Publications
2026
55.
Huang, H.; Qiu, W.; Liao, L.*; Zhao, X.* Catalytic 1,2- and 1,1-Carbocyclization of Alkenes Employing Adamantanols as Tertiary Carbocation Precursors.
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2026, 65, e24449.
Selected as Hot Paper.
Highlighted by Yancheng Methodology, Huaxue Shenbianxue, Chemical Valley.
54.
Jiang, Q.; Jiao, H.; Jiang, L.; Zhao, X.* A catalytic thiolation/dethiolation strategy for the ring-opening of cyclopropenes to access α,β-unsaturated nitriles and carbonyl compounds.
Chin. Chem. Lett. 2026, DOI:10.1016/j.cclet.2025.112354.
Highlighted by Chemical Deep Ploughing Hall.
53.
Qiu, W.; Zhao, X.* Research Progress in Electrophilic Selenium-Catalyzed Rearrangement Reactions.
Chin. J. Org. Chem. 2026, 46, DOI:10.6023/cjoc202508009.
Invited contribution.
2025
52.
Wu, L.; Qiu, W.; Liao, L.*; Wang, B.; Zhao, X.* Catalytic Wacker Oxidation of Tetrasubstituted Alkenes: Efficient Access to gem-Dimethyl Ketones.
Organometallics 2025, 44, 2842-2847.
Invited contribution as part of special issue: Organometallic Chemistry Beyond the Transition Metals: Fundamentals and Applications of the P-Block
51.
Zhong, F.; Ye, Z.; Zhao, T.; Liao, L.; Ke, Z.*; Zhao, X.* Catalytic Asymmetric Electrophilic Chlorocarbocyclization of Alkenes Using ipso-Carbon Nucleophiles.
ACS Catal. 2025, 15, 9425-9463.
Highlighted by Chemical Deep Ploughing Hall,Yancheng Methodology.
50.
Zhong, F.; Zhao, X.; Liao, L.* Catalytic Asymmetric Azidative Functionalization of Alkenes.
Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2025, 28, e202500015.
Invited contribution.
49.
Lin, A.; Liu, J.; Xu, Y.; Wu, H.; Chen, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Su, L.*; Zhao, X.; Liao, K.* High-throughput experimentation and machine learning-promoted synthesis of α-phosphoryloxy ketones via Ru-catalyzed P(O)O-H insertion reactions of sulfoxonium ylides.
Sci. China Chem. 2025, 68, 679-686.
2024
48.
Xu, X.#; Qin, T.#; Huang, N.; Liao, L.*; Zhao, X.* Catalytic Enantioselective Electrophilic Difunctionalization of Unsaturated Sulfones. (# These authors contributed equally to this work)
Org. Lett. 2024, 26, 4514-4519.
47.
Qiu, W.#; Liao, L.*#; Xu, X.; Huang, H.; Xu, Y.; Zhao, X.* Catalytic 1,1-diazidation of alkenes. (# These authors contributed equally to this work)
Nat. Commun. 2024, 15, 3632.
Highlighted by Synform.
Highlighted by X-Mol.
46.
Huang, N.; Luo, J.; Liao, L.; Zhao, X.* Catalytic Enantioselective Aminative Difunctionalization of Alkenes.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 7029-7038.
Highlighted by Synfacts.
Highlighted by Chemical Deep Ploughing Hall.
Highlighted by X-Mol.
45.
Jiang, Q.; Luo, J.; Zhao, X.* Enantioselective cross-dehydrogenative coupling enabled by organocatalysis.
Green Chem. 2024, 26, 1846-1875.
2023
44.
Liang, Y.#; Huang, H.#; Huang, N.#; Liao, L.*; Zhao, X.* Catalytic Enantioselective Construction of Chiral γ-Azido Nitriles through Nitrile Group-Promoted Electrophilic Reaction of Alkenes. (# These authors contributed equally to this work)
Org. Lett. 2023, 25, 6757-6762.
43.
Huang, N.; Liao, L.; Zhao, X.* Intermolecular Hydrazinative Halogenation of Alkenes with Potassium Halides as Nucleophilic Halogen Sources: Modular Entry to Phenelzine Derivatives.
