Zhao WU

Biography

  • Prof. Wu obtained his bachelor’s degree in science from University of Science and Technology of China in 2013 and then a PhD degree in chemistry from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2018. After that, he joined Prof. Guangbin Dong’s lab at the University of Chicago as a post-doctoral researcher. In September 2022, he joined School of Emergent Soft Matter, SCUT as a faculty member. Prof. Wu has been active in synthetic method development for functional small molecules and polymers.

Research Interests

  • Prof. Wu’s research focuses on the synthetic methodology development, including earth-abundant metal photocatalysis and the upcycling of chlorinated plastics.

Awards & Honors

2022
Excellent Young Scientists Fund Program (Overseas)

2018
Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad

2016
R. C. Fuson Travel Award, UIUC

2013
Outstanding Graduate, USTC

Selected Publications

  • Ji, K.; Liao, Y.; Deng, S.; Wu, Z.* “Angle-strained cycloalkyne-mediated carbonyl 1,2-transposition” Nat. Synth. 2026, doi.org/10.1038/s44160-026-01059-8.

  • Liao, Y.; Wang, X.; Shen, X.; Wu, Z.* “Photoinduced Zirconium-Catalyzed Cyclopropanation through Activation of gem-Dichloroalkanes” ACS Catal. 2026, 16, 5128-5137.

  • Zhang, W; Cheng, Y.; Tan, Z; Wu, S.; Wang, H.;* Wu, Z.* “Alkoxide-Free Zirconium-Catalyzed Borylation of Unactivated Alkyl Chlorides and Poly(vinyl chloride)” ACS Catal. 2026, 16, 1748-1756.

  • Tan, Z.; Cheng, Y.; Zhang, W.; Wang, H.;* Wu, Z.* “Photoinduced Zirconium-catalyzed Hydrodechlorination of Non-activated Chlorine-containing Alkanes and Polymers” CCS Chem. 2026, 8, 2920-2930.

  • Wu, Z.; Dong, G.* “Rapid Access to Multisubstituted Acrylamides from Cyclic Ketones via Palladium/Norbornene Cooperative Catalysis” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, 61, e202201239.

  • Wu, Z.; Xu, X.; Wang, J.; Dong, G.* “Carbonyl 1,2-Transposition through Triflate-mediated -Amination” Science 2021, 374, 734-740.

  • Wu, Z.#; Gockel, S. N.#; Hull, K. L.* “Anti-Markovnikov Hydro(amino)alkylation of Vinylarenes via Photoredox Catalysis” Nat. Commun. 2021, 12, 5956.

  • Wu, Z.; Fatuzzo, N.; Dong, G.* “Distal Alkenyl C–H Functionalization via the Pd/Norbornene Cooperative Catalysis” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 2715-2720.  

  • Wu, Z.; Laffoon, S. D.; Hull, K. L.* “Asymmetric Synthesis of γ-Branched Amines via Rhodium-Catalyzed Reductive Amination” Nat. Commun. 2018, 9, 1185.

  • Wu, Z.; Laffoon, J. D.; Nguyen, T. T.; McAlpin, J. D.; Hull, K. L.* “Rhodium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Synthesis of β-Branched Amides” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 1371-1375.

  • Wu, Z.; Hull, K. L.* “Rhodium-Catalyzed Oxidative Amidation of Allylic Alcohols and Aldehydes: Effective Conversion of Amines and Anilines to Amides” Chem. Sci. 2016, 7, 969-975.

Teaching

Undergraduate courses:

Org Chem Lab II

P-Chem Lab II

Organic Chem I

Quick Links

Guangzhou International Campus: 777 Xingye Avenue East, Panyu District, Guangzhou, 511442

TEL.: +86-20-39381048; +86-20-39381029

© 2025 South China University of Technology. All Rights Reserved.