Development of industrially used processes:

• Total synthesis of steroids (industrial application of a synthetic method for the preparation of 2-alkylcycloalkan-1,3-diones, worldwide)
• Total synthesis of prostaglandins

Classes of compounds:

• Aliphatic and cycloaliphatic compounds (e.g. steroid hormones, vitamin D3-metabolites, cardenolides, prostaglandins)
• Aromatic compounds e.g. diaryl ethers)
• Heterocyclic compounds (nitrogen, sulfur and/or oxygen-containing mono- and bicyclic systems, lactones)
• Nucleosides (including carbocyclic nucleosides)
• Monosaccharides (selective protecting group techniques)
• Organic phosphorus compounds

Special methods and techniques

• Enzyme assisted catalysis in organic synthesis (enantio- and regioselective acylation, resolution of racemates, desymmetrisations)
• Organometallic compounds in organic synthesis (CC-bond formation, titanium- and palladium-assisted reactions, organozinc and organoindium compounds)
• Electrochemical methods (reduction, preparation of organometallic compounds, application of sacrificial anodes)
• Protecting group techniques in multi-step syntheses (e.g. in prostaglandin syntheses)
• Catalysis, oxidations, reductions
• Halogenation of aliphatic compounds
• Radical reactions