Professor Ying Yeung YEUNG（楊英洋教授）

Professor

location    Room 260 Science Centre

Phone No.    (852) 3943 6377

Email    yyyeung@cuhk.edu.hk

0000-0001-9881-5758

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Education

2005 Ph.D., Department of Chemistry The Chinese University of Hong Kong
2001 B.Sc. (1st Hons), Department of Chemistry The Chinese University of Hong Kong

 

Position

Since 2019 Professor, Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
2016-2021 Chairman, Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
2015-2019 Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
2014-2015 Assistant Head, Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore
2014-2015 Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore
2008-2014 Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore
2005-2008 Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Chemistry, Harvard University

 

Openings: We are recruiting PhD and Postdoc candidates, please email your applications to me directly if you are interested.

 

Research Interests

Our research group has broad interests in synthetic organic chemistry. The main focuses are centered on novel methodologies development and complex molecules synthesis. Research directions include:
1. Organocatalysis
2. Asymmetric halogenation reactions
3. Multi-component synthesis
4. Novel functional molecules synthesis for biological studies

 

Honours and Awards

2021 Outstanding Fellow, Faculty of Science, CUHK
2020 Research Excellence Award, CUHK
2019 Asian Rising Star Lectureship, Asian Chemical Congress 2019
2018 Young Researcher Award, CUHK
2017 Exemplary Teaching Award, CUHK
2017 Asian Core Program Lectureship Award (Japan, Taiwan)
2015 MIT Technology Review Innovator Under 35 (Asia)
2014 Young Investigator Award, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore
2014 Young Chemist Award, Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore
2014 Asian Core Program Lectureship Award (Hong Kong)
2013 Chemistry Research Promotion Center/NSC Lectureship (Taiwan)
2012 Asian Core Program Lectureship Award (Korea, China)
2011 Thieme Chemistry Journal Award
2011 Asian Core Program Lectureship Award (Thailand)
2010 Asian Core Program Lectureship Award (Japan)
2005 CUHK Young Scholars Dissertation Awards
2002 The Chinese University of Hong Kong Faculty of Science Dean’s honors List
2001 Dr. James C.N. Ma Memorial Scholarship
2000 The Chinese University of Hong Kong Faculty of Science Dean’s honors List
2000 Shaw College Lam Kin Chung Department Scholarships
1999 Shaw College Certificate of Academic Merit

 

Professional activities

Member of American Chemical Society, since 01/2005
Member of Royal Society of Chemistry, since 07/2014
Asian Core Program (ACP) coordinator, 2018- present
International Symposium of Chinese Organic Chemists (ISCOC) Secretary General, 2018-present

 

