Main Group Synthesis, Catalysis and Small Molecules Activation

Main group elements have proven to be indispensable tools in modern chemistry, playing crucial roles in the synthesis of novel compounds, catalysis, and small molecule activation. Our group is interested in designing novel Frustrated Lewis Pairs (FLPs) based on Group 13, 14 and 15 elements to activate small molecules like CO2, H2, N2, N2O, SO2, etc, and further convert them into value-added products under ambient conditions. We are also focused on developing a novel class of bench-stable Lewis acids for catalytic transformations. The use of main group compounds for such transformations is sustainable and can minimize waste and energy consumption associated with metal-based transformations, making it useful for both academic and industrial purposes.

The reversible Z-E photoisomerization of the azo group allows innumerable applications of aromatic azo compounds, including photoswitches, dyes, antibiotics and molecular machines. Our group is engaged in utilizing photoswitching behaviour of azoarenes to difunctionalize the N=N double bond to form N-X (X=P, B, Si) bonds under metal- or catalyst-free conditions.

Catalytic Additions of Boron-Element to Unsaturated Organic Molecules

In recent years, catalytic additions of boron-element σ-bonds to unsaturated organic molecules have been studied intensively, because such addition reactions provide new efficient synthetic routes to highly functionalized organoboronic acid derivatives. The key goal of this project is to design and synthesis a series of symmetrical and unsymmetrical diboranes, silylboranes, and to study their reactivities towards unsaturated organic compounds.

Multiply Bonded Main Group Compounds and its Reactivity

Multiply bonded main group compounds, particularly between boron and its neighbouring atoms have attracted much attention over the past few decades, notably because of their unusual structural and bonding motifs. Considerable effort has been committed to the synthesis and the reactivities of the family of two coordinated boron species such as alkylidenoboranes (XB=CR2), oxoboranes (XB≡O) and iminoboranes (XB≡NR). However, the boron and boron-nitrogen analogue of allene systems are less explored. Our aim is to synthesis various bora-allene (-B=C=C-) and alkylideneamino-borane (-B=N=C-) compounds and to study the reactivity towards various organic substrates

Synthesis and Applications of New Main Group Polymers

In recent years, extensive research has been carried out for the generation of main group materials particularly Group 13/15 materials via the transition-metal-catalyzed dehydrocoupling of amine-boranes and phosphine-boranes. Although dehydrocoupling reactions make use of easy-to-access main group substrates, a key challenge for the future is the development of catalytic processes that involve the elimination of species other than H2. Therefore, the first milestone of this project is to find a new synthetic route to polymeric main group materials based on P/B, P/Al N/Al and B-O-Si polymers with potentially unique properties via the dehalosilylcoupling of organoelement halides