


PUBLICATIONS
“The joy of discovery is certainly the liveliest that the mind of man can ever feel”
- Claude Bernard -
2022
Linear Cyclobutane-containing Polymers Synthesis via [2 + 2] Photo-polymerization in Unconfined Environment under Visible Light
Yu Jiang, Hui Zhu, Jianxu Chen, Qiang Ma, Saihu Liao*, ACS Macro Lett. 2022, 11, 1336-1342. PDF
Organocatalytic [2 + 2] Photopolymerization under Visible Light: Accessing Sustainable Polymers from Cinnamic Acids
Yu Jiang, Hui Zhu, Jianxu Chen, Saihu Liao*, Macromol. Rapid Commun. 2022, doi: 10.1002/marc.202200702. PDF
Radical Fluorosulfonyl Arylation of Alkenes: Accessing FSO2‑Functionalized Chromanes via Formal Endo and Exo Cyclization
Honghai Zhang,§ Na Yang,§ Jing Li, Peng Wang, Shaojie Li, Lili Xie, and Saihu Liao*, Org. Lett. 2022, 24, 8170-8175. PDF
Photo-organocatalytic Synthesis of β-Keto Sulfonyl Fluorides via Radical Fluorosulfonylation of Vinyl Acetates
Peng Wang,§ Shao-Jie Li,§ Honghai Zhang , Na Yang , Saihu Liao*, Synlett 2022, doi:10.1055/s-0041-1738692. PDF
*Invited to TCJA Special Edition
Monophosphoniums as Effective Photoredox Organocatalysts for Visible Light-Regulated Cationic RAFT Polymerization
Zan Yang, Jianxu Chen, and Saihu Liao*, ACS Macro Lett. 2022, 11, 1073−1078. PDF
Radical Hydro-Fluorosulfonylation of Unactivated Alkenes and Alkynes
Peng Wang,§ Honghai Zhang,§ Mingqi Zhao,§ Shuang shuang Ji, Lu Lin, Na Yang, Xingliang Nie, Jinshuai Song*, and Saihu Liao*, Angew. Chem.Int. Ed. 2022, e202207684. PDF
*Highlighted by WileyChem, CBG, and in Org. Process Res. Dev.
Photocatalytic Fluorosulfonylation of Aliphatic Carboxylic Acid NHPI Esters
Honghai Zhang, Shaojie Li, Han-Liang Zheng, Gangguo Zhu, Saihu Liao, Xingliang Nie*, Org. Chem. Front. 2022, 9, 4854–4860. PDF
Organocatalytic orthogonal ATRP and ringopening polymerization using a single dual-function photocatalyst
Qiang Ma, Yu Jiang, Junqiang Lin, Xun Zhang, Hui Shao and Saihu Liao *, Polym. Chem. 2022, 13, 4284-4289. PDF
Construction of a Hollow Spherical Covalent Organic Framework with Olefin and Imine Dual Linkages Based on Orthogonal Reactions
Jingtao Hu, Junjie Zhang, Zhangxiang Lin, Lili Xie*, Saihu Liao, and Xiong Chen*, Chem. Mater. 2022, 34, 5249–5257. PDF
Photoredox catalytic radical fluorosulfonylation of olefins enabled by a bench-stable redox-active fluorosulfonyl radical precursor
Peng Wang, Honghai Zhang, Xingliang Nie, Tianxiao Xu, Saihu Liao*, Nat. Commun. 2022, 13, 3370. PDF
*Featured in Nature Communications Editors' Highlights, Highlighted in Chin. J. Org. Chem. and X-MOL.