Representative Publications

1. Liangkun Pan, Long Zheng, Ye Chen, Zhihai Ke,* Ying-Yeung Yeung* “Mechanochemical and Catalyst-Free Cascade Synthesis of 1,3-Diols and 1,4-Iodoalcohols Using Styrenes and Hypervalent Iodine Reagents”
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, DOI: 10.1002/anie.202207926.
2. Qingyu Zhang, Yung-Yin Chan, Muyin Zhang, Ying-Yeung Yeung,* Zhihai Ke* “Hypervalent Chalcogenonium…π Bonding Catalysis”
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, DOI: 10.1002/anie.202208009.
3. Yuk-Cheung Chan, Xinyan Wang, Ying-Pong Lam, Jonathan Wong, Ying-Lung Steve Tse,* Ying-Yeung Yeung* “A Catalyst-Controlled Enantiodivergent Bromolactonization”
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 12745-12754.
4. Rong-Bin Hu, Ying-Pong Lam, Wing-Hin Ng, Chun-Yuen Wong, Ying-Yeung Yeung* “Zwitterion Induced Organic-Metal Hybrid Catalysis in Aerobic Oxidation”
ACS Catal. 2021, 11, 3498-3506.
5. Tianyu Zheng, Xinyan Wang, Wing-Hin Ng, Ying-Lung Steve Tse,* Ying-Yeung Yeung* “Catalytic Enantio- and Diastereoselective Domino Halocyclization and Spiroketalization”
Nature Catalysis 2020, 3, 993-1001. (Cover page)
6. Matthew H. Gieuw, Shuming Chen, Zhihai Ke, K. N. Houk,* Ying-Yeung Yeung* “Boron Tribromide as Reagent for Anti-Markovnikov Addition of HBr to Cyclopropanes”
Chem. Sci. 2020, 11, 9426-9433.
7. Xiaodong Xiong, Tianyu Zheng, Xinyan Wang, Ying-Lung Steve Tse,* Ying-Yeung Yeung* “Access to Chiral Bisphenol Ligands (BPOL) through Desymmetrizing Asymmetric Ortho-Selective Halogenation”
Chem 2020, 6, 919-932.
8. Ying-Pong Lam, Xinyan Wang, Fei Tan, Wing-Hin Ng, Ying-Lung Steve Tse,* Ying-Yeung Yeung* “Amide​/Iminium Zwitterionic Catalysts for (Trans)​esterification: Application in Biodiesel Synthesis”
ACS Catal. 2019, 9, 8083-8092.
9. Xinxin He, Xinyan Wang, Ying-Lung Steve Tse, Zhihai Ke,* Ying-Yeung Yeung* “Applications of Selenonium Cations as Lewis Acids in Organocatalytic Reactions”
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2018, 57, 12869-12873.
10. Yuk-Cheung Chan, Ying-Yeung Yeung* “Halogen Bond Catalyzed Bromocarbocyclization”
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2018, 57, 3483-3487.
11. Xiaodong Xiong, Ying-Yeung Yeung* “Ammonium Salt-Catalyzed Highly Practical Ortho-Selective Monohalogenation and Phenylselenation of Phenols: Scope and Applications”
ACS Catal. 2018, 8, 4033-4043. (Cover page)
12. Matthew H. Gieuw, Zhihai Ke, Ying-Yeung Yeung* “Lewis Base-Promoted Ring-Opening 1,3-Dioxygenation of Unactivated Cyclopropanes using Hypervalent Iodine Reagent”
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2018, 57, 3782-3786.
13. Jie Yang See, Hui Yang, Yu Zhao, Ming Wah Wong, Zhihai Ke, Ying-Yeung Yeung* “Desymmetrizing Enantio- and Diastereoselective Selenoetherification through Supramolecular Catalysis”
ACS Catal. 2018, 8, 850-858.
14. Yi Liu, Ying-Lung Steve Tse, Fuk Yee Kwong, Ying-Yeung Yeung* “Accessing Axially Chiral Biaryls via Organocatalytic Enantioselective Dynamic-Kinetic Resolution-Semipinacol Rearrangement”
ACS Catal. 2017, 7, 4435-4440.
15. Xiaodong Xiong, Ying-Yeung Yeung* “Highly ortho-Selective Chlorination of Anilines Using a Secondary Ammonium Salt Organocatalyst”
Angew. Chem. Int. Et. 2016, 55, 16101-16105.
16. Yi An Cheng, Wesley Zongrong Yu, Ying-Yeung Yeung* “Carbamate-Catalyzed Enantioselective Bromolactamization”
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2015, 54, 12102-12106.
17. Tao Chen, Thomas Jian Yao Foo, Ying-Yeung Yeung* “Indole-Catalyzed Bromolactonization in Lipophilic Solvent: A Solid–Liquid Phase Transfer Approach”
ACS Catal. 2015, 5, 4751-4756.
18. Zhihai Ke, Chong Kiat Tan, Feng Chen, Ying-Yeung Yeung* “Catalytic Asymmetric Bromoetherification and Desymmetrization of Olefinic 1,3-Diols with C2-Symmetric Sulfides”
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 5627-5630
19. Daniel Weiliang Tay, Gulice Yiu Chung Leung, Ying-Yeung Yeung* “Amino-thiocarbamate Catalyzed Enantioselective Desymmetrizing Bromoetherification of Diolefinic Diols―Application to the Synthesis of Novel Chiral Spirocyclest”
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2014, 53, 5161-5164.
20. Feng Chen, Chong Kiat Tan, Ying-Yeung Yeung* “C2-Symmetric Cyclic Selenium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Bromoaminocyclization”
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 1232-1235.
21. Yi Zhao, Xiaojian Jiang, Ying-Yeung Yeung* “Catalytic Enantioselective and Highly Chemoselective Bromocyclization of Olefinic Dicarbonyl Compounds”
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2013, 52, 8597-8601.
22. Yi An Cheng,  Tao Chen,  Chong Kiat Tan, Jun Jie Heng, Ying-Yeung Yeung* “Efficient Medium Ring Size Bromolactonization Using a Sulfur-Based Zwitteriionic Organocatalyst”
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 16492-16495.
23. Xiaojian Jiang, Chong Kiat Tan, Ling Zhou, Ying-Yeung Yeung* “Bromolactonization of olefinic acids using non-classical S-alkyl thiocarbamate catalyst”
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2012, 51, 7771-7775.
24. Ling Zhou, Jie Chen, Chong Kiat Tan, Ying-Yeung Yeung* “Enantioselective Bromoaminocyclization Using Amino-Thiocarbamate Catalysts”
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 9164-9167.
25. Ling Zhou, Chong Kiat Tan, Xiaojian Jiang, Feng Chen, Ying-Yeung Yeung* “Asymmetric Bromolactonization Using Amino-Thiocarbamate Catalyst”
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 15474-15476.
26. Ling Zhou, Chong Kiat Tan, Jing Zhou, Ying-Yeung Yeung* “Facile, Efficient, and Catalyst Free Electrophilic Aminoalkoxylation of Olefins: Scope and Application”
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 10245-10247.

