Organized
by Prof. Guangxin Liang and Prof. Pingping Tang of the SKLEOC, the
Mini-Symposium on the Syntheses of Complex Molecules took place at May 30th at the lecture hall of Shixian Building. The Mini-Symposium became an
annual event since 2012, held in May during the season of Ph.D. defenses. This
symposium was hosted by Prof. Guangxin Liang.
Prof. Zhangjie Shi of Fudan University, Prof.
Xuefeng Jiang of East China Normal University, Prof. Yefeng Tang of Tsinghua
University and Prof. Ang Li of the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry were
invited to speak at the symposium. Each gave inspiring talks on the
applications of novel methodologies and strategies in the synthesis of complex
molecules.
Prof. Zhangjie Shi’s talked was entitled “Upgrading
Cross Coupling”. During his talk Prof. Shi systematically concluded his 13
years of research at Peking University. Through pieces of intriguing stories, Prof.
Shi humorously introduced the development of cross coupling reactions and
shared his wisdom and persistence in facing, analyzing and tackling scientific
problems. By the end of the talk he gave insight to his further research at
Fudan Univerisity.
Prof. Xuefeng Jiang then gave a lecture
focused on “Green Organic Synthesis”. He brought up the concept of step economy
and green reagents in achieving green organic synthesis. He then discussed his
group’s divergent syntheses of alkaloids and unique selenium and sulfur
chemistry based on the above concepts.
Following Prof. Jiang, Prof. Yefeng Tang then
gave a talk named “Natural Product-Inspired New Chemistry and Biology – To
Learn, to Mimic and to be Better”. His talked focused on his group’s work on
the development of practical and efficient synthetic methodologies, and the
applications of these methods to the rapid and collective syntheses of novel
structured natural products with important biological activities. Apart from
synthetic chemistry, he also disclosed his group’s studies on the
pharmaceutical properties and chemical biology of their synthetic natural
products.
The symposium concluded from a final report
by Prof. Ang Li: Syntheses of Polycyclic Natural Products. In his lecture, Prof
Li. showcased extraordinary achievements in the total synthesis of several
types of natural products. The stories behinds the routes were stimulating,
arousing great enthusiasm among the audiences.
The four speakers dedicated a wonderful
afternoon for the faculties and students of the SKLEOC. After-talk discussions
on the details of organic reaction mechanisms and synthetic strategies were
thought-provoking. The speakers presented not only cutting-edge science, but
also shared their philosophies in scientific research.