Org. Lett. 2023, 25, 6587-6592.
Highlighted by Organic Chemistry Portal.
42.
Liu, P.; Zhong, F.; Liao, L.; Tan, W.*; Zhao, X.* Progress in the Construction of Spirocyclohexadienone Derivatives via Alkyne-involving Dearomatization.
Chin. J. Org. Chem. 2023, 43, 4019-4035.
41.
Zhang, Y.; Wu, J.; Qiu, W.; Liao, L.*; Wang, B.; Zhao, X.* Lewis Acid-Mediated Electrophilic Thiolative Difunctionalization of Enimides: Rapid Access to β-Amino Sulfides.
Org. Lett. 2023, 25, 5173-5178.
2022
40.
Liang, Y.; Jiao, H.; Zhang, H.; Wang, Y.-Q. Zhao, X.* Chiral Chalcogenide-Catalyzed Enantioselective Electrophilic Hydrothiolation of Alkenes.
Org. Lett. 2022, 24, 7210-7215.
39.
Liao, L.; Xu, X.; Ji, J.; Zhao, X.* Asymmetric Intermolecular Iodinative Difunctionalization of Allylic Sulfonamides Enabled by Organosulfide Catalysis: Modular Entry to Iodinated Chiral Molecules.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 16490-16501.
Highlighted by Chem Catalysis,Synfacts, CJOC.
Highlighted by School of Chemistry,SYSU.
Highlighted by Chemical Valley,Chem-Station.
38.
Liao, L.; Zhao, X.* Indane-Based Chiral Aryl Chalcogenide Catalysts: Development and Applications in Asymmetric Electrophilic Reactions.
Acc. Chem. Res. 2022, 55, 2439-2453.
Highlighted by School of Chemistry,SYSU.
37.
Wei, W.; Zhao, X.* Organoselenium-Catalyzed Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling of
Alkenes and Azlactones.
Org. Lett. 2022, 24, 1780-1785.
36.
Cui, F.-H.#; Hua, Y.#; Lin, Y.-M.*; Fei, J.; Gao, L.-H.; Zhao, X.; Xia, H.* Selective Difunctionalization of Unactivated Aliphatic Alkenes Enabled by a Metal–Metallaaromatic Catalytic System. (# These authors contributed equally to this work)
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 2301-2310.
35.
Zhong, F.; Zhao, X.* Selective Transformations of Carbonyl Derivatives via Selenium Catalysis.
Chin. J. Org. Chem. 2022, 42, 314-315.
Invited contribution.
2021
34.
Jiang, Q.#; Li, H.#; Zhao, X.* Catalytic Electrophilic Thiocarbocyclization of Allenes.(# These authors contributed equally to this work)
Org. Lett. 2021, 23, 8777-8782.
33.
Liao, L.; Zhao, X.* Modern Organoselenium Catalysis: Opportunities and Challenges.
Synlett 2021, 32, 1262-1268.
Invited contribution as part of the Cluster: Perspectives on Organoheteroatom and Organometallic Chemistry
32.
Luo, J.; Zhang, Y.; Zhong, F.; Zhao, X.* Catalytic Enantioselective Construction of Chiral Benzo-Fused N-Heterocycles through Friedel-Crafts-Type Electrophilic Chlorination.
CCS Chem. 2021, 3, 1363-1375.
31.
Zhang, Y.; Liang, Y.; Zhao, X.* Chiral Selenide-Catalyzed, Highly Regio- and Enantioselective Intermolecular Thioarylation of Alkenes with Phenols.
ACS Catal. 2021, 11, 3755-3761.
Highlighted by Synfacts.
30.
Liao, L.; Zhao, X.* Selenium-Catalyzed Functionalization of Alkynes.
Chem. Lett. 2021, 50, 1104-1113.
Invited contribution.
Selected as the Inside Cover.
29.
Jiang, Q.; Zhao, X.* Chiral Bifunctional Chalcogenide-Catalyzed Enantioselective Electrophilic Thiofunctionalization of Alkenes.
Chin. J. Org. Chem. 2021, 41, 443-454.
Invited contribution.
Selected as the Cover.
2020
28.
