General
Prof. Yiyun Chen
Email: yiyunchen@sioc.ac.cn
Telephone: 021-54925508
Webpage: http://yiyunchen.sioc.ac.cn/
Address: Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Lingling Road, Shanghai, 200032 

Research Areas

biocompatible photochemistry: organic photochemistry, photochemical biology


Education

Ph.D., Organic Chemistry, Princeton University, USA, 2007.
B.S., Chemistry (with honors), Peking University, China, 2002.

Experience

2013-present, Joint Professor at School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, China.
2011-present, Professor at Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.
2007-2011, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA. Mentor: Professor David R. Liu.
2003-2007, Research Assistant, Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, USA. Mentor: Professor Chulbom Lee.
2002-2003, Research Assistant, Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, USA. Mentor: Professor Joseph Z. Tsien.
2001-2002, Research Assistant, Department of Chemistry, Peking University, China. Mentor: Professor Zhen Yang.

Honors & Distinctions

Bayer Investigator Award, China, 2021.

WuXi AppTec Life Science and Chemistry Award, China, 2021.

Shanghai Academic/Technology Research Leader, China, 2021.

Shanghai Science and Technology Youth Award, China, 2018.

Thieme Chemistry Journal Award, Germany, 2018.

Perfect Light Excellent Young Scholar Award of Photochemistry, China, 2017.

NSFC Excellent Young Scholar Award, China, 2016.

Shanghai Pujiang Investigator Award, China, 2012.

Thousand Talents Program Young Investigator Award, China, 2012.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Graduate Fellowship in Synthetic Organic Chemistry, USA, 2005.

Mingde Scholarship, Peking University, China, 1998-2002.

Silver Medal, 30th International Chemistry Olympiad, Australia, 1998.


Publications

1.       Zhang, J.; Liu, D.; Chen, Y.* Oxygen-centered radicals, In Science of Synthesis: Free Radicals: Fundamentals and Applications in Organic Synthesis, Fensterbank, L.; Ollivier, D., Eds.; Thieme: Stuttgart, 2021, Vol. 1, 323−380. DOI: 10.1055/sos-SD-234-00177.

2.       Jia, K.; Chen, Y.*, Photochemistry of hypervalent iodine compounds, In Patai Chemistry of Functional Groups, Chemistry of Hypervalent Halogen Compounds, Olofsson, B.; Marek, I., Rappoport, Z. Eds.; John Wiley & Sons, 2019, 855896. DOI: 10.1002/9780470682531.pat0958.

3.       Chen, Y.; Lee, C.*, Tris(acetylacetonato)iron(III), e-EROS Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis; Paquette, L. A., Ed.; John Wiley & Sons, 2007.

Papers

1.       Wu, S.; Chen, Y.* Selective C–H Acyloxylation of Sulfides/Disulfides Enabled by Hypervalent Iodine Reagents. Adv. Syn. Catal. 2023, DOI: 10.1002/adsc.202300360. Very Important Publication.

2.       Ge, Y.; Shao, Y.; Wu, S.; Liu, P.; Li, J.; Qin, H.; Zhang, Y.; Xue, X.*; Chen, Y.* Distal Amidoketone Synthesis Enabled by Dimethyl Benziodoxoles via Dual Copper/Photoredox Catalysis. ACS Catal. 2023, 13, 3749−3756.

3.       Zhang, Y.1; Tan, J.1; Chen, Y.* Visible-Light-Induced Proteins Labeling in Live Cells with Aryl Azides. Chem. Commun. 2023, 59, 2413−2420.  Invited Feature Article in Themed Collection “2023 Pioneering Investigators” and “Photofunctional Materials and Transformations”.  

4.       Liu, D.1; Yang, K.1; Fang, D.1; Li, S.; Lan, Y.*; Chen, Y.* Formyl Radical Generation from α-Chloro N-Methoxyphthalimides Enables Selective Aldehyde Synthesis. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2023, 62, e202213686. Highlighted by Chinese Academy of Sciences, X-MOL, CBG.

