Yu Peng Ph.D., Professor E-mail:  pengyu@lzu.edu.cn Mailing Address:  South Tianshui Road 222#, Lanzhou, 730000

•Education and Experience

2014 - Present       College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of 

                               Applied Organic Chemistry, Lanzhou University, Professor 

2009-2014             Lanzhou University, Associate Professor

2008-2009             University of California, Santa Barbara (Advisor: Liming Zhang), Postdoc

2005-2009             Lanzhou University, Lecturer

2000-2005             Lanzhou University (Advisor: Wei-Dong Li), Ph.D.

1996-2000             Lanzhou University, B.Sc.

•Research Topics

Total synthesis; Natural products; Synthetic methodology.

Natural products play an important role in the development of therapeutic agents. However, quantity of natural products is scarce generally and chemical synthesis becomes one of main sources. Moreover, total synthesis can provide diverse analogues for further investigation of structure-activity relationship. In our laboratory, research is focused on the invention of Ni-catalyzed reductive coupling reactions and their application in the total synthesis of complex natural products such as alkaloids, terpenes, lignans. Our mission is increase of synthetic efficiency by the design of novel strategies and methods.

•Publications

1. Base-Promoted Addition of DMA with 1,1-Diarylethylenes: Application to a Total Synthesis of (-)-Sacidumlignan B. Zhenbiao Luo, Yawen Wang, and Yu Peng*.  Org. Biomol. Chem. 2020, 18, 2054-2057.

2. Divergent Total Syntheses of C3a-C7′ Linked Diketopiperazine Alkaloids (+)-Asperazine and (+)-Pestalazine A Enabled by a Ni-Catalyzed Reductive Coupling of Tertiary Alkyl Chloride. Long Luo, Xiaoyong Zhai, Yawen Wang, Yu Peng*, and Hegui Gong*. Chem.-Eur. J. 2019, 25, 989-992. 

3. A Water-Soluble Dual-Site Fluorescent Probe for the Rapid Detection of Cysteine with High Sensitivity and Specificity. Baojun Wang, Ruijuan Liu, Jianguo Fang, Yawen Wang*, and Yu Peng*, Chem. Commun. 2019, 55, 11762-11765.  

4. Divergent Asymmetric Syntheses of Podophyllotoxin and Related Family Members via Stereoselective Reductive Ni-Catalysis. Jian Xiao,  Xiaowei Cong, Guizhen Yang, Yawen Wang, and Yu Peng*. Org. Lett. 2018, 20, 1651-1654. (Highlighted by CBG). 

5. Stereoselective Synthesis of a Podophyllum Lignan Core by Intramolecular Reductive Ni-Catalysis. Jian Xiao, Xiaowei Cong, Guizhen Yang, Yawen Wang, and Yu Peng*.  Chem. Commun. 2018, 54, 2040-2043. (Highlighted by X-MOL) 

6. Sensitive Fluorescence On-off Probes for the Fast Detection of a Chemical Warfare Agent Mimic. Muhammad Shar Jhahan Khan, Yawen Wang*, Mathias O. Senge, and Yu Peng*. J. Hazard. Mater. 2018, 342, 10-19.

7. Two Fluorescein-based Chemosensors for the Fast Detection of 2, 4, 6-Trinitrophenol (TNP) in Water. Fu Zhenhai, Wang Yawen*, and Peng Yu*. Chem. Commun. 2017, 53, 10524-10527. (Chemosensors and Molecular Logic themed issue)

8. A Series of Fluorescent and Colorimetric Chemodosimeters for Selective Recognition of Cyanide Based on the FRET Mechanism. Hua Yingxi, Shao Yongliang, Wang Yawen*, and Peng Yu*. J. Org. Chem. 2017, 82, 6259-6267.

9. Fluorescein-based Chromogenic and Ratiometric Fluorescence Probe for Highly Selective Detection of Cysteine and Its Application in Bioimaging. Fu Zhenhai, Han Xiao, Shao Yongliang, Fang Jianguo, Zhang Zhihong, Wang Yawen*, and Peng Yu*. Anal. Chem. 2017, 89, 1937-1944. (Highlighted by X-MOL)

10. Stereospecific Synthesis of Tetrahydronaphtho[2,3-b]furans Enabled by a Nickel-Promoted Tandem Reductive Cyclization. Peng Yu*, Xiao Jian, Xu Xiaobo, Duan Shuming, Ren Li, Shao Yongliang, and Wang Yawen. Org. Lett. 2016, 18, 5170-5173. (Highlighted by Prof. Paul Knochel in Synfacts 2016, 12, 1296. and X-MOL)

11. A Fluorescent Probe for Relay Recognition of Homocysteine and Group IIIA Ions Including Ga(III). Wang Yawen, Liu Shunbang, Ling Weijian, and Peng Yu*. Chem. Commun. 2016, 52, 827-830.

