Yong-Gui Chi PhD

Professor of Chemistry and Functional Molecules

Doctoral Supervisor

State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticides

Contact details

Room D202, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals, East Campus, Guizhou University; email: chiyg0098@126.com;

Education and Training

Undergraduate – Tsinghua University and Hong Kong Baptist University, 2002

PhD – University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA 2007

Postdoctoral Fellow, College of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, USA, 2007-2009

Professional Experience

Prof. Chi received undergraduate training from Tsinghua University and Hong Kong Baptist University (1998-2002), a PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2002-2007) under the guidance of Prof. Samuel H. Gellman, and postdoctoral training from the University of California-Berkeley (2007-2009) under the guidance of Prof. Jean M. J. Fréchet. He began his independent career at Nanyang Technological University under the Singapore NRF fellowship scheme in 2009 and was quickly promoted to the ranks of associate professor with tenure, full professor, and president’s chair in chemistry. Prof. Chi has received tens of significant awards and recognitions; served on various committees and advisory boards of international journals, funding agencies, academic institutes, public and private organizations; and led several major competitive research programs of both fundamental and industrial significance.

The Chi research group, composed of students, researchers, visiting scholars, and collaborators from both academic and industrial sectors, is committed to addressing significant challenges concerning chemical synthesis and functional molecules in the areas of chemistry, agrochemicals, medicines, and materials. For science/curiosity-driven research, we focus on developing original activation and reaction modes enabled by N-heterocyclic carbene and other organic molecules as key catalysts, creating sophisticated catalysis and chemo/site-selective reactions to address challenges in complex molecule synthesis and editing, designing concise synthetic strategies for rapid access to functional molecules, and advancing fundamental knowledge on catalysis and chemical synthesis. For user-inspired research, we are committed to creating bioactive molecules for medicinal and agricultural applications; innovating chemical methods as enabling tools for biomedical and materials research; and developing green synthesis and sustainable manufacturing processes for functional molecules. Our research in this direction has led to large-scale industrial applications at various stages.

Prof. Chi is committed to nurturing young generations of scientific minds, innovative entrepreneurs, and responsible leaders. The Chi lab welcomes highly self-motivated and creative individuals from diverse backgrounds in the above research areas, broadly defined. We keep openings for exceptional candidates-applicants can submit a CV with a research summary for initial consideration.

Selected recent publications (*corresponding authors)

[1]Z. Fu, J. Xu, T. Zhu, W. W. Y. Leong, Y. R. Chi*. β-Carbon activation of saturated carboxylic esters through N-heterocyclic carbene organocatalysis. Nat. Chem. 2013, 5, 835-839.

[2]M. Liao, Y. Liu, H. Long, Q. Xiong, X. Lv, Z. Luo, X. Wu*, Y. R. Chi*. Enantioselective sulfinylation of alcohols and amines by condensation with sulfinates. Chem 2024, DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2024.02.016.

[3]W.-X. Lv, H. Chen, X. Zhang, C. C. Ho, Y. Liu, S. Wu, H. Wang, Z. Jin, Y. R. Chi*. Programmable selective acylation of saccharides mediated by carbene and boronic acid. Chem 2022, 8, 1518-1534.

[4]R. Song, S. Ren*, Y. R. Chi*. Carbene- and photocatalysis redefine arene acylation. Nature synth. 2023, 2, 1009-1011.

[5]X.-Y. Ye, G. Wang, Z. Jin, B. Yu, J. Zhang, S. Ren*, Y. R. Chi*. Direct Formation of Amide-Linked C-Glycosyl Amino Acids and Peptides via Photoredox/Nickel Dual Catalysis. J. Am Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 5502-5510.

[6]G. Wang, C. C. Ho, Z. Zhou, Y.-J. Hao, J. Lv, J. Jin, Z. Jin, Y. R. Chi*. Site-Selective C-O Bond Editing of Unprotected Saccharides. J. Am Chem. Soc. 2023, 146, 824-832.

[7]R. Deng, S. Wu, C. Mou, J. Liu, P. Zheng*, X. Zhang*, Y. R. Chi*. Carbene-Catalyzed Enantioselective Sulfonylation of Enone Aryl Aldehydes: A New Mode of Breslow Intermediate Oxidation. J. Am Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 5441-5449.

[8]Z. Chen, H. Cai, X. Zhang, M. Zhang, G. Hao, Z. Jin, S. Ren*, Y. R. Chi*. Design, Synthesis, and Herbicidal Activity of Substituted 3-(Pyridin-2-yl)Phenylamino Derivatives. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2024, 72, 2501-2511.

[9]K. Teng, Q. Liu, M. Zhang, H. Naz, P. Zheng, X. Wu*, Y. R. Chi*. Design and Enantioselective Synthesis of Chiral Pyranone Fused Indole Derivatives with Antibacterial Activities against Xanthomonas oryzae pv oryzae for Protection of Rice. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2024, 72, 4622–4629.

[10]Y. Huang, X. Peng, J. Chen, L. Shu, M. Zhang, J. Jin, Z. Jin*,  Y. R. Chi*. Discovery of Novel Chiral Indole Derivatives Containing the Oxazoline Moiety as Potential Antiviral Agents for Plants. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2024, 72, 6979–6987.