Chao Li, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, TIMBR, Assistant Investigator, NIBS, Beijing

Group website：http://www.lichaolab.com

Education

2013    Ph.D. in Organic Synthesis, National Institute of Biological Science (TIMBR/NIBS), Beijing & Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.

2008    B.S., Pharmaceutical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China

Experience

2017-Present    Assistant Professor, TIMBR, Assistant Investigator, NIBS, Beijing

2014-2017    Postdoctoral Research Fellow, The Scripps Research Institute, CA, USA

Research

Small molecules are of paramount importance in the recognition, modulation and regulation of biological processes. The research of our group explores the interface between chemical synthesis and biology, by pursuing the efficient synthesis of structurally novel and therapeutically potent small molecules prior to probing their mechanism of action and functional targets. Our specific research interests include the following:

• Development of new catalytic reactions for the efficient construction of chemical bonds, thereby providing practical synthetic methods for “ideal synthesis”.

• Total synthesis of structurally complex and bioactive natural products.

• Exploring the mechanism of action and the functional targets of bioactive small molecules.

• Development of novel molecular probes to study the interactions between biological macromolecules.

Publications

19.Li, Z.; Sun, W.; Wang, X.; Li, L; Zhang, Y.; Li, C.* “Electrochemically Enabled, Nickel-Catalyzed Dehydroxylative Cross-Coupling of Alcohols with Aryl Halides” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 3536-3543.

18. Xu, G.#; Wu, J.#; Li, L.; Lu, Y.; Li, C.* “Total Synthesis of (-)-Daphnezomines A and B” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 15240-15245.

17. Zhuo, J.#; Zhang, Y.#; Li, Z.; Li, C.* “Nickel-Catalyzed Direct Acylation of Aryl and Alkyl Bromides with Acylimidazoles”. ACS Catal. 2020, 10, 3895-3903.

16.Zhang, J.#; Li, Z.#; Zhuo, J.; Cui, Y.; Han, T.; Li, C.* “Tandem Decarboxylative Cyclization/Alkenylation Strategy for Total Syntheses of (+)-Longirabdiol, (-)-Longirabdolactone, and (-)-Effusin” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, 141, 8372-8380.

15. Li, C.#; Kawamata, Y.#; Nakamura, H.; Vantourout, J. C.; Liu, Z.; Hou, Q.; Bao, D.; Star, J. T.; Chen, J.; Yan, M.; Baran, P. S.* “Electrochemically Enabled, Ni-Catalyzed Amination” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, in press

14.Li, C.^#; Wang, J.^#; Barton, L. M.; Yu, S.; Tian, M.; Peters, D. S.; Kumar, M.; Yu, A. W.; Johnson, K. A.; Chatterjee, A. K.; Yan, M.; Baran, P. S.* “Decarboxylative Borylation”Science,2017,356, 1045.

13.Qin, T.^#; Cornella, J.^#;Li, C.^#; Malins, L. R.; Edwards, J. T.; Kawamura, S.; Maxwell, B. D.; Eastgate, M. D.; Baran, P. S.* “A General Alkyl-Alkyl Cross-Coupling Enabled by Redox-Active Esters and Alkylzinc Reagents”Science2016,352,801-805

12.Li, C.; Jones, A. X.; Lei, X.* “Synthesis and Mode of Action of Oligomeric Sesquiterpene Lactones”Nat. Prod. Rep.2016,33,602-611.

11.Li, D.^#;Li, C.^#; Li, L.; Chen, S.; Wang, L.; Li, Q.; Wang, X.;Lei, X.*; Shen, Z.* “Natural Product Kongensin A is a Non-Canonical HSP90 Inhibitor that Blocks RIP3-dependent Necroptosis”Cell Chemical Biology2016,23, 257-266.

10.Hong, B.^#;Li, C.^#; Wang, Z.; Chen, J.; Li, H.*; Lei, X.* “Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (−)-Incarviatone A”J. Am. Chem. Soc.2015,137, 11946-11949.

9.Dao, H. T.;Li, C.; Michaudel, Q.; Maxwell, B. D.; Baran, P. S.* “Hydromethylation of Unactivated Olefins”J. Am. Chem. Soc.2015,137, 8046-8049.

8.Dong, T.^#;Li, C.^#; Wang, X.; Dian, L.; Zhang, X.; Li, L.; Chen, S.; Cao, R.; Li, L.; Huang, N.; He, S.;* Lei, X.* “Ainsliadimer A Selectively Inhibits IKKα/β by Covalently Binding a Conserved Cysteine”Nature Commun.2015, 6, 6522.

7.Li, C.^#; Dong, T.^#; Li, Q.; Lei, X.* “Probing the Anticancer Mechanism of (−)-Ainsliatrimer A through Diverted Total Synthesis and Bioorthogonal Ligation”Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2014,53, 12111-12115.

6.Li, C.; Lei, X.*“Strategies toward the Biomimetic Syntheses of Oligomeric Sesquiterpenoids”J. Org. Chem.2014,79, 3289-3295.

5.Li, C.; Dong, T.; Dian, L.; Zhang, W.; and Lei, X.* “Biomimetic Syntheses and Structural Elucidation of the Apoptosis-Inducing Sesquiterpenoid Trimers: (-)-Ainsliatrimers A and B”Chem. Sci.2013,4,1163-1167.

4.Li, C.; Li, X.; Wang, X.; Lei, X.* “Diversity-oriented Synthesis of Bicyclic Ring Systems via a Conjugate Addition/aldol/RCM Process”Sci. China. Chem.2013,56, 337-341.

3.Li, C.; Dian, L.; Zhang, W.; Lei, X.* “Biomimetic Syntheses of (-)-Gochnatiolides A-C and (-)-Ainsliadimer B”J. Am. Chem. Soc.2012,134, 12414-12417.

2.Li, C.; Tu, S.; Wen, S.; Li, S.; Chang, J.; Shao, F, Lei, X.* “Total Synthesis of the G2/M DNA Damage Checkpoint Inhibitor Psilostachyin C”J. Org. Chem.2011,76, 3566-3570.

1.Li, C.; Yu, X.; Lei, X.* “A Biomimetic Total Synthesis of (+)-Ainsliadimer A”Org. Lett.2010,12, 4284-4287.

Patents

1.Lei, X.; He, S.;Li, C.; Dong, T. “Sesquiterpenoids” PCT/CN2014/076123. US Pat No. 9670226.

2.Baran, P. S.;Li, C.; Wang, J.; Chatterjee, A. K.; Kumar, M.; Yu, S.; Johnson, K. A.; “Decarboxylative Borylation” under review.