Recently, Dr. Zhao Fei, a distinguished researcher at the College of Pharmacy, has successively published two research papers in the Organic Letters (a CAS Zone 1 journal included in the Natural Index; impact factor: 6.091), a top famous journal in the field of organic chemistry under the American Chemical Society (ACS), as the first author/corresponding author and with Chengdu University as the first unit. The titles of the papers are "Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed C–H Alkenylation/Directing Group Migration for the Regio- and Stereoselective Synthesis of Tetrasubstituted Alkenes" and "Additive-Controlled Divergent Synthesis of Tetrasubstituted 1,3-Enynes and Alkynylated 3H-Pyrrolo[1,2-a]indol-3-ones via Rhodium Catalysis".
Zhao Fei's research group first reported a rhodium-catalyzed C–H alkenylation/directing group migration cascade between indoles and alkynes at room temperature. This reaction is characterized by broad substrate scope, excellent regio- and stereoselectivity, mild reaction conditions and excellent yields and can quickly shape challenging tetrasubstituted olefin skeletons, providing a new idea for the synthesis of tetrasubstituted olefin compounds. Based on this work, he published a paper titled "Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed C–H Alkenylation/Directing Group Migration for the Regio- and Stereoselective Synthesis of Tetrasubstituted Alkenes" in the Organic Letters in November 2020. This paper has been highly praised by peer reviewers.
With indoles and diynes as substrates, Zhao Fei's research group has developed the additive-controlled divergent synthesis of tetrasubstituted 1,3-enynes and C2-alkynylated 3H-pyrrolo[1,2-a] indol-3-ones through rhodium-catalyzed C–H alkenylation/DG migration and [3+2] annulation, respectively. This method features broad substrate scope, excellent regio- and stereoselectivity, good yields, and enables the precise control of the reaction through additives. In this work, Gong Xin, a postgraduate student, made great contributions to the synthesis and preparations. Based on this work, a paper entitled "Additive-Controlled Divergent Synthesis of Tetrasubstituted 1,3-Enynes and Alkynylated 3H-Pyrrolo[1,2-a]indol-3-ones via Rhodium Catalysis" was published in the Organic Letters in January 2021.
In addition, in the preliminary phase, Zhao Fei's research group also reported the rhodium(III)‐catalyzed [4+2] annulation/lactonization cascade of indole substrates and 4-hydroxy-2-alkynoates at room temperature. This method features broad substrate scope, excellent regioselectivity, good functional group tolerance and good yields and can be used to quickly synthesize the indole-fused heterocyclic compounds with furo[3′,4′:4,5]pyrimido[1,6‐a]indole‐1,5(3H,4H)‐diones skeletons. With Zhao Fei as the corresponding author and Chengdu University as the first unit, the work was summarized into a paper that was published in the Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis (listed in the CAS Zone 2; Impact Factor: 5.851), Wiley's well-known journal, in May 2020. The title of the paper is "Rhodium-Catalyzed Cascade Reactions of Indoles with 4-Hydroxy-2-Alkynoates for the Synthesis of Indole-Fused Polyheterocycles".
It is reported that the above scientific research achievements have been funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), the "Chengdu Drifter" Talent Recruitment Program, Sichuan Science and Technology Program, Chengdu University's scientific research start-up program and other programs.
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Zhao Fei, a doctor, distinguished researcher at the College of Pharmacy, a distinguished expert of the "Chengdu Drifter" Talent Recruitment Program, has now presided over 9 projects funded by the NSFC Young Scientists Fund program, Sichuan Science and Technology Program's General Program, the "Chengdu Drifter" Talent Recruitment Program, and Chengdu University's scientific research start-up program for introducing talents. He has published 22 SCI papers as the first author/corresponding author in top international academic journals such as Green Chemistry, Organic Letters, Chemical Communications, Advanced Synthesis&Catalysis, and Journal of Medical Chemistry.