Electrochemical Synthesis of β‑Keto Sulfonyl Fluorides via Radical Fluorosulfonylation of Vinyl Triflates
Qingyuan Feng, Yuanyuan Fu, Yu Zheng, Saihu Liao, and Shenlin Huang*, Org. Lett. 2022, 24, 3702–3706. PDF
Acetalization of Enol Ethers with Alcohols under Visible Light Irradiation Using BINOLs as Photoacid Catalysts
Haonan Liu, Yueyong Chen, Deng An, Xun Zhang*, Saihu Liao*, Synlett. 2022, 33, 800-804. PDF
Visible Light-Regulated Organocatalytic Ring-Opening Polymerization of Lactones Using Hydroxybenzophenones as Photocatalyst
Siping Hu, Jianxu Chen, Xun Zhang, Yuying Zhang, and Saihu Liao*, ACS Appl. Polym. Mater. 2022, 4, 3361–3368. PDF
Organocatalytic cationic degenerate chain transfer polymerization of vinyl ethers with excellent temporal control
Zan Yang, Wenpei Xiao, Xun Zhang and Saihu Liao*, Polym. Chem. 2022, 13, 2776-2781. PDF
*In the themed collection Polymer Chemistry Emerging Investigators Series
Solution [2 + 2] photopolymerization of biomassderived nonrigid biscinnamate monomers enabled by energy transfer catalysis
Yu Jiang, Qiang Ma, Xun Zhang, Junqiang Lin and Saihu Liao*, Polym. Chem. 2022, 13, 2538-2544. PDF
Divergent isoindolinone synthesis through palladium-catalyzed isocyanide bridging C–H activation
Fulin Zhang, Ruihua Zhao, Lei Zhu, Yinghua Yu, Saihu Liao, Zhi-Xiang Wang*and Xueliang Huang*, Cell Reports Physical Science. 2022, 3, 100776. PDF
Organocatalytic, Stereoselective, Cationic Reversible Addition− Fragmentation Chain-Transfer Polymerization of Vinyl Ethers
Xun Zhang,§ Zan Yang,§ Yu Jiang, and Saihu Liao*, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 679–684. PDF
*Highlighted in Synfacts. link also highlighted by X-MOL, 高分子科技公众号
2021
Organocatalytic PET-RAFT Polymerization with ppm of Organic Photocatalyst under Visible Light
Qiang Ma, Xun Zhang, Yu Jiang, Junqiang Lin, Bernadette Graff, Siping Hu, Jacques Lalevée*, Saihu Liao*, Polym. Chem. 2022, 13, 209-219.
Radical Fluorosulfonylation: Accessing Alkenylsulfonyl Fluorides from Alkenes and Alkynes
Xingliang Nie, Saihu Liao*, Synlett 2022, 33, 401-408. (Invited SYNPACTS)
Electrochemical Oxo-Fluorosulfonylation of Alkynes under Air: A Facile Access to β-Keto Sulfonyl Fluorides
Dengfeng Chen, Xingliang Nie, Qingyuan Feng, Yingyin Zhang, Yiheng Wang, Qiuyue Wang, Lin Huang, Shenlin Huang*, Saihu Liao*, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2021, 60, 27271-27276.
*Highlighted by WileyChem, X-MOL, etc.
Organocatalytic Stereoselective Cationic Polymerization of Vinyl Ethers by Employing a Confined Brønsted Acid as the Catalyst
Zan Yang, Xun Zhang, Yu Jiang, Qiang Ma, Saihu Liao*, Science China Chemistry, 2022, 65, 304-308.
*See the earlier preprint on ChemRxiv 2021, doi: 10.33774/chemrxiv-2021-qlpb. PDF
Introducing A New Class of Sulfonyl Fluoride Hubs via Radical Chloro-Fluorosulfonylation of Alkynes
Xingliang Nie, Tianxiao Xu, Yuhao Hong, Honghai Zhang, Chenxi Mao, Saihu Liao*, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2021, 60, 22035-22042. PDF
* "Hot Paper"; highlighted by WileyChem.