Guo, R.; Liu, Z.; Zhao, X.* Efficient Synthesis of P-Chirogenic Compounds Enabled by Chiral Selenide-Catalyzed Enantioselective Electrophilic Aromatic Halogenation.
CCS Chem. 2020, 2, 2617-2628.
Selected as the Author Spotlight.
27.
Wei, W.; Zhao, X. Selenopyrylium and Benzoselenopyrylium Salts (Uptate 2020).
Science of Synthesis Knowledge Updates, 2020, 3, 435-458.
26.
Jiang, Q.; Liang, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Zhao, X.* Chalcogenide-Catalyzed Intermolecular Electrophilic Thio- and Halofunctionalization of gem-Difluoroalkenes: Construction of Diverse Difluoroalkyl Sulfides and Halides.
Org. Lett. 2020, 22, 7581-7587.
25.
Xu, Y.; Liao, L.; Zhao, X.* Progress in the Synthesis of Aza-Heterocyclic Compounds via Selenium-π-Acid Catalysis.
Chemistry (Huaxue Tongbao) 2020, 83, 970-976.
24.
Liao, L.; An, R.; Li, H.; Xu, Y.; Wu, J.-J.; Zhao, X.* Catalytic Access to Functionalized Allylic gem‐Difluorides via Fluorinative Meyer‐Schuster‐Like Rearrangement.
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 59, 11010-11019.
Selected as Hot Paper.
Highlighted by Synfacts.
Highlighted by Chin. J. Org. Chem.
Highlighted by ChemBeanGo.
23.
Liang, Y.; Ji, J.; Zhang, X.; Jiang, Q.; Luo, J.; Zhao, X.* Enantioselective Construction of Axially Chiral Amino Sulfide Vinyl Arenes by Chiral Sulfide‐Catalyzed Electrophilic Carbothiolation of Alkynes.
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 59, 4959-4964.
Highlighted by X-MOL.
2019
22.
Wei, W.; Liao, L.; Qin, T.; Zhao, X.* Access to Saturated Thiocyano-Containing Azaheterocycles via Selenide-Catalyzed Regio- and Stereoselective Thiocyanoaminocyclization of Alkenes.
Org. Lett. 2019, 21, 7846-7850.
21.
Liang, Y.; Zhao, X.* Enantioselective Construction of Chiral Sulfides via Catalytic Electrophilic Azidothiolation and Oxythiolation of N-Allyl Sulfonamides.
ACS Catal. 2019, 9, 6896-6902.
Highlighted by Yan Zhi Cheng Li.
20.
Li, H.; Liao, L.; Zhao, X.* Organoselenium-Catalyzed Aza-Wacker Reactions: Efficient Access to Isoquinolinium Imides and an Isoquinoline N-Oxide.
Synlett 2019, 30, 1688-1692.
Invited contribution as part of the Cluster: Organosulfur and Organoselenium
Compounds in Catalysis
Highlighted by Organic Chemistry Portal.
19.
Cao, Q.; Luo, J.; Zhao, X.* Chiral Sulfide Catalysis for Desymmetrizing Enantioselective Chlorination.
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 1315-1319.
Selected as Hot Paper.
Selected as the Inside Back Cover.
Highlighted by Yan Zhi Cheng Li.
Highlighted by Synfacts.
18.
Qin, T.; Jiang, Q.; Ji, J.; Luo, J.; Zhao, X.* Chiral selenide-catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of trifluoromethylthiolated 2,5-disubstituted oxazolines.
Org. Biomol. Chem. 2019, 17, 1763-1766.
Invited contribution to the themed collections: New Talent
2018
17.
An, R.; Liao, L.; Liu, X.; Song, S.; Zhao, X.* Acid-catalyzed oxidative cleavage of S–S and Se–Se bonds with DEAD: efficient access to sulfides and selenides.
Org. Chem. Front. 2018, 5, 3557-3561.
16.
Xu, J.#; Zhang, Y.#; Qin, T.; Zhao, X.* Catalytic Regio- and Enantioselective Oxytrifluoromethylthiolation
of Aliphatic Internal Alkenes by Neighboring Group Assistance.(# These authors contributed equally to this work)
Org. Lett. 2018, 20, 6384–6388.
