Abstract

Organoboron compounds have found broad applications in synthetic chemistry, biomedicine, and materials science. The synthesis of organoborons and their downstream transformations, which continue to attract significant research interest, rely on the development of new boron reagents and methodologies. However, despite considerable advancements, the range of well-established and widely utilized boron reagents remains limited, thereby constraining the diversity of reaction modes available from these reagents. 

Recently, we synthesized a series of new neutral sp²-sp³ diboron reagents and explored their properties as borylation agents and precursors for boron synthons. We also investigated their applications in synthetic chemistry, demonstrating their potential as valuable tools for the synthesis and functionalization of organoboron compounds. Furthermore, we reported an electrochemically driven Matteson-type homologation, providing a proof-of-concept solution to the longstanding challenges associated with this reaction since its discovery.

Biography

Dr. Hairong Lyu obtained her bachelor’s degree from Nankai University in 2014. After completing her PhD at the Chinese University of Hong Kong under the supervision of Prof. Zuowei Xie, she moved to the University of Chicago, working as a postdoctoral scholar with Prof. Guangbin Dong. In 2022, she joined The Chinese University of Hong Kong as an assistant professor with the Vice-Chancellor Early Career Professorship Scheme. In 2024, she received the Croucher Tak Wah Mak Innovation Awards. The current research focus in her team includes the development and applications of new reagents and synthetic methodologies. 

吕海荣博士于2014年在南开大学获得学士学位。2018年在香港中文大学取得博士学位，师从谢作伟院士。2019-2022在芝加哥大学从事博士后研究，合作导师为董广彬教授。2022年加入香港中文大学担任助理教授 (“Vice-Chancellor Early Career Professorship Scheme”)。2024年荣获裘槎麦德华前瞻科研大奖。目前课题组研究方向包括新试剂开发及合成应用、电有机合成等。