5.       Pan, Y.1; Liu, Z.1; Zou, P.; Chen, Y.; Chen, Y.* Hypervalent Iodine Reagents Enable C(sp2)–H Amidation of (Hetero)arenes with Iminophenylacetic Acids. Org. Lett. 2022, 24, 6681−6685.  Highlighted by CBG.

6.       Liu, Z.1; Pan, Y.1; Zou, P.; Huang, H.; Chen, Y.; Chen, Y.* Hypervalent Iodine Reagents Enable C−H Alkynylation with Iminophenylacetic Acids via Alkoxyl Radicals. Org. Lett. 2022, 24, 5951−5956. 

7.       Zeng, K.; Han, L.; Chen, Y.* Endogenous Proteins Modulation in Live Cells with Small Molecules and Light. Chembiochem 2022, 23, e202200244.  Invited Concept.

8.       Fang, D.; Zhang, Y.; Chen, Y.* Radical C(sp3)-H Heck-Type Reaction of N-Alkoxybenzimidoyl Chlorides with Styrenes to Construct Alkenols. Org. Lett. 2022, 24, 2050−2054.

9.       Zhang, Y.1; Han, L.1; Tian, X.; Peng, C.; Chen, Y.* Ligand-Directed Caging Enables the Control of Endogenous DNA Alkyltransferase Activity with Light inside Live Cells. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2022, 61, e202115472. Highlighted by Wiley Chem, Chinese Academy of Sciences, X-MOL, CBG.

10.    Wu, S.; Li, J.; He, R.; Jia, K.; Chen, Y.* Terminal Trifluoromethylation of Ketones via Selective C-C Cleavage of Cycloalkanols Enabled by Hypervalent Iodine Reagents. Org. Lett. 2021, 23, 9204−9209. Highlighted by Organic Chemistry Portal.

11.    Liu, Z.; Wu, S.; Chen, Y.* Selective C(sp3)-C(sp3) Cleavage/Alkynylation of Cycloalkylamides Enables Aminoalkyne Synthesis with Hypervalent Iodine Reagents. ACS Catal. 2021, 11, 10565−10573.

12.    Wang, H.1; Zhang, Y.1; Zeng, K.1; Qiang, J.1; Cao, Y.; Li, Y.; Fang, Y.; Zhang, Y.*; Chen, Y.* Selective Mitochondrial Protein Labeling Enabled by Biocompatible Photocatalytic Reactions inside Live Cells. JACS Au 2021, 1, 1066−1075. Highlighted by NSFC Chemistry, and Chinese Academy of Sciences.

13.    Liu, D.; Zhang, J.; Chen, Y.* Investigations on 1,2-Hydrogen Atom Transfer Reactivity of Alkoxyl Radicals under Visible-Light-Induced Reaction Conditions. Synlett. 2021, 32, 356−361. Invited Account. Special Cluster for Radicals – by Young Chinese Organic Chemists.

14.    Chen, Y.* Illuminating Biology with Visible-Light-Induced Biocompatible Reactions. Chemphotochem. 2020, 4, 319−320. Meet the board.

15.    Zhang, J.1; Liu, D.1.; Liu, S.; Ge, Y.; Lan, Y.*; Chen, Y.* Visible-Light-Induced Alkoxyl Radicals Enable α-C(sp3)-H Bond Allylation.  iScience. 2020, 23, 100755.

16.    Huang, Y.; Savych, O.; Moroz, Y.; Chen, Y.*; Goodnow, R. A.* DNA-Encoded Library Chemistry: Amplification of Chemical Reaction Diversity for the Exploration of Chemical Space.  Aldrichimica Acta. 2019, 52, 3, 75−87. Invited Review.

