Chemistry at the Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering Sciences, Hiroshima University, and the research group of Prof. Kumar at the Department of Chemistry at BITS Piliani have been conducting joint research for 5~6 years on the synthesis of new π-conjugated materials with photoluminescent properties, and have already published two joint papers. In this exchange project, based on the results of preliminary studies by both of the research groups, such as molecular design derived from molecular orbital calculations, we first discussed online the plan of specific joint experiments. After that, during a mutual visit of approximately 10 days, BITS Pilani graduate students synthesized organic π-conjugated boron complexes at Hiroshima University using a new ligand that was synthesized by an original method at BITS Pilani, while graduate students at Hiroshima University evaluated the photocatalytic activities of other organic π-conjugated boron complexes at BITS Pilani, which were synthesized at Hiroshima University. In addition, each faculty member gave a lecture at the university they visited, and held a seminar with laboratory members for detailed discussions. Finally, a wrap-up seminar was held online, where the experimental results at each university were reported and future joint research plans were discussed.

In addition to experimental results, beneficial achievements were made, such as mutual understanding between faculty members and graduate students and sharing the vision for future joint research. This project has had a positive impact on both sides, in terms of improving the skills of each graduate student concerning experimental techniques and scientific knowledge, broadening their vision, and cultivating their international communication skills.