A C₂-symmetric Schiff-base ligand, derived from tridentate-Schiff-base, was developed and successfully applied to the asymmetric Michael addition of nitroalkanes to 2-enoyl-pyridine N-oxides. With this newly catalytic system, an unprecedented diastereoselectivity was obtained in the asymmetric Michael addition of nitroalkanes to 2-enoyl-pyridine N-oxides. In addition, a switch in enantioselectivity was achieved by using this newly catalytic system and our previous catalyst. After a facile reduction, the optically active adduct was converted to a biologically active dihydro-2H-pyrrol 4 a. Furthermore, a connection of two tridentate-Schiff-base subunits proved to be an effective strategy in ligand design.

An efficient methodology for synthesizing a small library of easily tunable and sterically bulky ligands for asymmetric hydroformylation (AHF) has been reported. Five groups of alkene substrates have been tested with excellent conversions, moderate-to-excellent regio- and enantioselectivities. Among the best result of the reported literature, application of ligand 1 c in the highly selective AHF of the challenging substrate 2,5-dihydrofuran yielded almost one isomer in up to 99 % conversion along with enantiomeric excesses (ee) of up to 92 %. Highly enantioselective AHF of dihydropyrrole substrates is achieved using the same ligand, with up to 95 % ee and up to >1:50 β-isomer/α-isomer ratio.

A highly enantioselective Michael addition of nitroacetates to β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters was developed by using chiral copper catalysts. The Michael addition products can be obtained in high yields with up to 99 % ee. With these densely functionalized products, the chiral cyclic nitrones, which are important synthetic intermediates, can be obtained in one step.

A fluorescence polarization competitive assay was developed to efficiently screen and evaluate inhibitors of PCAF bromodomain/Tat-AcK50 protein–peptide interaction. A series of pyridine 1-oxide derivatives were synthesized and evaluated. Some of the novel compounds, 2-(3-aminopropylamino) pyridine 1-oxide derivatives, could be effective inhibitors of PCAF bromodomain/Tat-AcK50 association. Specifically, 2-(3-aminopropylamino)-5-(hydroxymethyl)pyridine 1-oxide hydrochloride (15) and the 5-((3-aminopropylamino)methyl) derivative (20) were found to be effective ligands for the PCAF BRD pocket. First preliminary cellular studies indicate that these small-molecule inhibitors have lower cytotoxicities and are potential leads for the anti-HIV/AIDS therapeutic strategy by targeting host-cell protein PCAF BRD to block HIV replication.

A cascade oxidative cyclization reaction for the synthesis of chromone derivatives was developed by using LiOtBu as a mediator and air as an oxidant. The reaction was carried out without the assistance of a transition metal under mild conditions to afford the chromones in good yields with high regioselectivities.

Manganese oxide (Mn₃O₄) nanoparticles have been successfully innovated to be efficient catalysts not only for the aerobic oxidation of various alcohols to aldehydes or ketones, but also for the selective aerobic oxidation of mixed alcohols.

The one-pot synthesis of 3,4-disubstituted coumarins from substituted 2-(hydroxymethyl)phenols with β-keto esters catalyzed by Mn₃O₄ nanoparticles was developed. A series of 3,4-disubstituted coumarin derivatives were obtained in good yields.

Direct base-mediated amination of aryl halides with aliphatic tertiary amines via an aryne intermediate was developed under transition-metal-free conditions. This operationally simple C–N bond-coupling protocol could tolerate a variety of functionalized aryl halides as well as several aliphatic tertiary amines. Moreover, this environmentally benign process provides a new strategy for direct C–N bond formation.

A highly anti-selective asymmetric Henry reaction has been developed, affording synthetically versatile β-nitroalcohols in a predominately anti-selective manner (mostly above 15:1) and excellent ee values (mostly above 95 %). Moreover, the anti-selective Henry reaction was carried out in the presence of water for the first time with up to 99 % ee. The catalytic mechanism was proposed based on the detection of the intermediates by extractive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (EESI-MS). Furthermore, the anti adducts have been successfully transformed into the biochemically important (+)-spisulosine and a pyrroloisoquinoline derivative.

A family of Zn^II-based metal–organic coordination polymers (MOCPs) [Zn(L)(imid)₂] (1), [Zn(L)(2,2′-bpy)] (2), [Zn₂(L)₂(Py)₃] (3), [Zn(L)(DPP)]⋅DMF (4), [Zn(L)(DPEA)] (5), [Zn₂(L)₂(4,4′-bpy)] (6), [Zn(L)(3,4′-DPEE)]⋅DMF (7), and [Zn₃(L)₃(3,4′-DPEE)₂]⋅DMF (8) (L=dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-e]benzene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid, imid=imidazole, bpy=bipyridine, Py=pyridine, DPP=1,3-di(pyridin-4-yl)propane, DPEA=1,2-di(pyridin-4-yl)ethane, and DPEE=(E)-3,4′-(ethene-1,2-diyl)dipyridine) have been rationally designed and generated in the solvothermal reaction systems of the new conjugated thiophene derivative L, Zn(ClO₄)₂⋅6 H₂O, and seven different aromatic N-donor co-ligands separately. These N-donor compounds were carefully selected and employed in the crystal preparation of the eight MOCPs as structure-directing co-ligands owing to their structural specialties and habitual coordination fashions. Among these MOCPs, compounds 1–3 are 1D polymers with different chain structures. Compounds 4, 7, and 8 are 2D structures, in which 4 has two sets of twofold interpenetrating layers, whereas 7 and 8 are both built from three independent sheets. Compounds 5 and 6 are 3D frameworks, in which 5 exhibits a fivefold interpenetrating diamondoid network, whereas 6 shows a typical twofold interpenetrating pillared layer structure with nanoscale channels. The photoluminescent properties of these MOCPs, including excitation, emission, and radiactive lifetime, have also been investigated to help us tentatively understand their structure–property relationships.

Nano copper oxide has been found to be a highly efficient and reusable catalyst for the C–O cross-coupling of phenols with aryl halides under ligand-free conditions. With DMSO as solvent, Cs₂CO₃ and KOH are suitable bases for the cross-coupling reactions with phenyl iodides and bromides, respectively. Diaryl ethers with different substituted groups can be synthesized in moderate-to-good yields. The catalyst can be recycled at least five times without obvious loss in catalytic activity.(© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)

A molecular iodine catalyzed hydroarylation of styrenes by arenes has been developed. This reaction could be carried out at 25 °C under a solvent-free condition, giving rise to the corresponding products with yields up to 93%. A series of 1,1-diarylalkane derivatives were easily prepared without any involvement of metal catalysts.