Research
Our research interests focus on development of new synthetic methods for the construction of functional molecules for pharmaceutical, agricultural, and materials science research. More specific directions include:
(1) Elemental organic chemistry:establishing novel synthetic tools for the efficient preparation ofpoly-functionalized organoboron compounds;
(2) Radical chemistry:inventing new reagents for reactive heteroatom-centered (B, Si, O, N, F, etc.) radical generation and their applications in synthesis;
(3) Technical chemistry:applyingnon-conventional techniques (such as continuous-flow, photochemical, electrochemical, or microwave techniques) to discover and establish novel synthetic approaches that have been difficult or impossible to realize under traditional synthetic conditions.
(4) Transition-metal catalysis: developing efficient methods for carbon-hydrogen and carbon-carbon bond activation with the catalysis of non-precious metals (e.g., Fe, Co, Ni, Cu);
Throughparticipating inresearch projects atthe frontier of organic synthesis and working in our state-of-the-art researchenvironment, students in the He research group will receive advanced and systemic trainings as independent researchers. The open and free academic environment in the He group provides students with opportunities to share and learn knowledge and experience from the advisor and their peer group members. Students will be encouraged to explore their own research ideas. The “trial and error” in their research is allowed.We believe that such an open and free academic environment would be beneficial for students to develop creativity, critical thinking, scholarship, and independence for their future careers.
Publications
| 19. |
Adachi, S.; Cognetta 3rd, A. B.; Niphakis, M. J.; He, Z.; Zajdlik, A.; St. Denis, J. D.; Scully, C. C. G.; Cravatt, B. F.; Yudin, A. K.* “Facile Synthesis of Borofragments and Their Evaluation in Activity-based Protein Profiling” Chem. Commun.2015, 51, 3608−3611.
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| 18. |
St. Denis, J.; Zajdlik, A.; Tan, J.; Trinchera, P.; Lee, C. F.; He, Z.; Adachi, S.; Yudin, A. K.* “Boron-Containing Enamine and Enamide Linchpins in the Synthesis of Nitrogen Heterocycles” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 17669−17673.
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| 17. |
He, Z.; Bae, M.; Wu, J.; Jamison, T. F.* “Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Polycyclic Quinoxaline Derivatives Using Visible-Light Photoredox Catalysis” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2014, 53, 14451–14455.
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| 16. |
Zajdlik, A.; He, Z.; St Denis, J. D.; Yudin, A. K.* “Efficient Preparation of -Aminoboronic Acid Derivatives via Boroalkyl Group Migration” Synthesis2014, 46, 445−454.
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| 15. |
Wu, J.; Yang, X.; He, Z.; Mao, X.; Hatton, T. A.; Jamison, T. F.* “Continuous Flow Synthesis of Ketones from Carbon Dioxide and Organolithium or Grignard Reagents” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2014, 53, 8416−8420.
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| 14. |
He, Z.; Zajdlik, A.; Yudin, A. K.* “ -Borylcarbonyl Compounds: from Transient Intermediates to Robust Building Blocks” Dalton Trans.2014, 43, 11434−11451.
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| 13. |
He, Z.; Zajdlik, A.; Yudin, A. K.* “Air- and Moisture-stable Amphoteric Molecules: Enabling Reagents in Synthesis” Acc. Chem. Res.2014, 47, 1029−1040.
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| 12. |
Chen, G.; He, Z.; Yudin, A. K.* “Synthesis of Functionalized 1-Azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes: Studies towards Ficellomycin and Its Analogs” Heterocycles2014, 88, 1299−1310.
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| 11. |
He, Z.; Jamison, T. F.* “Continuous-Flow Synthesis of Functionalized Phenols by Aerobic Oxidation of Grignard Reagents” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2014, 53, 3353−3357.
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| 10. |
Liew, S.; He, Z.; Yudin, A. K.* “Stereocontrolled Synthesis of 1,2- and 1,3-Diamine Building Blocks from Aziridine Aldehyde Dimers” J. Org. Chem.2013, 78, 11637−11645.
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| 9. |
He, Z.; Dobrovolsky, D.; Trinchera, P.; Yudin, A. K.* “Synthesis of Multisubstituted Pyridines” Org. Lett.2013, 15,334−337.
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| 8. |
St. Denis, J. D.; He, Z.; Yudin, A. K.* “Chemoselective Palladium-Catalyzed -Allylation of -Boryl Aldehydes” Org. Biomol. Chem. 2012, 10, 7900−7902.
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| 7. |
He, Z.; Trinchera, P.; Adachi, S.; St. Denis, J. D.; Yudin, A. K.* “Oxidative Geminal Functionalization of Organoboron Compounds” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2012, 51, 11092−11096.
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| 6. |
Assem, N.; Hili, R.; He, Z.; Kasahara, T.; Inman, B.; Decker, S.; Yudin, A. K.* “Role of Reversible Dimerization in Reactions of Amphoteric Aziridine Aldehydes” J. Org. Chem. 2012, 77, 5613−5623.
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| 5. |
He, Z.; Zajdlik, A.; St. Denis, J. D.; Assem, N.; Yudin, A. K.* “Boroalkyl Group Migration Provides a Versatile Entry into -Aminoboronic Acid Derivatives” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 9926−9929.
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v Featured in SYNFACTS: Paul Knochel and Nadja M. Barl, “Synthesis of α -Aminoboronic Acids via Boroalkyl Group Migration” Synfacts2012, 8(10), 1123.
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| 4. |
He, Z.; Yudin, A. K.* “Amphoteric -Boryl Aldehydes” J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2011, 133, 13770−13773.
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v Featured in C&EN – News of the Week: Stu Borman, “Prefab Synthesis Moves Ahead” Chem. Eng. News2011, 89 (35), 5.
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| 3. |
Cheung, L. L. W.; He, Z.; Decker, S. M.; Yudin, A. K.* “Skeletal Fusion of Small Heterocycles with Amphoteric Molecules", Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2011, 50, 11798−11802.
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| 2. |
He, Z.; Yudin, A. K.* “A Versatile Synthetic Platform Based on Strained Propargyl Amines” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2010, 49, 1607−1610.
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| 1. |
He, Z.; Yudin, A. K.* "Palladium-Catalyzed Oxidative Activation of Arylcyclopropanes" Org. Lett. 2006, 8, 5829−5832.
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