Professor
Room 260 Science Centre
(852) 3943 6377
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
| 2022 | Croucher Senior Research Fellowship, Croucher Foundation |
| 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. | Tianyu Zheng,* Rui Chen, Jingxian Huang, Théo P. Gonçalves, Kuo-Wei Huang,* Ying-Yeung Yeung* “Cross-Assembly Confined Bifunctional Catalysis via Non-Covalent Interactions for Asymmetric Halogenation” Chem 2023, DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2023.01.016. |
| 2. | Junjie Yang, Yung-Yin Chan, Weida Feng, Ying-Lung Steve Tse,* Ying-Yeung Yeung* “Study and Applications of Tetrasubstituted Hypervalent Selenium-Halogen Species in Catalytic Electrophilic Halogenations” ACS Catal. 2023, 13, 2386-2395. |
| 3. | 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, e202207926. |
| 4. | Qingyu Zhang, Yung-Yin Chan, Muyin Zhang, Ying-Yeung Yeung,* Zhihai Ke* “Hypervalent Chalcogenonium…π Bonding Catalysis” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, e202208009. |
| 5. | 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. |
| 6. | 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. |
| 7. | 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) |
| 8. | 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. |
| 9. | 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. |
| 10. | 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. |
| 11. | 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. |
| 12. | Yuk-Cheung Chan, Ying-Yeung Yeung* “Halogen Bond Catalyzed Bromocarbocyclization” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2018, 57, 3483-3487. |
| 13. | 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) |
| 14. | 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. |
| 15. | 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. |
| 16. | 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. |
| 17. | 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. |
| 18. | Yi An Cheng, Wesley Zongrong Yu, Ying-Yeung Yeung* “Carbamate-Catalyzed Enantioselective Bromolactamization” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2015, 54, 12102-12106. |
| 19. | 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. |
| 20. | 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 |
| 21. | 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. |
| 22. | Feng Chen, Chong Kiat Tan, Ying-Yeung Yeung* “C2-Symmetric Cyclic Selenium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Bromoaminocyclization” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 1232-1235. |
| 23. | 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. |
| 24. | 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. |
| 25. | 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. |
| 26. | Ling Zhou, Jie Chen, Chong Kiat Tan, Ying-Yeung Yeung* “Enantioselective Bromoaminocyclization Using Amino-Thiocarbamate Catalysts” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 9164-9167. |
| 27. | 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. |
| 28. | 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: 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). |
| 2. | 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). |
| 3. | 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). |
| 4. | 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). |
| 5. | 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). |
| 6. | 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). |
| 7. | 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). |
| 8. | 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). |
| 9. | 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). |
| 10. | 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). |
| 11. | 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). |
| 12. | 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). |