Polyolefin synthesis, sustainable polyolefins, homogeneous catalysis, heterogeneous catalysis

▪            Ph.D., Organic Chemistry (09/2007 - 06/2012): Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, CAS, China, with Prof. Yong Tang (SIOC, Shanghai) and Prof. Zuowei Xie (CUHK, HK)

▪            B.S., Applied Chemistry, (09/2003 - 06/2007): Shandong University, China

▪            04/2021- Now: Professor, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, CAS, China

▪            04/2019 to 02/2021: Research Assistant Professor, Northwestern University, USA

▪            01/2013 to 03/2019: Postdoctoral Fellow (Supervisor: Prof. Tobin J. Marks), Northwestern University, USA

▪            07/2012 - 01/2013: Assistant researcher in SIOC, Shanghai, China

1. Cyano-functionalized polyethylenes from ethylene/acrylamide copolymerization. Shu-Yang Yu, Xiao-Yan Wang, Xiu-Li Sun, Yanshan Gao*, Yanan Zhao*, Xiao-Shan Ning, Gang Ji, Yuan Lu, Jie Yang, Zhi-Pan Liu, Yong Tang*. Nature Commun. 2025, 16, 2461.
2. Synthesis of Telechelic Isotactic Polypropylenes for Circular Polypropylene-like Materials via Chain Transfer Polymerization. Zonglun Yu, Xing-Wang Han, Peizhi Li, Yanan Zhao, Xun Zhang, Xiu-Li Sun, Yanshan Gao*, You-Yun Zhou, Yong Tang*. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147, 3931−3936.
3. Binuclear Ni catalyzed ethylene copolymerization with short chain alkenol monomers. Yuan Lu, Gang Ji, Shuyang Yu, Xiaoshan Ning, Xiu-Li Sun*, Yanshan Gao*, Xiaoyan Wang, Yong Tang*. Polym. Chem. 2025, 16, 1146-1154.
4. New sustainable polymers with on-demand depolymerization property. Yangyang Sun, Zesheng An, Yanshan Gao, Rongrong Hu, Ye Liu, Hua Lu, Xiao-Bing Lu, Xuan Pang, Anjun Qin, Yong Shen, Youhua Tao, Yu-Zhong Wang, Junpeng Wang, Gang Wu, Guang-Peng Wu, Tie-Qi Xu, Xing-Hong Zhang, Yuetao Zhang, Zhenbiao Zhang, Jian-Bo Zhu, Miao Hong*, Zhibo Li*. Sci. China Chem. 2024, 67, 2803-2841.
5. Et₃Al and Et₂Zn cooperatively enhanced Ti catalyzed ethylene coordinative chain transfer polymerization. Boyu Zhu, Xiao-Shan Ning, Peizhi Li, Bolun Zhang, Li Ji, Yanshan Gao*, You-Yun Zhou, Xiu-Li Sun, Yanan Zhao, Xing-Wang Han, Xiaokang Kuang, Yong Tang*. J. Catal. 2024, 438, 115688.
6. Circular Olefin Copolymers Made de novo from Ethylene and α-Olefins. Xing-Wang Han, Xun Zhang, Youyun Zhou, Aizezi Maimaitiming, Xiu-Li Sun, Yanshan Gao*, Peizhi Li, Boyu Zhu, Eugene Y.-X. Chen*, Xiaokang Kuang and Yong Tang*. Nature Commun. 2024, 15, 1462.
7. Significantly enhanced crystallization of polylactide Ingeo 4032D by polyethylene ionomer. Tianyang Li, Yanshan Gao, Xiu-Li Sun, Yong Tang, Qiang Fu*. Polymer 2024, 290, 126557.
8. Norbornene Monomer Effects and Mechanistic Insights in Binuclear Nickel-Catalyzed Olefin Chain Walking Copolymerizations. Bingxin Qu, Yanan Zhao, Ping Song, Yanshan Gao, You-Yun Zhou*, Xiu-Li Sun, Qiang Fu, Xiaoshan Ning, Junfang Li, Xiaokang Kuang, and Yong Tang*. ACS Catalysis 2023, 13, 12849-12858.
9. Sustainable developments in polyolefin chemistry: progress, challenges, and outlook. Xiao-Yan Wang, Yanshan Gao* and Yong Tang*. Prog. Polym. Sci. 2023, 141, 101713.
10. Synthesis and characterization of oxazoline-amine zirconium complexes for ethylene homo- and co-polymerization catalysis. Xian-Ya Fang, Long Qin, Jiashuai Liu, Haonan Shi, Xiu-Li Sun, Xiaokang Kuang, Yanshan Gao* and Yong Tang.* Mol. Catal. 2023, 541, 113108.
11. A tridentate phenoxy-phosphine (POP) divalent chromium complex and its reactivities in olefin polymerization. Li Ji, Ping Song, Youyun Zhou*, Xiu-Li Sun, Yanshan Gao* and Yong Tang.* Polym. Chem. 2023, 14, 763–772.
12. Alkane-Soluble Bis[tris(alkylphenyl)carbenium] Diborate Cocatalyst for Olefin Polymerizations. Yanshan Gao, Matthew D. Christianson, Yang Wang, Marc P. Coons, Jiazhen Chen, Jialong Zhang, Steve Marshall, Tracy L. Lohr,* Jerzy Klosin,* and Tobin J. Marks.* ACS Catal. 2022, 12, 7589−7597.
13. Chemical Recycling and Upcycling of Polyolefins. Yanshan Gao* and Yong Tang.* Materials China, 2022, 41, 1-6.
14. Direct Copolymerization of Ethylene with Protic Comonomers Enabled by Multinuclear Ni Catalysts. Gang Ji, Zhou Chen, Xiao-Yan Wang, Xiao-Shan Ning, Chong-Jie Xu, Xing-Min Zhang, Wen-Jie Tao, Jun-Fang Li, Yanshan Gao, Qi Shen, Xiu-Li Sun*, Hao-Yang Wang, Jun-Bo Zhao, Bo Zhang, Yin-Long Guo, Yanan Zhao, Jiajie Sun, Yi Luo*, Yong Tang*. Nature Commun. 2021, 12, 6283.
15. Beyond the Active Site. Cp*ZrMe₃/Sulfated Alumina-Catalyzed Olefin Polymerization Tacticity via Catalyst···Surface Ion-Pairing. Jialong Zhang, Alexander H. Mason, Yang Wang, Alessandro Motta, Takeshi Kobayashi, Marek Pruski, Yanshan Gao* and Tobin J. Marks*. ChemCatChem. 2021, 13, 2564–2569.
16. Surface vs Homogeneous Organo-Hafnium Catalyst Ion-Pairing and Ligand Effects on Ethylene Homo- and Copolymerizations. Jialong Zhang, Alexander H. Mason, Alessandro Motta,* Laryssa G. Cesar, Yosi Kratish, Tracy L. Lohr, Jeffery T. Miller,* Yanshan Gao* and Tobin J. Marks.* ACS Catal. 2021, 11, 3239–3250.