12. A Terbium(III)-Complex-Based On-Off Fluorescent Chemosensor for Phosphate Anions in Aqueous Solution and Its Application in Molecular Logic Gates. Wang Yawen, Liu Shunbang, Yang Yanling, Wang Pengzhi, Zhang Aijiang, and Peng Yu*. ACS Appl. Mater. Inter. 2015, 7, 4415-4422.

13. Nickel-Mediated Stereocontrolled Synthesis of Spiroketals via Tandem Cyclization-Coupling of β-Bromo Ketals and Aryl Iodides. Peng Yu*, Xu Xiaobo, Xiao Jian, and Wang Yawen. Chem. Commun. 2014, 50, 472-474. 

14. Ni-Catalyzed Reductive Homocoupling of Unactivated Alkyl Bromides at Room Temperature and Its Synthetic Application. Peng Yu*, Luo Long, Yan Changsong, Zhang Jianjian, and Wang Yawen. J. Org. Chem. 2013, 78, 10960-10967.

15. Nickel-Mediated Inter- and Intramolecular C-S Coupling of Thiols and Thioacetates with Aryl Iodides at Room Temperature. Xu Xiaobo, Liu Jian, Zhang Jianjian, Wang Yawen, and Peng Yu*. Org. Lett. 2013, 15, 550-553.

16. Nickel-Mediated Inter- and Intramolecular Reductive Cross-Coupling of Unactivated Alkyl Bromides and Aryl Iodides at Room Temperature. Yan Changsong, Peng Yu*, Xu Xiaobo,and  Wang Yawen. Chem.-Eur. J. 2012, 18, 6039-6048.

17. A Selective and Ratiometric Bifunctional Fluorescent Probe for Al³⁺ Ion and Proton. Sun Xin, Wang Yawen, and Peng Yu*. Org. Lett. 2012, 14, 3420-3423.

18. A Selective, Sensitive, Colorimetric, and Fluorescence Probe for Relay Recognition of Fluoride and Cu(II) Ions with “Off-On-Off” Switching in Ethanol-Water Solution. Peng Yu*, Dong Yuman, Dong Ming, and Wang Yawen*. J. Org. Chem. 2012, 77, 9072-9080.

19. A Selective, Colorimetric, and Fluorescent Chemodosimeter for Relay Recognition of Fluoride and Cyanide Anions Based on 1, 1'-Binaphthyl Scaffold. Dong Ming, Peng Yu, Dong Yuman, Tang Ning, and Wang Yawen*. Org. Lett. 2012, 14, 130-133.

20. A Selective, Sensitive, and Chromogenic Chemodosimeter for Cyanide Based on the 1, 1'-Binaphthyl Scaffold. Dong, Yuman; Peng Yu*, Dong Ming, and Wang Yawen*. J. Org. Chem. 2011, 76, 6962-6966.

21. A Colorimetric and Fluorescent Chemosensor for the Detection of an Explosive-2, 4, 6-Trinitrophenol (TNP). Peng Yu*, Zhang Aijiang, Dong Ming, and Wang Yawen*. Chem. Commun. 2011, 47, 4505-4507. (Top Ten Most Accessed Articles in March, 2011)

22. Highly Selective Ratiometric Fluorescent Sensing for Hg²⁺ and Au³⁺, Respectively, in Aqueous Media. Dong Ming, Wang Yawen*, and Peng Yu*. Org. Lett. 2010, 12, 5310-5313.

23. A Unique Water-Tuning Dual-Channel Fluorescence-Enhanced Sensor for Aluminum Ions Based on a Hybrid Ligand from a 1, 1'-Binaphthyl Scaffold and an Amino Acid. Ma Tianhua, Dong Ming, Dong Yuman, Wang Yawen*, and Peng Yu*. Chem.-Eur. J. 2010, 16, 10313-10318.