Report Time: January 29,2026,10:00 AM

Venue: First floor, Lecture Hall, Block B

Title of the Report: Metal-Photo-Mediated Asymmetric Radical Cross-Coupling Reaction

Presenter: Dr. Huan Lei Tao (Xiamen University)

Abstract: Asymmetric radical cross-coupling has long been one of the challenging problems in organic synthesis, among which utilizing common sp³ C–H bonds as radical precursors to achieve corresponding catalytic transformations poses particular difficulties. To address this challenge, the presenter innovatively combined transition metal catalysis with photocatalysis, employing photoinduced halogen radicals as hydrogen atom transfer agents under mild conditions to facilitate the catalytic generation of alkyl radicals; subsequent metal-catalyzed radical asymmetric coupling then enabled absolute stereochemical control. Based on this strategy, the authors developed asymmetric acylation reactions at benzylic and α-N positions of C(sp³)–H bonds, thereby achieving the construction of asymmetric C(sp³)–C(sp²) bonds. Furthermore, leveraging the dual-radical asymmetric cross-coupling mechanism, the authors conducted in-depth investigations into the construction of asymmetric C(sp³)–C(sp³) bonds.

Speaker Biography：

Huan Lei is a postdoctoral researcher at Xiamen University. He completed his undergraduate (2014) and master's (2017) research training at the School of Materials, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of Soochow University under the supervision of Professor Zhu Chen. In 2022, he obtained his doctoral degree from the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Xiamen University under the guidance of Professors Huo Haohua and Huang Peiqiang. In the same year, he joined Professor Huo Haohua's research group at Xiamen University to conduct postdoctoral research. His primary research focuses on asymmetric cross-coupling reactions involving free radicals, employing a strategy that combines transition metals with photocatalysis to efficiently achieve the asymmetric construction of sp³ chiral carbons. This work provides novel methodologies for the efficient synthesis of high-value chiral three-dimensional molecules in fields such as biopharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. During his academic career, he has published one paper each in JACS, Nat. Commun., Org. Lett., and Org. Chem. Front. as the first author, and has led one Postdoctoral General Program grant. In 2025, he was awarded funding from the National Science Fund for Young Scientists (Category C) (2026).

Title of the Report: Application of Synchrotron Radiation Characterization Techniques in Electrocatalysis

Presenter: Dr. Zuo Shouwei (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology)

Report Abstract:

 Synchrotron radiation characterization techniques provide unique means to elucidate the dynamic evolution of material structures during electrocatalytic reactions, making them indispensable tools for understanding the origins of catalytic activity and reaction mechanisms. This report focuses on the application of synchrotron radiation X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS)—including its time-resolved and in situ/quasi-in situ variants—in electrocatalytic systems, with particular emphasis on practical implementations and recent advances in the study of catalytic materials for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE). The report first outlines the advantages of synchrotron radiation characterization techniques in terms of spatial and temporal resolution, as well as their capability to resolve the local electronic structure, coordination environment, and valence state evolution of catalysts at the atomic scale. Subsequently, by drawing on specific research studies, the report demonstrates how techniques such as time-resolved fast-scan XAFS and in situ XAS have been employed to reveal structural reconstruction, local disordering, and evolution of active sites in transition metal oxides, perovskite oxides, and single-atom/atomic-layer catalysts under operational conditions, thereby elucidating the intrinsic relationships between these dynamic structural changes and electrocatalytic performance.

Building on this foundation, this report further elaborates on a research strategy that integrates synchrotron radiation characterization with electrochemical in-situ reaction cells and device-level testing, exploring pathways to translate in-situ spectroscopic insights into practical performance optimization and material design for PEM water electrolysis devices. Finally, in light of future research plans, the report outlines the application potential of multi-scale, time-domain synchrotron radiation in-situ characterization technologies within high-efficiency, low-precious-metal-electrocatalytic systems, thereby providing experimental evidence and methodological support for the rational design of energy conversion and storage materials.

Speaker Biography:

Zuo Shouwei holds a Ph.D. in condensed matter physics. He currently serves as a consultant researcher at the Department of Physics and Engineering and the Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Technology Center of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).

The presenter has long been engaged in research on synchrotron radiation characterization techniques and electrocatalytic materials. He previously participated in the operation and maintenance of the XAFS experimental station at the Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility, as well as in user experimental training and the construction of in-situ reaction platforms, and has systematically conducted research on in-situ and time-resolved spectroscopic methodologies based on synchrotron radiation. Building on this foundation, his research has focused on the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in electrocatalysis and proton exchange membrane water electrolysis systems, employing transition metal oxides, perovskite oxides, and single-atom or atomic-scale catalysts. Utilizing techniques such as synchrotron XAS and GIXAFS, he has systematically elucidated the evolution of the local structures of catalysts under operational conditions and the intrinsic relationships between these structural changes and catalytic activity.

To date, the author has published numerous SCI-indexed papers as first author (including co-first authors) or co-corresponding author in journals such as *Angewandte Chemie*, *Nature Communications*, *Journal of the American Chemical Society*, *Science Advances*, and *Advanced Energy Materials*, many of which have been selected as highly cited or hot-topic papers; additionally, the author has collaborated with co-authors to publish related research findings in journals including *Science*, *Nature Energy*, and *Nature Photonics*. The total number of citations for these papers exceeds 6,900, and the H-index stands at 40. The author has established a systematic body of work and sustained research output in the areas of synchrotron radiation-based in-situ characterization methods and the structure–performance relationships of electrocatalytic materials. Currently, the author serves as a guest editorial board member of *Frontiers in Chemistry* and acts as an independent reviewer for journals such as *Nature Communications*.

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shantou University 

January 25,2026