17.    Xie, S.; Li, D.; Huang, H.; Zhang, F.; Chen, Y.* Intermolecular Radical Addition to Ketoacids Enabled by Boron Activation. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, 141, 16237−16242. Highlighted by Chinese Academy of Sciences.

18.    Li, J.; Liu, Z.; Wu, S.; Chen, Y.* Acyl Radical Smiles Rearrangement to Construct Hydroxybenzophenones by Photoredox Catalysis. Org. Lett. 2019, 21, 2077−2080.

19.    Wang, H; Li, W.; Zeng, K.; Wu, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Xu, T.*; Chen, Y.* Photocatalysis Enables Visible Light Uncaging of Bioactive Molecules in Live Cells. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 561−565.  Highlighted by Wiley China, Advanced Science News, and Chinese Academy of Sciences.

20.    Chen, Y.*; Lu, L. Q.*; Yu, D. G.*; Zhu, C. J.*; Xiao, W. J.* Visible Light-Driven Organic Photochemical Synthesis in China.  Sci. China Chem. 2019, 62, 24−57. Invited Review.

21.    Liu, M; Huang, H.; Chen, Y.*  Cyclic Iodine Reagents Enable Allylic Alcohols for Alkyl Boronate Addition/Rearrangement by Photoredox Catalysis. Chin. J. Chem. 2018, 36, 1209−1212.  Special Issue for Prof. Xiyan Lu’s 90th Birthday.

22.    Li, Y.1; Zhang, J.1; Li, D.; Chen, Y.*  Metal-Free C(sp3)-H Allylation via Aryl Carboxyl Radicals Enabled by Donor-Acceptor Complex.  Org. Lett. 2018, 20, 3296−3299.

23.    Jia, K.; Chen, Y.*  Visible-Light-Induced Alkoxyl Radical Generation for Inert Chemical Bond Cleavage/Functionalizations.  Chem. Commun. 2018, 54, 6105−6112.  Invited Feature Article.

24.    Pan, Y.; Jia, K.; Chen, Y.*; Chen, Y.*  Investigations of Alkynyl Benziodoxole Derivatives for Radical Alkynylations in Photoredox Catalysis.  Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2018, 14, 1215−1221.  Invited Thematic Series “Hypervalent Iodine in Organic Synthesis”.

25.    Jia, K.; Li, J.; Chen, Y.*  Selective P-C(sp3) Bond Cleavage and Radical Alkynylation of α-Phosphorus Alcohols by Photoredox Catalysis.  Chem. Eur. J. 2018, 24, 3174−3177.

26.    Zhang, J.; Li, Y.; Xu, R.; Chen, Y.*  Donor-Acceptor Complex Enables Alkoxyl Radical Generation for Metal-Free C(sp3)-C(sp3) Cleavage and Allylation/Alkenylation. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 12619−12623. Highlighted by Science Foundation in China, China Science Daily, Chin. J. Org. Chem. and Chinese Academy of Sciences.

27.    Jia, K.; Pan, Y.; Chen, Y.*  Selective Carbonyl-C(sp3) Bond Cleavage to Construct Ynamides, Ynoates, and Ynones by Photoredox Catalysis. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 2478–2481. Highlighted by Chin. J. Org. Chem. and Chinese Academy of Sciences.

28.    Zhang, J.; Chen, Y.*  Visible-Light-Induced Carboxyl and Alkoxyl Radical Generations and Reactions. Acta Chim. Sin. 2017, 75, 41−48. Invited Review.

29.    Qi, L.; Chen, Y.* Polarity-Reversed Allylations of Aldehydes, Ketones, and Imines Enabled by Hantzsch Ester in Photoredox Catalysis. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2016, 55, 13312−13315.

30.    Huang, H.1; Jia, K.1; Chen, Y.* Radical Decarboxylative Functionalizations Enabled by Dual Photoredox Catalysis. ACS Catal. 2016, 6, 4983−4988. Invited Perspective.

