Yuanning Feng

Template-Directed Stereoselective Autocatalysis

Classic stereoselective reactions require chiral ligands or the introduction of a chiral center. Autocatalytic reactions, however, produce stereoisomerically enriched products from achiral precursors. Exploring the origin of chiral amplification can be used for asymmetric synthesis. Introducing recognition sites to reactants can bring templation to asymmetric bond formation which will boost the stereoselectivity of desired products. Our project also discovers the origin of homochirality in biomolecules and the chiral amplification in the prebiotic synthesis.

Functional Molecular Fluorescent Dyes

Push–pull fluorescent dyes- which feature electron donating (D) substituents connected to electron accepting (A) substituents- have been investigated as environmentally sensitive fluorophores. The design and synthesis of fluorescent organic compounds containing push–pull chromophores have emerged as an active area of research over the past two decades as a result of their potential applications in the fields of photovoltaics, non-linear optics, organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), fluorescent sensors, and bioimaging. Our project investigates the design and synthesis of new building blocks of fluorescent dyes which leads to dynamic properties based on the supramolecular interactions. The dyes are useful to explore the fundamental principles of intermolecular and intramolecular electron transfer with the collaboration with optical physicists and theoretical chemists.

Photothermal Conversion Organic Cocrystals

On account of the scarcity of molecules with a satisfactory second near-infrared (NIR-II) response, the design of high-performance organic NIR photothermal materials has been limited. Organic photothermal materials have been discovered as some of the most promising photothermal agents with economical cost, improved biocompatibility, and potential biodegradability. Cocrystals are obtained typically by the self-assembly of two alternative molecular building blocks, i.e., an electron-rich donor (D) and an electron-poor acceptor (A). Attributed to the adjustable energy gaps, solvent processability, and easy recyclability as a type of crystalline materials, cocrystals present bright prospects in the fields of field-effect transistors, ferroelectricity materials, dynamic photomechanics, and nonlinear optics. Because the energy absorption and transfer can be adjusted through changing their constituting components, cocrystals have been applied in photothermal conversion.

Redox Switchable Macrocycles and Cages

Synthetic macrocycles and cages capable of undergoing allosteric regulation by responding to versatile external stimuli are the subject of increasing attention in supramolecular science. Geometries of macrocycles and cages in relation to size, shape, electronic properties, and binding affinities toward polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons can be readily regulated.