15.
Liao, L.; Zhang, H.; Zhao, X.* Selenium-π-Acid Catalyzed Oxidative Functionalization of Alkynes: Facile Access to Ynones and Multisubstituted Oxazoles.
ACS Catal. 2018, 8, 6745−6750.
Highlighted by Yan Zhi Cheng Li.
14.
Liu, X.; Liang, Y.; Ji, J.; Luo, J.; Zhao, X.* Chiral Selenide-Catalyzed Enantioselective Allylic Reaction and Intermolecular Difunctionalization of Alkenes: Efficient Construction of C-SCF3 Stereogenic Molecules.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140, 4782−4786.
Highlighted by Chin. J. Org. Chem..
Highlighted by Hua Xue Jia.
13.
Luo, J.; Cao, Q.; Cao, X.*; Zhao, X.* Selenide-catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of
trifluoromethylthiolated tetrahydronaphthalenes by
merging desymmetrization and
trifluoromethylthiolation.
Nat. Commun. 2018, 9, 527.
12.
Guo, R.; Huang, J.; Zhao, X.* Organoselenium-Catalyzed Oxidative Allylic Fluorination with Electrophilic N–F Reagent.
ACS Catal. 2018, 8, 926–930.
2017
11.
Zhu, Z.; Luo, J.; Zhao, X.* Combination of Lewis Basic Selenium Catalysis and Redox Selenium Chemistry: Synthesis of Trifluoromethylthiolated Tertiary Alcohols with Alkenes.
Org. Lett. 2017, 19, 4940–4943.
10.
Luo, J.; Liu, Y.; Zhao, X.* Chiral Selenide-Catalyzed Enantioselective Construction of Saturated Trifluoromethylthiolated Azaheterocycles.
Org. Lett. 2017, 19, 3434–3437.
9.
Guo, R .; Liao, L.; Zhao, X.* Electrophilic Selenium Catalysis with Electrophilic N-F Reagents as the Oxidants.
Molecules 2017, 22, 835.
Invited contribution to the Special Issue Celebrating Two Centuries of Research in Selenium Chemistry: State of the Art and New Prospectives
8.
Liao, L.; Guo, R.; Zhao, X.* Organoselenium-Catalyzed Regioselective C-H Pyridination of
1,3-Dienes and Alkenes.
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 3201–3205.
Selected as the Inside Back Cover.
Highlighted by Chin. J. Org. Chem..
Highlighted by Synfacts.
7.
Luo, J .; Liu, X.; Zhao, X.* Development of Chalcogenide Catalysts towards Trifluoromethylthiolation.
Synlett 2017, 28, 397-401.
Invited Synpacts Highlight.
2016
6.
Wu, J.-J.; Xu, J.; Zhao, X.* Selenide-Catalyzed Stereoselective Construction of Tetrasubstituted Trifluoromethylthiolated Alkenes with Alkynes.
Chem. Eur. J. 2016, 22, 15265–15269.
5.
Liu, X.; An, R.; Zhang, X.; Luo, J.; Zhao, X.* Enantioselective Trifluoromethylthiolating Lactonization Catalyzed by
an Indane-Based Chiral Sulfide.
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 55, 5846–5850.
Selected as the Inside Back Cover.
Highlighted by Chin. J. Org. Chem..
Highlighted by X-MOL.
4.
Guo, R.; Huang, J.; Huang, H.; Zhao, X.* Organoselenium-Catalyzed Synthesis of Oxygen- and Nitrogen-Containing Heterocycles.
Org. Lett. 2016, 18, 504-507.
Highlighted by Organic Chemistry Portal.
2015
3.
Zhang, X.; Guo, R.; Zhao, X.* Organoselenium-catalyzed synthesis of indoles through intramolecular C-H amination.
Org. Chem. Front. 2015, 2, 1334-1337.
2.
Luo, J.; Zhu, Z.; Liu, Y.; Zhao, X.* Diaryl Selenide Catalyzed Vicinal Trifluoromethylthioamination of Alkenes.
Org. Lett. 2015, 17, 3620-3623.
Highlighted by X-MOL.
1.