Photocatalytic Divergent Decarboxylative Amination: A Metal-Free Access to Aliphatic Amines and Hydrazines
Xianli Shu, Ruting Xu, Saihu Liao*, Sci. China Chem. 2021, 64, 1756-1762. PDF
Metal-Free Cationic Polymerization of Vinyl Ethers with Strict Temporal Control by Employing an Organophotocatalyst
Xun Zhang, Yu Jiang, Qiang Ma, Siping Hu, and Saihu Liao*, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 6357-6362. PDF
*Highlighted in Synfacts. link also highlighted by X-MOL, 高分子科技公众号
Visible light-regulated organocatalytic ring-opening polymerization of lactones by harnessing excited state acidity
Xun Zhang, Qiang Ma, Yu Jiang, Siping Hu, Junfang Li, Saihu Liao*, Polym. Chem. 2021, 12, 885-892. PDF
*Selected as Polymer Chemistry Author of the Month. link
Metal-free atom transfer radical polymerization with ppm catalyst loading under sunlight
Qiang Ma, Jinshuai Song, Xun Zhang, Yu Jiang, Li Ji, Saihu Liao*, Nat. Commun. 2021, 12, 429. PDF
*Highlighted in Nature Review Chemistry. Link. also highlighted by 高分子科技公众号
Recent Advances in Palladium-Catalyzed Bridging C–H Activation by Using Alkenes, Alkynes or Diazo Compounds as Bridging Reagents
Fulin Zhang, Luoting Xin, Yinghua Yu, Saihu Liao*, Xueliang Huang*, Synthesis 2021, 53, 238–254. PDF
Radical Fluorosulfonylation: Accessing Alkenyl Sulfonyl Fluorides from Alkenes
Xingliang Nie, Tianxiao Xu, Jinshuai Song, Anandkumar Devaraj, Bolun Zhang, Yong Chen, Saihu Liao*, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2021, 60, 3956–3960. PDF
*Highlighted by WileyChem, X-Mol.
2020
Decarboxylative thiolation of redox-active esters to free thiols and further diversification
Tianpeng Cao, Tianxiao Xu, Ruting Xu, Xianli Shu, Saihu Liao*, Nat. Commun. 2020, 11:5340. PDF
*Featured in Org. Chem. Highlights.
Accessing alkyl boronic esters via visible light-mediated decarboxylative addition reactions of redox-active esters
Xianli Shu, Ruting Xu, Qiang Ma and Saihu Liao*, Org. Chem. Front. 2020, 7, 2003–2007. PDF
Visible light-mediated ring-opening polymerization of lactones based on the excited state acidity of ESPT molecules
Xun Zhang, Siping Hu, Qiang Ma, and Saihu Liao*, Polym. Chem. 2020, 11, 3709–3715. PDF
Decarboxylative Thiolation of Redox-Active Esters to Thioesters by Merging Photoredox and Copper Catalysis
Tianxiao Xu, Tianpeng Cao, Mingcheng Yang, Ruting Xu, Xingliang Nie, and Saihu Liao*, Org. Lett. 2020, 22, 3692–3695. PDF
Metal-free dehydrosulfurization of thioamides to nitriles under visible light
Tianxiao Xu+, Tianpeng Cao+, Qingyuan Feng, Shenlin Huang*, and Saihu Liao,* Chem. Commun. 2020, 56, 5151–5153. PDF
Imidodiphosphorimidate (IDPi) as an Efficient Organocatalyst for Controlled/Living Ring-Opening Polymerization of Lactones
Xun Zhang, Yu Jiang, Qiang Ma, Siping Hu, Qinggang Wang, and Saihu Liao*, Eur. Polym. J. 2020, 123: 109449. PDF
2019
BINOLs as Visible Light Photocatalyst for Metal-Free Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization
Qiang Ma, Xun Zhang, Li Ji, Saihu Liao,* Polym. Chem. 2019, 10, 6662-6668. PDF
Visible-Light-Induced Deaminative Thioesterification of Amino Acid Derived Katritzky Salts via Electron Donor–Acceptor Complex Formation
Mingcheng Yang, Tianpeng Cao, Tianxiao Xu, Saihu Liao,* Org. Lett. 2019, 21, 8673–8678. PDF
Copper-Catalyzed Nitrogenation of Aromatic and Aliphatic Aldehydes: A Direct Route to Carbamoyl Azides
Rongbiao Wei, Liang Ge, Hongli Bao, Saihu Liao,* Yajun Li,* Synthesis 2019, 51, 4645–4649. PDF
A Rapid Access to Aliphatic Sulfonyl Fluorides
Ruting Xu, Tianxiao Xu, Mingcheng Yang, Tianpeng Cao, Saihu Liao,* Nat. Commun. 2019, 10, 3752. PDF
An Efficient and Mild Route to Highly Fluorinated Polyolefins via Copolymerization of Ethylene and 5-Perfluoroalkylnorbornenes
Li Ji+, Jia-Shuai Liu+, Xiao-Yan Wang, Jun-Fang Li, Zhou Chen, Saihu Liao,* Xiu-Li Sun,* Yong Tang, Polym. Chem. 2019, 10, 3604–3609. PDF
A Synthesis of Multifunctionalized Indoles from [3 + 2] Annulation of 2‑Bromocyclopropenes with Anilines
