Lin Hu

Our research program focuses on the invention and development of new catalytic and selective reactions because of their fundamental importance to the future of chemistry and other branches of science studying molecular properties. Our approach involves the discovery and design of accessible catalysts for highly enantioselective asymmetric organic reactions of broad synthetic importance, the elucidation of the reaction mechanism and molecular recognition events underlying the catalytic activity and selectivity, and the illustration of their applications in the synthesis of chiral compounds of varying complexity.

2016-current:  Professor, Chongqing University.

2010-2016:  Postdoc (Supervisor: Prof. Li Deng), Brandeis University, USA.

2006-2010:  Ph.D. in chemical biology (Supervisor: Prof. Hongbin Zhai and Prof. Lihe Zhang), Peking University and Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry (SIOC) joint program.

2004-2006:  M.S. in organic chemistry (Supervisor: Prof. Zixing Shan), Wuhan University.

2000-2004:   B.S. in Chemistry, Hubei University. 

Asymmetric catalysis; Total synthesis of natural products; Pharmaceutical synthesis

Grants and fundings

(1)   National Natural Science Foundation of China

(2)   Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing

(3)   Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities

(4)  Venture & Innovation Support Program for Overseas Returnees

1.  Gao, M.; Zhao, Y.; Zhong, C.; Liu, P.; Yin, Q.; Hu, L.* General [4+1] Cyclization Approach to Access 2,2-Disubstituted Tetrahydrofurans Enabled by Electrophilic Bifunctional Peroxides. Org. Lett. 2019, 21, 5679

2.  Zhong, C.; Yin, Q.; Zhao, Y.; Li, Q.; Hu, L.* Formal [5+1] Annulation Reactions of Dielectrophilic Peroxides: Facile Access to Functionalized Dihydropyrans. Chem. Commun. 2020, 56, 13189.

3.  Gao, M.; Luo, Y.; Xu, Q.; Zhao, Y.; Gong, X.; Xia, Y.*; Hu, L.* A Unified Catalytic Asymmetric (4+1) and (5+1) Annulation Strategy to Access Chiral Spirooxindole-Fused Oxacycles. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2021, 60, 19813.

4.  Xu, Q.; Li, J.; Li, X.; Hu, L.* Annulation–retro-Claisen Cascade of Bifunctional Peroxides for the Synthesis of Lactone Natural Products. Chem. Commun. 2022, 58, 274.

5.  Yin, Q.; Wen, X.; Chen, Y.; Gong, X.; Hu, L.* Phase-Transfer Catalyzed Asymmetric [4+1] Annulations for the Synthesis of Chiral 2,2-Disubstituted Tetrahydrothiophenes. Org. Lett. 2021, 23, 7529.

6.  Gao, M.; Li, Y.; Li, X.; Hu, L.* Phase-Transfer-Catalyzed Asymmetric Annulations of Alkyl Dihalides with Oxindoles: Unified Access to Chiral Spiro-Carbocyclic Oxindoles. Org. Lett. 2022, 24, 875.

7.  Wu, B.; Yang, J.; Gao, M.; Hu, L.* Ring-Strain-Enabled Catalytic Asymmetric Umpolung C-O Bond-Forming Reactions of 1,2-Oxazetidines for the Synthesis of Functionalized Chiral Ethers. Org. Lett. 2020, 22, 5561.

8.Wu, B.; Chen, H.; Gao, M.; Gong, X.; Hu, L.* Synthesis of 1,3-Aminoalcohols and Spirocyclic Azetidines via Tandem Hydroxymethylation and Aminomethylation Reaction of β‑Keto Phosphonates with N‑Nosyl‑O‑(2-bromoethyl)hydroxylamine. Org. Lett. 2021, 23, 4152.

9.  Wu, B.; Wen, X.; Chen, H.; Hu, L.* N-Nosyl-O-Bromoethyl Hydroxylamine Acts as a Multifunctional Formaldehyde, Formaldimine, and 1,2-Oxazetidine Surrogate for C–C and C–O Bond-Forming Reactions. Org. Chem. Front. 2021, 8, 5124.

10.  Feng H.; Zhao, Y.; Liu, P.; Hu, L.* Sc(OTf)₃‑Catalyzed C−C Bond-Forming Reaction of Cyclic Peroxy Ketals for the Synthesis of Highly Functionalized 1,2-Dioxene Endoperoxides. Org. Lett. 2021, 23, 1632.

11.  Hu, L.; Wu, Y.; Li, Z.; Deng, L.* Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Chiral γ‑Amino Ketones via Umpolung Reactions of Imines. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138, 15817.

12.  Zhang, H.^#, Hu, L.^#; Ma, Z.; Li, R.; Zhang, Z.; Tao, C.; Cheng, B.; Li, Y.; Wang, H.; Zhai, H.* Total Synthesis of the Diterpenoid (+)-Harringtonolide. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 55, 116381. (# equal contribution)

13.  Wu, Y.; Hu, L.; Li, Z.; Deng, L.* Catalytic Asymmetric Umpolung Reactions of Imines. Nature, 2015, 523, 445.

14.  Hu, L.; Lu, X.; Deng, L.* Catalytic Enantioselective Peroxidation of α, β-Unsaturated Aldehydes for the Asymmetric Synthesis of Biologically Important Chiral Endoperoxides. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 135, 8400.