Deng, Z.; Wei, J.; Liao, L.; Huang, H.; Zhao, X.* Organoselenium-Catalyzed, Hydroxy-Controlled Regio- and Stereoselective Amination of Terminal Alkenes: Efficient Synthesis of 3-Amino Allylic Alcohols.
Org. Lett. 2015, 17, 1834-1837.
Highlighted by Organic Chemistry Portal.
2013 and before
14. Zhao, X.; Glover, G. S.; Oberg, K. M.; Dalton, D. M.; Rovis, T.* SNAr-Derived Decomposition By-products Involving Pentafluorophenyl Triazolium Carbenes.
Synlett. 2013, 24, 1229-1232.
13. Zhao, X.; Ruhl, K. E.; Rovis, T.* N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Catalyzed Asymmetric Oxidative Hetero-Diels-Alder Reactions with Simple Aliphatic Aldehydes.
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2012, 51, 12330-12333.
12. Zhao, X.; DiRocco, D. A.; Rovis, T.* N-Heterocyclic Carbene and Brønsted Acid Cooperative Catalysis: Asymmetric Synthesis of trans-γ-Lactams.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 12466-12469.
11. Zhao, X.; Dong, V. M.* Reductive Elimination from Pd(IV) Sulfinate Complexes.
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2011, 50, 932-934.
10. Yeung, C. S.; Zhao, X.; Borduas, N.; Dong, V. M.* Pd-Catalyzed ortho-Arylation of Phenylacetamides, Benzamides, and Anilides with Simple Arenes using Sodium Persulfate.
Chem.Sci. 2010, 1, 331-336.
9. Zhao, X.; Yeung, C. S.; Dong, V. M.* Palladium-Catalyzed ortho-Arylation of O-Phenylcarbamates with Simple Arenes and Sodium Persulfate.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 5837-5844.
8. Zhao, X.; Dimitrijević, E.; Dong,V. M.* Palladium-Catalyzed C–H Bond Functionalization with Arylsulfonyl Chlorides.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 3466-3467.
7. Zhao, X.; Yu, Z.* Rhodium-Catalyzed Regioselective C–H Functionalization via Decarbonylation of Acid Chlorides and C–H Bond Activation under Phosphine-Free Conditions.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 8136-8137.
6. Zhao, X.; Yu, Z.;* Xu, T.; Wu, P.; Yu, H. Novel Brønsted Acid-Catalyzed Three-Component Alkylation of Indoles with N-Phenylselenophthalimide and Styrenes.
Org. Lett. 2007, 9, 5263-5266.
5. Tan, W.; Zhao, X.; Yu, Z.* Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Ruthenium(II) Complexes Bearing Phosphine-Pyrazolyl Based Tripod Ligands.
J. Organomet. Chem. 2007, 692, 5395-5402.
4. Zhao, X.; Alper, H.;* Yu, Z.* Stereoselective Hydroxycarbonylation of Vinyl Bromides to the Corresponding α,β-Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids in the Ionic Liquid [BMIM]PF6.
J. Org. Chem. 2006, 71, 3988-3990.
3. Zhao, X.; Yu, Z.;* Yan, S.; Wu, S.; Liu, R.; He, W.; Wang, L. Ruthenium(III) Chloride Catalyzed Efficient Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Diorganyl Selenides via Cleavage of Dibenzyl and Diphenyl Diselenides in the Presence of Zinc.
J. Org. Chem. 2005, 70, 7338-7341.
2. Zhao, X.; Yu, Z.;* Zeng, F.; Chen, J.; Wu, X.; Wu, S.; Xiao, W.-J.;* Zheng, Z.Highly Efficient Route to Diselenides from the Reactions of Imines and Selenium in the Presence of Carbon Monoxide and Water.
Adv. Synth. Catal. 2005, 347, 877-882.
1. Chen, J.; Ling, G.; Yu, Z.;* Zeng, F.; Wu, S.; Zhao, X.;Wu, X.; Lu, S.* N-Arylamides from Selenium-Catalyzed Reactions of Nitroaromatics and Amides in the Presence of Carbon Monoxide and Mixed Organic Base.
Adv. Synth. Catal. 2004, 346, 1267-1270.