 

Major research grants

1. Project title: Studies and applications of pillarenes as organocatalysts in selective electrophilic halogenations (Role: PI). General Research Fund, Hong Kong Research Grant Council. HKD$876530 (09/2022-09/2025).
2. Project title: Studies and applications of imidazolium and cyclopropenium salts as pi-acid organocatalysts in chemical transformations (Role: PI). General Research Fund, Hong Kong Research Grant Council. HKD$666015 (01/2022-12/2024).
3. Project title: Design and applications of Lewis base-boron complexes as non-classical hydrogen bond organocatalysts in chemical transformations (Role: PI). General Research Fund, Hong Kong Research Grant Council. HKD$666512 (01/2020-12/2023).
4. Project title: Design, synthesis, and applications of bis-chalcogenium salts as soft Lewis acidic organocatalysts in chemical transformations (Role: PI). General Research Fund, Hong Kong Research Grant Council. HKD$558272 (10/2019-09/2022).
5. Project title: Studies and applications of cyclopropenium chalcogenides as soft Lewis basic organocatalysts in electrophilic functionalization of unsaturated compounds (Role: PI). General Research Fund, Hong Kong Research Grant Council. HKD$742530 (08/2018-08/2021).
6. Project title: Studies and applications of halogen bond organocatalysts in halogenation reactions (Role: PI). General Research Fund, Hong Kong Research Grant Council. HKD$522898 (08/2017-08/2020).
7. Project title: Novel Synthetic Strategy for the Synthesis of Chiral 3-Fluoro-oxindole (Role: PI). Innovation and Technology Commission, HKSAR. HKD$1406450 (12/2017-11/2019).
8. Project title: Development of Highly Lipophilic Indole Derivatives as Phase-transfer Organocatalysts for Environmentally Benign Halogenation (Role: Co-I). General Research Fund, Hong Kong Research Grant Council. HKD$362580 (09/2017-08/2020).
9. Project title: Design, synthesis, and application of a new class of aminopyridine-based zwitterionic organocatalyst (Role: PI). General Research Fund, Hong Kong Research Grant Council. HKD$359406 (12/2016-12/2019).
10. Project title: Lewis Base-catalyzed Electrophilic Halogenation of Unactivated Cyclopropanes (Role: Co-I). General Research Fund, Hong Kong Research Grant Council. HKD$522898 (08/2017-08/2020).
11. Project title: Photocatalyzed oxidative cleavage of polymers and oligosaccharides into useful raw materials (Role: PI). ETRP, Singapore National Environmental Agency. SGD$465175 (05/2013-04/2016).
12. Project title: Hypervalent iodine catalyzed sustainable and environmental benign oxidations including remote C-H (Role: PI). Green and Sustainable Manufacturing Trust Fund, GSK-EDB Singapore. SGD$492720 (06/2013-05/2016).
13. Project title: Studies on the controllable inert carbon-carbon and related bonding cleavage through a selective oxidationactivation process (Role: PI). SERC-PSF, A-STAR Singapore. SGD$331500 (03/2013-02/2016).
14. Project title: Photocatalyzed oxidative cleavage of polymers and oligosaccharides into useful raw materials (Role: PI). MOE-Tier 1 Fund, National University of Singapore. SGD$179000 (08/2012-03/2015).
15. Project title: Synthesis of Narasin’s and Hydroxycamptothecin’s derivatives and their therapeutic bioassays against Dengue virus and Human Enterovirus 71 (Role: PI). Cross Faculty Funding, National University of Singapore. SGD$25000 (03/2013-02/2015).
16. Project title: Cohalogenation and coselenylation of olefins with nitriles and amines: synthesis of amidine and guanidine derivatives (Role: PI). MOE-Tier 1 Fund, National University of Singapore. SGD$146000 (04/2010-03/2013).