Ying Kai LOH
Assistant Professor, NUS Presidential Young Professorship, National Research Foundation Fellow
Postdoctoral Scholar, University of California San Diego, 2023; DPhil in Inorganic Chemistry, University of Oxford, 2020; BSc in Chemistry (Hons), Nanyang Technological University, 2015.
Contact Information:
Office: S9-13-01C
Tel: (65)-6516-3207
Email: ykloh@nus.edu.sg
Research
Recognition and Achievements
- National Research Foundation Fellowship, 2025
- NUS Presidential Young Professorship, 2025
- National Science Scholarship (PhD), 2016
- Global Winner of The Global Undergraduate Awards “Junior Nobel Prize”, 2015
- Chairman’s Honours List (A*STAR), 2014 and 2015
- Dean’s List (NTU), 2013
- A*STAR Undergraduate Scholarship, 2013
- NTU President Research Scholar (Distinction), 2013
Research Interests
Carbon obeys the octet rule − a fundamental principle in chemistry. Can this rule be broken to create stable carbon species with fewer than eight valence electrons?
In our lab, we challenge the octet rule, to make octet-defying carbon species by design. These organic molecules can mimic the behaviour of transition metals. Hence, we seek to harness them as powerful transition metal surrogates, opening new possibilities to a green and sustainable future.
Research Highlight
Carbenes defy the octet rule, therefore are highly reactive species. Recently, we discovered a carbene that can “mask” itself in an air-stable form (center). Like transition metals, this carbene exhibits reversible redox behaviour at the central carbon atom, leading to unprecedented octet-defying species − the first carbodication (left), and the first secondary carbon radical (right).
Representative Publications
- Loh, Y. K.; Gojiashvili, L.; Melaimi, M.; Gembicky, M.; Munz, D.; Bertrand, G., Isolation of a pentadienyl-type radical featuring a central secondary carbon. Nat. Synth. 2024, 3, 727−731. #Highlighted in Nat. Synth. News & Views; Synfacts.
- Loh, Y. K.; Melaimi, M.; Gembicky, M.; Munz, D.; Bertrand, G., A crystalline doubly oxidized carbene. Nature 2023, 623, 66−70. #Highlighted in Chem Previews; C&EN; Chemistry World; ChemistryViews. #Named as C&EN’s molecules of the year.
- Loh, Y. K.; Melaimi, M.; Munz, D.; Bertrand, G., An air-stable “masked” bis(imino)carbene: a carbon-based dual ambiphile. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145, 2064−2069. #Highlighted in ChemistryViews.
- Loh, Y. K.; Vasko, P.; McManus, C.; Heilmann, A.; Myers, W. K.; Aldridge, S., A crystalline radical cation derived from Thiele’s hydrocarbon with redox range beyond 1 V. Nat. Commun. 2021, 12, 7052. #Selected for Nat. Commun. Editors’ Highlights.
- Loh, Y. K.; Aldridge, S., Acid–base free main group carbonyl analogues. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 60, 8626−8648. (Review)
- Loh, Y. K.; Porteous, K.; Fuentes, M. Á.; Do, D. C. H.; Hicks, J.; Aldridge, S., An acid-free anionic oxoborane isoelectronic with carbonyl: facile access and transfer of a terminal B=O double bond. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, 141, 8073−8077.
- Loh, Y. K.; Ying, L.; Fuentes, M. Á.; Do, D. C. H.; Aldridge, S., An N-heterocyclic boryloxy ligand isoelectronic with N-heterocyclic imines: access to an acyclic dioxysilylene and its heavier congeners. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 4847−4851. #Selected for cover art.
- Loh, Y. K.; Fuentes, M. Á.; Vasko, P.; Aldridge, S., Successive protonation of an N-heterocyclic imine derived carbonyl: superelectrophilic dication versus masked acylium ion. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2018, 57, 16559−16563.
- Loh, Y. K.; Gurnani, C.; Ganguly, R.; Vidović, D., A dicationic iminophosphane. Inorg. Chem. 2015, 54, 3087−3089.
- Loh, Y. K.; Chong, C. C.; Ganguly, R.; Li, Y.; Vidović, D.; Kinjo, R., 1,2,4,3-Triazaborole-based neutral oxoborane stabilized by a Lewis acid. Chem. Commun. 2014, 50, 8561−8564.