17. Bis-Ferrocenyl-Pyridinediimine Trinuclear Mixed-Valent Complexes with Metal-Binding Dependent Electronic Coupling: Synthesis, Structures, and Redox-Spectroscopic Characterization. Cole Carter, Yosi Kratish, Titel Jurca, Yanshan Gao* and Tobin J. Marks.* J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 18715–18729.
18. Polyethylene Terephthalate Deconstruction Catalyzed by a Carbon-Supported Single-Site Molybdenum-Dioxo Complex. Yosi Kratish, Jiaqi Li, Shanfu Liu, Yanshan Gao* and Tobin J. Marks.* Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 59, 19857-19861.
19. Polar Isotactic and Syndiotactic Polypropylenes via Organo-zirconium-Catalyzed Masking-Reagent-Free Propylene + Amino-Olefin Copolymerizations. Minglu Huang, Jiazhen Chen, Binghao Wang, Wei Huang, Haibo Chen, Yanshan Gao* and Tobin J. Marks.* Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 59, 20522 – 20528.
20. Early Transition Metal Catalysis for Olefin-Polar Monomer Copolymerization. Jiazhen Chen, Yanshan Gao* and Tobin J. Marks.* Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 59, 14726-14735.
21. Versatile catalytic strategy for polar-functionalized, cross-linkable, self-healing, and photo-responsive polyolefins. Yanshan Gao* and Tobin J. Marks.* Science Bulletin 2020, 65, 605–606.
22. Mechanism of Organoscandium-Catalyzed Ethylene Copolymerization with Amino-Olefins: A Quantum Chemical Analysis. Jiazhen Chen, Alessandro Motta,* Jialong Zhang, Yanshan Gao* and Tobin J. Marks.* ACS Catal. 2019, 9, 8810-8818
23. Unexpected Precatalyst σ-Ligand Effects in Phenoxyimine Zr-Catalyzed Ethylene/1-Octene Copolymerizations. Yanshan Gao, Matthew Christianson, Yang Wang, Jiazhen Chen, Steve Marshall, Jerzy Klosin, Tracy L. Lohr, and Tobin J. Marks. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, 141, 7822-7830.
24. Significant Polar Comonomer Enchainment in Zr-Catalyzed, Masking Reagent-Free, Ethylene Copolymerizations. Jiazhen Chen, Alessandro Motta, Binghao Wang, Yanshan Gao* and Tobin J. Marks.* Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 7030-7034.
25. Highly Branched Polyethylene Oligomers via Single-Site Polymerization in Very Nonpolar Media. Yanshan Gao, Jiazhen Chen, Yang Wang, David Pickens, Alessandro Motta, Q. Jane Wang, Yip-Wah Chung, Tracy Lohr and Tobin J. Marks. Nature Catalysis, 2019, 2, 236-242. Front Cover, March 2019; “News &Views” report.
26. Catalyst Nuclearity Effects on Stereo- and Regio-induction in Pyridylamidohafnium-Catalyzed Propylene and 1-Octene Polymerizations. Yanshan Gao, Xia Chen, Jialong Zhang, Jiazhen Chen, Tracy L. Lohr, and Tobin J. Marks. Macromolecules, 2018, 51, 2401-2410.
27. Pyridylamido bi-Hafnium Olefin Polymerization Catalysis: Conformationally Supported Hf···Hf Enchainment Cooperativity. Yanshan Gao, Aidan R. Mouat, Alessandro Motta, Alceo Macchioni, Cristiano Zuccaccia, Massimiliano Delferro, and Tobin J. Marks. ACS Catal. 2015, 5, 5272−5282.
28. Polymers as Oxide Semiconductor Dopants. Experimental and Theoretical Evidence for Hydrogen Doping in Solution-Processed Indium Gallium Oxide. Wei Huang, Po-Hsiu Chien, Kyle McMillen, Joshua Tedesco, Li Zeng, Subhrangsu Mukherjee, Binghao Wang, Yao Chen, Gang Wang, Yang Wang, Yanshan Gao, Michael J. Bedzyk, Dean DeLongchamp, Yan-Yan Hu, Julia E. Medvedeva, Tobin J. Marks, Antonio Facchetti. PNAS, 2020, 117, 18231-18239.
29. Cationic Pyridylamido Adsorbate on Brønsted Acidic Sulfated Zirconia: A Molecular Supported Organohafnium Catalyst for Olefin Homo- and Co-Polymerization. Jialong Zhang, Alessandro Motta, Yanshan Gao, Madelyn Marie Stalzer, Massimiliano Delferro, Boping Liu, Tracy L. Lohr and Tobin J. Marks. ACS Catal. 2018, 8, 4893-4901.
30. Scandium-Catalyzed Self-Assisted Polar Comonomer Enchainment in Ethylene Polymerization. Jiazhen Chen, Yanshan Gao, Binghao Wang, Tracy L. Lohr, and Tobin J. Marks. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 15964-15968.
31. Metal and Counteranion Nuclearity Effects in Organoscandium-Catalyzed Isoprene Polymerization and Copolymerization. Jiazhen Chen, Yanshan Gao, Shuoyan Xiong, Massimiliano Delferro, Tracy L. Lohr, and Tobin J. Marks. ACS Catal. 2017, 7, 5214-5219.
32. Synthesis and Characterization of Tridentate [O^-N(H)X] Titanium Complexes and Their Applications in Olefin Polymerization. Dawei Wan, Zhou Chen, Yanshan Gao, Qi Shen, Xiuli Sun, Yong Tang. J. Polym. Sci. Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 2495-2503.
33. Synthesis, Structure, and Ethylene Polymerization Behavior of Nickel Complexes Based on Benzoylmethylenetri(2-alkoxylphenyl)phosphorane. Dawei Wan, Yanshan Gao, Junfang Li, Qi Shen, Xiuli Sun and Yong Tang. Dalton Trans., 2012, 41, 4552-4557.

