About Us
Our lab at Xiamen University is ready! It is located at the Siming district with a beautiful seaview. Welcome to join us! Our research interest is the application of organocatalysis and photocatalysis in small molecule and polymer synthesis, aiming at the development of sustainable and functional materials.
Notice
Postdoc Positions @ Xiamen University
There are 2 postdoc positions now available in our lab at Xiamen University (200-400k RMB/year)! We are looking for qualified candidates (with a research background on polymer chemistry, materials, or organic synthesis). Please contact Prof. Liao by sending your CV and research summary to shliao@xmu.edu.cn. Welcome to join us!
Research Assistants @ Xiamen University
There are 2 positions now available in our lab at Xiamen University (80-200k RMB/year)! We are looking for self-motivated research assistants with research experience on polymer chemistry or organic synthesis. Please contact Prof. Liao by sending your CV and research summary to shliao@xmu.edu.cn. Welcome to join us!
Two PhD Positions @ Xiamen University Available! (2025-09 entry)
There are two PhD positions available since next September! Qualified candidates (with a research background on organic chemistry or polymer chemistry) are welcome to apply. Please contact Prof. Liao by email with CV and research summary before 2025-01-28. Welcome to join us!
Recent Group News
TOP: There are seveal free positions for Student (MS & PhD), Postdoc, and Research Assistant. Contact Prof. Saihu Liao (shliao@xmu.edu.cn).
2024-06-05: Congratulations to Xun Zhang and Jianxu Chen! ACS Catal. https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.4c01330 BINOL can serve as not only chiral ligands, but also as photoredox and photoacid catalysts!
The orthogonality of different types of living polymerizations allows the synthesis of polymers with diverse compositions and functions. However, two or more catalysts are normally required to promote the integrated polymerizations separately and few could deliver a photocontrol on both polymerizations. Herein, we demonstrate BINOL (1,1’-bi-2-naphthol) with appropriate modification can be evolved into a type of dual-function photocatalysts, and exhibit both photoredox and photoacid catalytic activity at the same time. This dual photo-functions could enable BINOLs to catalyze the metal-free atom transfer radical polymerization and ring-opening polymerization with a simultaneous light regulation. The utility of this orthogonal method is further demonstrated in the one-pot synthesis of PMMA-b-PVL block copolymers with good control on both molecular weight and low dispersity.
2024-06-04: Congratulations to Peng Wang and Lu Lin, the work on radical fluorosulfonamidation has been published on Angew. Chem. We also introduced a redox-active radical agent, FSAP. Further application of FSAP in molecule synthesis and reaction development can be expected. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.202405944
Recently, the introduction of fluorosulfonyl (-SO2F) groups have attracted considerable research interests, as this moiety could often afford enhanced activities and new functions in the context of chemical biology and drug discovery. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of 1-fluorosulfamoyl-pyridinium (FSAP) salts, which could serve as an effective photoredox-active precursor to fluorosulfamoyl radicals and enable the direct radical C−H fluorosulfonamidation of a variety of (hetero)arenes. This method features mild conditions, visible light, broad substrate scope, good group tolerance, etc., and a metal-free protocol is also viable by using organic photocatalysts. Further, FSAP can also be applied to the radical functionalization of alkenes via 1,2-difunctionalization, radical distal migration, tandem radical-polar crossover reactions, etc. In addition, a formal C-H methylamination of (hetero)arenes by combining this radical C−H fluorosulfonamidation with subsequent hydrolysis as well as product derivatization are also demonstrated.
2024-2-05: Congratulations to Zan Yang! Now, photocontrolled cationic polymerzation could proceed with high stereoselectivity, to afford isotactic polymer products. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.3c12694
Employing an ion pair photoredox catalyst consisting of a photoredox-active cationic part and a sterically confined chiral anion to deliver the stereochemical control, a highly stereoselective cationic polymerization with concurrent stereo-regulation and light control has been successfully achieved.