Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry Blog

The final day of the OBC symposium saw us arrive at Peking University.

Professor Lei Liu presenting at Peking University

The day opened with PKU head of organic chemistry Professor Zhenfeng Xi welcoming us to the institute, and this was followed by Andrei Yudin’s final presentation and then Professor Guanxin Liang from Nankai University showing a variety of natural product syntheses from his lab. The morning was rounded off by Dirk Trauner.

The first afternoon session showcased the work of Professors from two institutes in Beijing. Professor Lei Liu from Tsinghua University presented on protein synthesis while Professor Sanzhong Luo from the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences showed his latest research on asymmetric binary-acid catalysis.

The second afternoon session saw OBC Chair Jeffrey Bode giving another demonstration of his research into amide-forming reactions, and then Professor Zhi-Xiang Yu from Peking University gave an interesting overview of the potential power of computational chemistry in natural products synthesis.

Our visit to Beijing was a great way to finish this first OBC symposium and we’re very grateful to local organiser Professor Jianbo Wang and all of the speakers.

Following a successful first day in Shanghai, the OBC Symposium travelled to Lanzhou. On arrival we were greeted by a huge banner opposite the entrance. No one visiting the University would be in any doubt that OBC were in town!

The OBC symposium banner at the entrance to Lanzhou University

The day started with a welcome by Director of the State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry at Lanzhou Professor Yongqiang Tu, which was followed by Dirk Trauner’s presentation on natural product synthesis. The morning was rounded-off by Professor Xiaoming Feng from Sichuan University, who guided us through his research on asymmetric catalysis using chiral N,N’-Dioxide ligands.

Professor Andrei Yudin at Lanzhou University

Following lunch Professor Hongbin Zhang from Yunnan University presented the syntheses of some bioactive alkaloids. Professor Tu then returned to the stage to continue the natural products synthesis theme by giving an overview of his work on syntheses which employ 1,2-migration reactions. Andre Yudin gave another overview of his work using amphoteric molecules and the final talk of the day was given by Professor Hanmin Huang from Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, on C-C and C-N bond formation via C-H activation.

All in all it was a very enjoyable visit to Lanzhou. Our thanks go to Professor Tu for hosting us, Professor Wei Wang and his colleagues for local organisation and to all the speakers.

The 1^st Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry International symposium is underway. This event, visiting three prominent organic chemistry departments in China, brings together speakers from China, Europe and North America.

Participants at the OBC Symposium at SIOC

First stop for the symposium was Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, and day was started with an introduction from SIOC Director Professor Kuling Ding. The opening lecture was given by Professor Guo-Qiang Lin, who gave an overview of his work on the synthesis of chiral dienes, useful ligands for transition metal catalysis. Following that OBC Chair Professor Jeffrey Bode (ETH Zurich, Switzerland) presented developments from his group on amide-forming reactions. After the break Professor Dawei Ma (SIOC) showed some of his recent work in the synthesis of the bioactive alkaloids Berbamine and the Communesins.

Professor Dawei Ma presents his research

After lunch Professor Dirk Trauner (LMU Munich, Germany) gave an energetic overview of a number of natural product syntheses, probing reactions beyond the limits of biomimetic synthesis. Next up was Professor Xuhong Qian (East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai), who gave an overview of his development of dyes for fluorescent sensing and anticancer applications. After coffee Professor Andrei Yudin (University of Toronto) described a number of areas where his group has been using amphoteric molecules, and the day was rounded off by Professor Yong Tang (SIOC) and his work with pendant-bisoxazoline ligands.

Professor Yong Tang speaking at the symposium

Many thanks to all the speakers, chairs and attendees for making this a successful start to the OBC Symposium. Particular thanks go to Professor Shuli You and his colleagues at SIOC for the local organisation of the meeting.

Next stop, Lanzhou….