LU Yixin
Professor, Head of Department
Postdoc., Nagoya University; Clinical Research Institute of Montreal; Ph.D., McGill University; M.Sc., Dalian University of Technology; B.Sc., Fudan University
Contact Information:
Office: S9-14-01E
Tel: (65)-6516-1569
Fax: (65)-6779-1691
Email: chmlyx@nus.edu.sg
Research
Recognition and Achievements
- Fellow, Singapore National Academy of Science
- Editorial Advisory Board Member, Accounts of Chemical Research
- NRF Investigatorship Award 2018
- Asian Core Program Lectureship Award to Japan, Korea, China & Taiwan, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014 & 2016
- Dean’s Chair Professorship, 2013
- GSK-SNIC Award in Organic Chemistry, 2013
- Outstanding Scientist Award & Young Scientist Award, Faculty of Science, NUS, 2013 & 2009
- Outstanding Chemist Award & Young Chemist Award, Department of Chemistry, NUS, 2011, 2010
Research Interests
Main areas of study are asymmetric catalysis/synthesis, & medicinal chemistry. Current interests include: asymmetric phosphine catalysis, asymmetric construction of axial chirality, photoredox-organo/transition metal cooperative catalysis, total synthesis, and transition metal catalysis.
Research Highlight
Reductive alkene cross-coupling represents a straightforward strategy for the construction of C-C bonds from readily available alkene feedstocks. A one-pot protocol, utilizing oxalic acid as a traceless linchpin, has been developed to achieve direct cross-coupling of electron-deficient alkenes. The overall process is a two-step transformation, involving hydrocarboxylation followed by decarboxylative cross-coupling. A dual-photocatalyst system is crucial for the success, and promotes the two reaction steps synergistically. This reaction supports the efficient synthesis of bioactive molecules. Photoredox catalysis provides an easy and mild pathway for the generation of a CO2 radical anion from oxalic acid, which paves the way for the broad utilization of this reactive intermediate in the synthesis of fine chemicals.
Ref: Wu, Z.; Wu, M.; Zhu, K.; Wu, J.; Lu, Y., Photocatalytic coupling of electron-deficient alkenes using oxalic acid as a traceless linchpin. Chem 2023, 9, 978-988.
Representative Publications
- Zhou, X.; Huang, Q.; Guo, J.; Dai, L.; Lu, Y., Enantioselective De Novo Synthesis of ɑ,ɑ-Diarylketones from Alkynes. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2023, 62, e202310078.
- Zhou, X.; Huang, Q.; Guo, J.; Dai, L.; Lu, Y., Molecular editing of pyrroles via a skeletal recasting strategy. ACS Cent. Sci. 2023, 9, DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.3c00812.
- Dai L.; Zhou, X.; Guo, J.; Dai, X.; Huang, Q.; Lu, Y., Diastereo- and atroposelective synthesis of N-Arylpyrroles enabled by light-induced phosphoric acid catalysis. Nat. Commun. 2023, 14, 4813.
- Wu, Z.; Wu, M.; Zhu, K.; Wu, J.; Lu, Y., Photocatalytic coupling of electron-deficient alkenes using oxalic acid as a traceless linchpin. Chem 2023, 9, DOI:10.1016/j.chempr.2022.12.013.
- Tan, C. X. A.; Li, R.; Zhang, F.; Dai, L.; Ullah, N.; Lu, Y., Synthesis of Axially Chiral CF3-Substituted 2-Arylpyrroles by Sequential Phosphine-Catalyzed Asymmetric [3+2] Annulation and Oxidative Central-to-Axial Chirality Transfer. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, 61, DOI:10.1002/anie.202209494.
- Huang, Q.; Chen, Y.; Zhou, X.; Dai, L.; Lu, Y., Nickel-Hydride-Catalyzed Diastereo- and Enantioselective Hydroalkylation of Cyclopropenes. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, 61, DOI: 10.1002/anie.202210560.
Dai, L.; Guo, J.; Huang, Q.; Lu, Y. “Asymmetric multifunctionalization of alkynes via photo-irradiated organocatalysis”, Sci. Adv., 2022, 8, eadd2574.
- Mei, G.-J.; Koay, W. L.; Guan, C.Y.; Lu, Y., Atropisomers beyond the C–C axial chirality: Advances in catalytic asymmetric synthesis. Chem 2022, 8, 1855.
- Zhang, F.; Dai, X.; Dai, L.; Zheng, W.; Chan, W.-L.; Tang, X.; Zhang, X.; Lu, Y., Phosphine-Catalyzed Enantioselective (3+2) Annulation of Vinylcyclopropanes with Imines for the Synthesis of Chiral Pyrrolidines. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, 61, e202203212, DOI: 10.1002/anie.202203212.
- Mei, G.-J.; Wong, J. J.; Zheng, W.; Nangia, A. A.; Houk, K. N.; Lu, Y., Rational Design and Atroposelective Synthesis of N–N Axially Chiral Compounds. Chem 2021, 7, 2743.
- Zhang, F.; Zeng, J.; Gao, M.; Wang, L.; Chen, G.-Q.; Lu, Y.; Zhang, X., Concise, scalable and enantioselective total synthesis of prostaglandins. Nat. Chem. 2021, 13, 692.