1. Single Reactor Chain Shuttling Reactions for Ethylene/Vinylarene Multiblock Interpolymers. Evelyn Auyeung, Rhett A. Ballie, Thomas W. Karjala, Zhe Zhou, Jeffrey C. Munro, Colin Li Pi Shan, Phillip D. Hustad, Tobin J. Marks, Yanshan Gao. WO2022133142A1.
2. Methods for Depolymerizing Polyesters. Tobin J. Marks, Yanshan Gao, Yosi Kratish, Jiaqi Li. PCT/US2021/26822.
3. Methods for Forming Stereospecific, Polar Functionalized Polypropylene. Tobin J. Marks; Yanshan Gao; Minglu Huang. US11840624B2.
4. Highly Branched, Low Molecular Weight Polyolefins and Methods for Their Production. Tobin J. Marks; Yanshan Gao; Tracy L. Lohr. Qian Wang, Yip-Wah Chung, David B. Pickens. US11780941B2.
5. High Soluble Bis-Borate as Binuclear Co-catalysts for Olefin Polymerizations. Tobin J Marks; Yanshan Gao; Tracy L. Lohr; Matthew Christianson; Jerzy Klosin; Edmund M. Carnahan; Andrew Young. PCT/US2019/024599.
6. Highly Soluble Alkyl-Substituted Carbenium Borate as Co-catalysts for Olefin Polymerizations. Tobin J. Marks; Yanshan Gao; Tracy L. Lohr; Matthew Christianson; Jerzy Klosin; Edmund M. Carnahan; Andrew Young. US011787880B2.
7. 铬催化剂及其在催化烯烃齐聚和高聚中的应用。唐勇、高彦山、孙秀丽、李军方、谢作伟、王铮、彭爱卿。申请号：CN201010509672.7，授权专利号ZL201010509672.7 

Polyolefin synthesis, organometallic catalysis, homogeneous catalysis, heterogeneous catalysis

1.         Oral Talk, International Polyolefins Conference, Society of Plastic Engineers, February 24-27, 2019, Houston, Texas, USA.
2.         Oral Talk, 2019 North American Catalysis Society Meeting (NAM26), June 23-28, 2019, Chicago Illinois, USA.