Publication

Independent Research

33. Gu, Z.-Y.; Gao, B.; Ye, J.; Wu, L.; Li, J.; Zhu, R.-Y. Under Review.

32. Shi, Q.; Ye, J.; Koh, K. K. Y.; Sheng, J.; Fong, K. E. X.; Foo, A.; Zhang, W.; Zhu, R.-Y. Submitted.

2025

31. Sheng, J.;† Koh, K. K. Y.;† Li, Z.;† Liu, J.;† Shi, Q.; Zheng, Y.; Zhang, X.; Zhu, R.-Y. “Stereocontrol on Helical Bimetallic DNA Catalysts with Switchable Enantioselectivity via Dynamic Reaction Distance Regulation.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, Accepted.

30. Li, Z.;† Zheng, Y.;† Zhao, Q.; Li, Y.; Yap, A.; Zhang, X.; Zhu, R.-Y. “DNA Phosphates are Effective Catalysts for Asymmetric Ion-Pairing DNA Catalysis.” Nat. Catal. 2025, 8, 1220-1231. († Equal contribution) (Highlighted by NUS, NUS Science, EurekAlert) (Selected as the Cover)

29. Kha, T.-K.; Zhang, T.; Kunchur, N.; Zhao, Y.; Guo, J.; Chen, S.; Zhu, R.-Y. “Site-Selective RNA Modification by Programmable DNA-Small Molecule Conjugates.” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64, e15411.

28. Guo, J.; Zhang, S.; Kha, T.-K.; Hu, C.; Zhu, R.-Y. “Accelerating Responsive RNA Release Through Structural Optimization of Disulfide-Containing Acyl Groups.” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64, e202507581. (Highlighted by NUS Science, EurekAlert, Phys Org, X)

27. Kha, T.-K.; Zhao, Y.; Zhu, R.-Y. “Site-Selective Modification and Labeling of Native RNA.” Chem. Eur. J. 2025, 31, e202404244. (Invited Review)

2024

26. Sheng, J.;† Li, Z.;† Koh, K. K. Y.; Shi, Q.; Foo, A.; Tan, P. M. L.; Kha, T.-K.; Wang, X.; Fang, L. Zhu, R.-Y. “Merging DNA Repair with Bioorthogonal Conjugation Enables Accessible and Versatile Asymmetric DNA Catalysis.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 16531. († Equal contribution) (Highlighted by NUS Science, Phys Org, X-mol)

25. Guo, J.;† Chen, S.;† Onishi, Y.; Shi, Q.; Song, Y.; Mei, H.; Chen, L.; Kool, E. T.; Zhu, R.-Y. “RNA Control via Redox-Responsive Acylation.” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, 63, e202402178. († Equal contribution) (Highlighted by NUS Science, EurekAlert!, ScienceDaily, SCIENMAG)

24. Kha, T.-K.; Shi, Q.; Pandya, N.; Zhu, R.-Y. “Multifaceted Nucleic Acid Probing with A Rationally Upgraded Molecular Rotor.” Chem. Sci. 2024, 15, 5009.

