Our research will be focused on the development of stereoselective reactions with relevance to both natural products and medicinal chemistry, the development of new strategies for the synthesis of terpenoid natural and unnatural products, especially on the total synthesis of architecturally complex polycyclic natural products of biological significance, and the development of therapeutic anti-cancer/anti-HBV agent with natural products as lead compounds. The guiding philosophy for all these programs is that we will develop and/or use experimentally efficient, environmentally benign and economically viable reactions, consequently provide access to targets of structural and/or biological significance.

Meanwhile our research begins with natural product and doesn’t stop at natural product. We are pursuing to make molecules of function. Our goal is to employ the chemistry tools to probe the issues related to the science of biology and health.

1. Total syntheses of alkaloids containing pyrrolidine rings via a traceless [3+2] cycloaddition

2. Total syntheses of neurotrophic illicium sesquiterpenes and related biochemical research

3. Total syntheses of natural products containing amino acids through a hydridization strategy

4. Total syntheses of halogenated marine natural products via C-H functionalizations