31.    Jia, K.; Zhang, F.; Huang, H.; Chen, Y.* Visible-Light-Induced Alkoxyl Radical Generation Enables Selective C(sp3)-C(sp3) Bond Cleavage and Functionalizations. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 128, 1514−1517. Highlighted by Organic Chemistry Portal. and Chinese Academy of Sciences.

32.    Zhang, J.; Li, Y.; Zhang, F.; Hu, C.; Chen, Y.* Generation of Alkoxyl Radicals by Photoredox Catalysis Enables Selective C(sp3)-H Functionalization under Mild Reaction Conditions. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2016, 55, 1872−1875. Highlighted by Angew. Chem., Int. Ed.

33.    Hu, C.; Chen, Y.* Chemoselective and Fast Decarboxylative Allylation by Photoredox Catalysis under Mild Conditions. Org. Chem. Front. 2015, 2, 1352−1355.

34.    Huang, H.1; Zhang, G.1; Chen, Y.* Dual Hypervalent Iodine(III) Reagents and Photoredox Catalysis Enable Decarboxylative Ynonylation under Mild Conditions. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2015, 54, 7872−7876. Highlighted by Chin. J. Org. Chem. and Chinese Academy of Sciences.

35.    Hu, C.; Chen, Y.* Biomolecule-Compatible Chemical Bond-Formation and Bond-Cleavage Reactions Induced by Visible Light. Tetrahedron Lett. 2015, 56, 884−888. Invited Digest.

36.    Huang, H.; Jia, K.; Chen, Y.* Hypervalent Iodine Reagents Enable Chemoselective Deboronative/Decarboxylative Alkenylation by Photoredox Catalysis. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2015, 54, 1881−1884. Highlighted by Synfacts.

37.    Yang, J.; Zhang, J.; Qi, L.; Hu, C.; Chen, Y.* Visible-Light-Induced Chemoselective Reductive Decarboxylative Alkynylation under Biomolecule-Compatible Conditions. Chem. Commun. 2015, 51, 5275−5278. Invited Themed Collection “2015 Emerging Investigators”.

38.    Huang, H.; Zhang, G.; Gong, L.; Zhang, S.; Chen, Y.*, Visible-Light-Induced Chemoselective Deboronative Alkynylation under Biomolecule-Compatible Conditions. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 2280−2283. Highlighted by Chin. J. Org. Chem., Organic Chemistry Portal, and Synfacts.

39.    Dumelin, C.; Chen, Y.; Leconte, A. M.; Chen, Y. G.; Liu, D. R.*, Discovery and Biological Characterization of Geranylated RNA in Bacteria. Nat. Chem. Bio. 2012, 8, 913−919.

40.    Chen, Y.; Kamlet, A. S.; Steinman, J. B.; Liu, D. R.*, A Biomolecule-Compatible Visible-Light-Induced Azide Reduction from a DNA-Encoded Reaction-Discovery System. Nature Chem. 2011, 3, 146−153.

41.    Chen, Y.; Park, S. H.; Lee, C. W.; Lee, C.*, Ruthenium-Catalyzed Three-Component Coupling via Hydrative Conjugate Addition of Alkynes to Alkenes: One-Pot Synthesis of 1,4-Dicarbonyl Compounds. Chem. Asian J. 2011, 6, 2000−2004.

42.    Chen, Y.; Ho, D. M.; Lee, C.*, Ruthenium-Catalyzed Hydrative Cyclization of 1,5-Enynes. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 12184−12185.



Patents

Chen, Y.; Li, Q.; Liu, D.; Li, D., A Photochemical Flow Reactor, ZL 2018 2 1079241.X.


Research Interests

Professor  Chen's research group focuses on biocompatible photochemistry, including organic photochemistry and photochemical biology. The research goal is to develop versatile bond-cleaving and bond-forming reactions in a biocompatible fashion to enable the photo-manipulation of biological functions, for the potential photo-diagnostics and photo-therapy applications.