An efficient modular approach for the synthesis of propargylamine modified β-cyclodextrins has been developed. Using mono-(6-benzylamino-6-deoxy)-β-cyclodextrins, formaldehyde, and alkynes, mono-(6-(benzylpropargyl)amino-6-deoxy)-β-cyclodextrins have been synthesized through a three-component coupling reaction catalyzed by gold(III) salt in water at 40 °C.

A new approach for selective hydroxylation of non-activated cyclohexanes using dioxirane generated in situ in water through supramolecular control has been developed. Using β-CD and γ-CD as the supramolecular hosts, selective hydroxylation of cyclohexane substrates, including trans/cis-1,4-, 1,3- and 1,2-dimethylcyclohexanes and trans/cis-decahydronaphthalene, was achieved in up to 54% yield in water. Furthermore, site-selective C–H bond hydroxylation of (+)-menthol was achieved by obstructing the approach of dioxirane to the C–H bond with higher steric hindrance through inclusion complexation with β-CD and γ-CD in water.

A new photosensitizer-free visible light-mediated gold-catalysed cis-difunctionalization reaction is developed. The reaction was chemoselective towards silyl-substituted alkynes with excellent regioselectivity and good functional group compatibility, giving a series of silyl-substituted quinolizinium derivatives as products. The newly synthesized fluorescent quinolizinium compounds, named JR-Fluor-1, possessed tunable emission properties and large Stokes shifts. With unique photophysical properties, the fluorophores have been applied in photooxidative amidations as efficient photocatalysts and cellular imaging with switchable subcellular localization properties.

A novel method for visual detection of formaldehyde with excellent selectivity via a gold(III) complex-mediated three-component coupling reaction of resin-linked sterically bulky amines and fluorescent alkynes has been developed.

Modular assembly of cyclometalated gold(III) complexes by choosing appropriate bidentate C,N-donor ligands and ancillary ligands for chemoselective cysteine modification of peptides and proteins via C–S bond-forming reductive elimination has been achieved.

A new class of hydrogen bond donor–acceptor–donor (HB-DAD) organocatalysts has been developed for conjugate addition of benzylidene barbiturates. HB-DAD organocatalyst 1a (featuring para-chloro-pyrimidine as the hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA), N–H as the hydrogen bond donor (HBD) and a trifluoroacetyl group as the electron withdrawing group (EWG)) is able to activate benzylidene barbiturates through complementary DAD–ADA hydrogen bonding. Using 1a in benzylidene barbiturate conjugate addition, good yields were achieved. The relative rate constant (krel = 2.9) of 1a in catalyzing the conjugate addition of benzylidene barbiturates and the binding constant (KA = 8936 (±723) M−1) of 1a with benzylidene barbiturates were determined by NMR and UV/Vis. spectroscopy studies. The excellent correlation (R2 = 0.97) between the relative rate constant and binding affinity of 1a with benzylidene barbiturates provides support for the importance of DAD–ADA hydrogen bonding in organocatalysis.

Stable bis-cyclometallated gold(III) complexes were developed as efficient catalysts for organic transformation reactions by using two strategies: (1) construction of distorted square planar gold(III) complexes and (2) dual catalysis by gold(III) complexes and silver salts.

A site-specific and efficient method for N-terminal modification of peptides using oxone for selective oxidation of N-terminal α-amino groups of peptides to oximes followed by transoximation with O-substituted hydroxylamines has been developed.

Modular assembly of cyclometalated gold(III) complexes by choosing appropriate bidentate C,N-donor ligands and ancillary ligands for chemoselective cysteine modification of peptides and proteins via C–S bond-forming reductive elimination has been achieved.

A site-specific and efficient method for N-terminal modification of peptides using oxone for selective oxidation of N-terminal α-amino groups of peptides to oximes followed by transoximation with O-substituted hydroxylamines has been developed.

Stable bis-cyclometallated gold(III) complexes were developed as efficient catalysts for organic transformation reactions by using two strategies: (1) construction of distorted square planar gold(III) complexes and (2) dual catalysis by gold(III) complexes and silver salts.

A novel method for visual detection of formaldehyde with excellent selectivity via a gold(III) complex-mediated three-component coupling reaction of resin-linked sterically bulky amines and fluorescent alkynes has been developed.