Prof. Guangbin Dong, University of Chicago

Simple-Looking but Non-Obvious Transformations

Abstract: Late-stage functionalization has become an increasingly important strategy for increasing structural diversity of analogues in drug discovery. However, the current late-stage functionalization tactics remain limited, mostly centered on C-H functionalization. In this talk, three simple-looking but non-obvious transformations will be discussed, which allow for unusual late-stage modifications of complex molecules. The first transformation promotes directed saturation of unactivated arenes, leading to site- selective conversion of a benzene ring into a cyclohexane ring in complex molecules.¹ The second transformation enables simultaneous installation of two chemically different boryl groups side-by-side into common aryl triflates or chlorides, resulting in divergent regioselective difunctionalization.² The third one represents an “atom swap” strategy, which replaces a carbonyl group with a heteroatom, such as sulfur or nitrogen.³ This method can efficiently introduce saturated heterocycles from readily available cyclic ketones, and the application includes rapid conversion of readily available steroids into the corresponding thia- and azasteroids.

1. C. Yu, L. Yiu, Z. Zhang, G. Dong, Nature Catalysis, 2025, in press.
2. J. Huo, Y. Fu, M. J. Tang, Y. Su, S. Hu, P. Liu, G. Dong, Nature, 2025, 644, 102-108.
3. Z. Zhang, G. Dong, Science, 2025, 388, 1436-1440.

Biosketch: Guangbin Dong received his B.S. degree from Peking University and completed his Ph.D. degree in Chemistry from Stanford University with Professor Barry M. Trost, where he was a Larry Yung Stanford Graduate fellow. In 2009, he began research with Professor Robert H. Grubbs at California Institute of Technology, as a Camille and Henry Dreyfus Environmental Chemistry Fellow. In 2011, he joined the University of Texas at Austin as an assistant professor and a CPRIT Scholar. Since 2016, he has been a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Chicago. Since 2023, he has been the first chair of the Weldon G. Brown Professorship. His current research interests include transition-metal-catalyzed C−H and C−C bond activation, total synthesis of bioactive natural products, boron chemistry, and the development of new materials.

Honors and Awards: Mukaiyama Award (2025), Mitsui Chemicals Catalysis Science Awards (2024), AAAS Fellow (2024), Elias J. Corey Award (2024), Tetrahedron Young Investigator Award (2021), Arthur C. Cope Scholar (2017), Sloan Research Fellow (2014), Searle Scholar (2013).