Zhu Cao+, Jian-Bo Zhu+, Lijia Wang,* Saihu Liao,* Yong Tang, Org. Lett. 2019, 21, 4097–4100. PDF
2018
Photoexcited Perylene Diimide Radical Anions for the Reduction of Aryl Halides: A Bay-substituent Effects
Hai-Xian Gong, Zhu Cao, Saihu Liao, Mei-Jin Lin*, Org. Chem. Front. 2018, 5, 2296–2302. PDF
Before FZU:
The Activation of Carboxylic Acids via Self-Assembly Asymmetric Organocatalysis: A Combined Experimental and Computational Investigation
Mattia Riccardo Monaco, D Fazzi, Nobuya Tsuji, Markus Leutzsch, Saihu Liao, W Thiel, Benjamin List*, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138, 14740-14749. PDF
Catalytic Enantioselective Conversion of Epoxides to Thiiranes
Saihu Liao, Markus Leutzsch, Mattia Riccardo Monaco, Benjamin List*, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138, 5230-5233. PDF (Highlighted by SynFacts, Nature Chemistry)
Stereochemical Communication within a Chiral Ion Pair Catalyst
Christian Merten*, Corina H. Pollok, Saihu Liao, Benjamin List*, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2015, 54, 8841-8845. PDF
Asymmetric 1,2-Perfluoroalkyl Migration: Easy Access to Enantioenriched α-Hydroxy-α-perfluoroalkyl Esters
Pan Wang, Liang-Wen Feng, Lijia Wang, Jun-Fang Li, Saihu Liao, and Yong Tang*, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 4626–4629. PDF
Asymmetric Annulation of Donor–Acceptor Cyclopropanes with Dienes
Hao Xu, Jiang-Lin Hu, Lijia Wang, Saihu Liao, and Yong Tang*, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 8006-8009. PDF
Sidearm Strategy for Catalyst Design Based on Bisoxazolines in the Remote Control of Enantioselection and Related
Saihu Liao, Xiu-Li Sun, Yong Tang*, Acc. Chem. Res. 2014, 47, 2260-2272. PDF
A Sidearm-assisted Phosphine for Catalytic Ylide Intramolecular Cyclopropanation
Jian-Bo Zhu, Hao Chen, Saihu Liao, Yu-Xue Li* and Yong Tang*, Org. Chem. Front. 2014, 1, 1035-1039. PDF
Double γ-alkylation of allylic phosphorus ylides: a unique access to oxa-bicyclic[3.3.0] diene skeletons
Peng Wang, Saihu Liao, Jian-Bo Zhu and Yong Tang*, Chem. Commun. 2014, 50, 808-810. PDF
A Highly Efficient and Enantioselective Intramolecular Cannizzaro Reaction under TOX/Cu(II) Catalysis
Pan Wang, Wen-Jie Tao, Xiu-Li Sun, Saihu Liao*, and Yong Tang*, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 16849-16852. PDF (Highlighted by SynFacts)
Iron-Catalyzed Three-Component Reaction: Multiple C-C Bond Cleavages and Reorganizations
Peng Wang, Saihu Liao, Jian-Bo Zhu, and Yong Tang*, Org. Lett. 2013, 15, 3606-3609. PDF
Reaction of trisubstituted alkenes with iron porphyrin carbenes: facile synthesis of tetrasubstituted dienes and cyclopentadienes
Peng Wang, Saihu Liao, Sunewang R. Wang, Run-Duo Gao and Yong Tang*, Chem. Commun. 2013, 49, 7436-7438. PDF
Ylide Hydrolysis in Tandem Reactions: A Highly Z/E-Selective Access to 3-Alkylidene Dihydrobenzofurans and Related Analogues
Jian-Bo Zhu, Peng Wang, Saihu Liao*, and Yong Tang*, Org. Lett. 2013, 15, 3054-3057. PDF
Copper-Catalyzed Highly Enantioselective Cyclopentannulation of Indoles with Donor–Acceptor Cyclopropanes
Hu Xiong, Hao Xu, Saihu Liao, Zuowei Xie*, and Yong Tang*, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 7851-7854. PDF (Highlighted by SynStory)
PPh3-mediated Intramolecular Conjugation of AlkylHalides with Electron-deficient Olefins: Facile Synthesis of Chromans and Relevant Analogues
Jian-Bo Zhu, Peng Wang, Saihu Liao*, and Yong Tang*, Chem. Commun. 2013, 49, 4570-4572. PDF
Reactions of Iron Carbenes with a,b-Unsaturated Esters by Using anUmpolung Approach: Mechanism and Applications
Peng Wang, Lin Ling, Sai-Hu Liao, Jian-Bo Zhu, Sunewang R. Wang, Yu-Xue Li*, and Yong Tang*, Chem. Eur. J. 2013, 19, 6766-6773. PDF
Highly Enantioselective [3+2] Annulation of Cyclic Enol Silyl Ethers with D-A Cyclopropanes: Accessing 3a-Hydroxy [n,3,0] Carbobicycles
Hao Xu, Jian-Ping Qu, Saihu Liao, Hu Xiong, and Yong Tang*, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2013, 52, 4004-4007.