Supervised Research

  1. Zhu, R.-Y.; Majumdar, C.; Khuu, C.; De Rosa, M.; Opresko, P. L.; David, S. S.; Kool, E. T. “Designer Fluorescent Adenines Enable Real-Time Monitoring of MUTYH Activity.” ACS Cent. Sci. 2020, 6, 1735.
  2. Park, H.; Fan, Z.; Zhu, R.-Y.; Yu, J.-Q. “Distal γ-C(sp3)–H Olefination of Ketone Derivatives and Free Carboxylic Acids.” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 59, 12853.
  3. Zhu, R.-Y.; Li, Z.-Q; Park, H. S.; Senanayake, C. H.; Yu, J.-Q. “Ligand-Enabled γ-C(sp3)–H Activation of Ketones.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140, 3564.
  4. Saint-Denis, T. G. Zhu, R.-Y.; Chen, G.; Wu, Q.-F.; Yu, J.-Q. “Enantioselective C(sp3)‒H Bond Activation by Chiral Transition Metal Catalysts.” Science 2018, 359, 759.
  5. Zhu, R.-Y.; Liu, L-Y.; Park, H. S.; Hong, K.; Wu, Y.; Senanayake, C. H.; Yu, J.-Q. “Versatile Alkylation of (Hetero)Aryl Iodides with Ketones via β-C(sp3)–H Activation.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 139, 16080.
  6. Pei, Q.-L.; Che, G.-D.; Zhu, R.-Y.; He, J.; Yu, J.-Q. “An Epoxide-Mediated Deprotection Method for Acidic Amide Auxiliary.” Org. Lett. 2017, 19, 5860.
  7. Zhu, R.-Y.; Liu, L-Y.; Yu, J.-Q. “Highly Versatile β-C(sp3)–H Iodination of Ketones Using a Practical Auxiliary.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 139, 12394.
  8. Zhu, R.-Y.; Saint-Denis, T. G.; Shao, Y.; He, J.; Sieber, J. D.; Senanayake, C. H.; Yu, J.-Q. “Ligand-Enabled Pd(II)-Catalyzed Bromination and Iodination of C(sp3)–H Bonds.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 139, 5724.
  9. Wu, Q.-F.; Shen, P.-X.; He, J.; Wang, X.-B.; Zhang, F.; Shao, Q.; Zhu, R.-Y.; Mapelli, C.; Qiao, J.; Poss, M.; Yu, J.-Q. “Formation of α-Chiral Centers by Asymmetric β-C(sp3)–H Arylation, Alkenylation, and Alkynylation.” Science 2017, 355, 499.
  10. Zhu, R.-Y.; Farmer, M. E.; Chen, Y.-Q.; Yu, J.-Q. “A Simple and Versatile Amide Directing Group for C−H Functionalizations.” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 55, 10578.
  11. Li, S.; Zhu, R.-Y.; Xiao, K.-J.; Yu, J.-Q. “Ligand-Enabled Arylation of γ-C-H Bonds.” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 55, 4317.
  12. He, J.; Jiang, H.; Takise, R.; Zhu, R.-Y.; Chen, G.; Dai, H.-X.; Dhar, T. G. M.; Shi, J.; Zhang, H.; Cheng, P. T. W.; Yu, J.-Q. “Ligand-Promoted Borylation of C(sp3)-H Bonds with Palladium(II) Catalysts.” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 55, 785.
  13. Shen, P.-X.; Wang, X.-C.; Wang, P.; Zhu, R.-Y.; Yu, J.-Q. “Ligand-Enabled Meta-C–H Alkylation and Arylation Using a Modified Norbornene.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 11574.
  14. Zhu, R.-Y.; Tanaka, K.; Li, G.-C.; He, J.; Fu, H.-Y.; Li, S.-H.; Yu, J.-Q. “Ligand-Enabled Stereoselective β-C(sp3)–H Fluorination: Synthesis of Unnatural Enantiopure anti-β-Fluoro-α-amino Acids.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 7067.
  15. Wang, X.-C.; Gong, W.; Fang, L.-Z.; Zhu, R.-Y.; Li, S.; Engle, K. M.; Yu, J.-Q. “Ligand-Enabled Meta-C–H Activation Using a Transient Mediator.” Nature 2015, 519, 334.
  16. Cao, Z-C.; Yu, D.-G.; Zhu, R.-Y.; Wei, J.-B.; Shi, Z.-J. “Direct Cross-Coupling of Benzyl Alcohols to Construct Diarylmethanes via Palladium Catalysis.” Chem. Commun. 2015, 51, 2683.
  17. Zhu, R.-Y.; He, J.; Wang, X.-C.; Yu, J.-Q. “Ligand-Promoted Alkylation of C(sp3)–H and C(sp2)–H Bonds.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 13194.
  18. Xiao, K.-J.; Lin, D. W.; Miura, M.; Zhu, R.-Y.; Gong, W.; Wasa, M.; Yu, J.-Q. “Palladium(II)-Catalyzed Enantioselective C(sp3)–H Activation Using a Chiral Hydroxamic Acid Ligand.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 8138.
  19. Luo, S.; Yu, D.-G.; Zhu, R.-Y.; Wang, X.; Wang, L.; Shi, Z.-J. “Fe-Promoted Cross Coupling of Homobenzylic Methyl Ethers with Grignard Reagents via sp3 C–O bond cleavage.” Chem. Commun. 2013, 49, 7794.
  20. Zhu, R.-Y.; Wei, J.-B.; Shi, Z.-J. “Benzofuran Synthesis via Copper-Mediated Oxidative Annulation of Phenols and Unactivated Internal Alkynes.” Chem. Sci. 2013, 4, 3706.
  21. Li, H.; Zhu, R.-Y.; Shi, W.-J.; He, K.-H.; Shi, Z.-J. “Synthesis of Fluorenone Derivatives through Pd-Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Cyclization.” Org. Lett. 2012, 14, 4850.
  22. Yu, D.-G.; Wang, X.; Zhu, R.-Y.; Luo, S.; Zhang, X.-B.; Wang, B.-Q.; Wang, L.; Shi, Z.-J. “Direct Arylation/Alkylation/Magnesiation of Benzyl Alcohols in the Presence of Grignard Reagents via Ni-, Fe-, or Co-Catalyzed sp3 C–O Bond Activation.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 14638.
  23. Zhao, F.; Yu, D.-G.; Zhu, R.-Y.; Xi, Z.-F.; Shi, Z.-J. “Cross-coupling of Aryl/Alkenyl Silyl Ethers with Grignard Reagents through Nickel-catalyzed C–O Bond Activation.” Chem. Lett. 2011, 40, 1001.

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