“Covalent Activations: Ylides”
Sai-Hu Liao, Peng Wang, Yong Tang, in Comprehensive Enantioselective Organocatalysis: Catalysts, Reactions, and Applications, P. Dalko, Ed., Wiley-VCH & Sons: Weinheim, Germany, 2013. (Book Chapter)
Highly Enantioselective [3+3] Cycloaddition of Aromatic AzomethineImines with Cyclopropanes Directed by pi–piStacking Interactions
You-Yun Zhou, Jun Li, Lin Ling, Saihu Liao, Xiu-Li Sun*, Yu-Xue Li*, Li-Jia Wang, and Yong Tang*, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2013, 52, 1452-1456.
Facile and Controllable Synthesis of Multiply Substituted Benzenesvia a Formal [3+3] Cycloaddition Approach
Zhen-Cao Shu, Jian-Bo Zhu, Saihu Liao, Xiu-Li Sun, and Yong Tang*, Tetrahedron 2013, 69, 284-292.
Asymmetric Counteranion-Directed Iron Catalysis: A Highly Enantioselective Sulfoxidation
Saihu Liao and Benjamin List*, Adv. Syn. Catal. 2012, 354, 2363-2367.
“The Proline-Catalyzed Mannich Reaction and the Advent of Enamine Catalysis”,
Benjamin List and Sai-Hu Liao, in Organic Chemistry–Breakthroughs and Perspectives, K. Ding, L.-X. Dai, Eds., Wiley-VCH: Weinheim, Germany, 2012. (Book Chapter)
Activation of H2O2 by Chiral Confined Brønsted Acids: A Highly Enantioselective Catalytic Sulfoxidation
Saihu Liao, Ilija Čorić, Qinggang Wang, and Benjamin List*, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2012, 134, 10765-10768. (Highlighted by SynFacts)
Highly Diastereo-and Enantioselective Cyclopropanation of 1,2-Disubstituted Alkenes
Jun Li, Sai-Hu Liao, Hu Xiong, You-Yun Zhou, Xiu-Li Sun*, Yue Zhang, Xiao-Guang Zhou, and Yong Tang*, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2012, 51, 8838-8841.
Tris(oxazoline)/Copper-Catalyzed Coupling of Alkynes with Nitrones: AHighly Enantioselective Access to β-Lactams
Jiang-Hua Chen, Sai-Hu Liao, Xiu-Li Sun, Qi Shen*, and Yong Tang*, Tetrahedron 2012, 68, 5042-5045.
Asymmetric Counteranion-Directed Transition-Metal Catalysis: Enantioselective Epoxidationof Alkenes with Manganese(III)-Salen Phosphate Complexes
Saihu Liao and Benjamin List*, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010, 49, 628-631. (Selected as “Hot Paper”,highlightedby SynFacts)
Pyrrolidine as an Efficient Organocatalyst for Direct Aldol Reactionof Trifluoroacetaldehyde Ethyl Hemiacetal with Ketones
Fanglin Zhang, Yiyuan Peng, Saihu Liao, and Yuefa Gong*, Tetrahedron 2007, 63, 4636-4641.