Research direction: Supramolecular Chemistry, Biomimetic Catalysis, Nano Biotechnology
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
My general research interest focus is on the synthesis and applications of artificial receptors such as organic macrocycles, cages, self-assembled/cross-linked micelles, as well as other well-defined self-assembled nanostructures, nanoparticles or mechanically interlocked molecules. These synthetic molecules or polymers have been shown to have potential applications in biomimetic catalysis, molecular recognitions, separations, sensing and molecular machines. Enzymes in living systems has unparalleled abilities to control structures, functions, reactions, and energy transfer with great efficiency and accuracy. We are also interested in investigating new synthetic methods or underlying mechanism of biomimetic recognition and supramolecular catalysis in order to develop novel artificial system which carry out specific catalysis tasks to produce compounds with high efficiency and unusual selectivity.
EDUCATION AND ACADEMIC CAREER:
Work Experience
Sichuan University (Chengdu, China)
2021.12-Now
Assistant Professor, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University
Iowa State University (Ames, IA, US)
2017.09-.2020.11
Post-doctoral Researcher, advisor Prof. Yan Zhao
Education
Sichuan University (Chengdu, China)
2012.09-2017.07
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, advisor Prof. Lihua Yuan
Doctoral Thesis: Discotic Liquid Crystals and Synthesis of Rotaxanes Based on Cyclo[6]aramides
Sichuan University (Chengdu, China)
2008.09-2012.07
B.S. in Chemistry, advisor Prof. Lihua Yuan
Thesis: Host-Guest Recognition between Cyclo[6]aramide and Dibenzylamonuim Salt
HONORS AND AWARDS:
Hundred Talent Program B of Sichuan University, 2021
Excellent Ph.D. Student of Sichuan University, 2017
National scholarship, Ministry of Education, 2015
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
1) Xiaowei Li, Yan Zhao* Environmental Modulation of Chiral Prolinamide Catalysts for Stereodivergent Conjugate Addition. J. Catal. 2022, accepted.
2) Yidan Zhou,‡ Jinyang Wu,‡ Zejiang Liu, Weitao Xu, Menglong Liu, Along Jia, Yuchen Liu, Xiao Xin, Xiaowei Li,* Lihua Yuan* Threading of Three Rings on Two Stations: a Convergent Approach to [4]Rotaxane. Chem. Commun. 2021, 13506-13509. (Cover)
3) Xiaowei Li, Milad Zangiabadi, Yan Zhao* Molecularly Imprinted Synthetic Glucosidase for the Hydrolysis of Cellulose in Aqueous and Nonaqueous Solutions. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 5172-5181.
4) Xiaowei Li, Kaiqian Chen, Yan Zhao* Sequence-Selective Protection of Peptides from Proteolysis. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2021, 60, 11092-11097. (Frontispiece, Hot paper)
5) Xiaowei Li, Tania M. Palhano Zanela, Eric S. Underbakke, Yan Zhao* Controlling Kinase Activities by Selective Inhibition of Peptide Substrates. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 639-643.
6) Xiaowei Li, Yan Zhao* Synthetic Glycosidase for Precise Hydrolysis of Oligosaccharides and Polysaccharides. Chem. Sci. 2021, 12, 374-383.
7) Xiaowei Li, Yan Zhao* Synthetic Glycosidase Distinguishing Glycan and Glycosidic Linkage in Its Catalytic Hydrolysis. ACS Catal. 2020, 10, 13800-13808.
8) Xiaowei Li, Yan Zhao* Chiral Gating for Size- and Shape-Selective Asymmetric Catalysis. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, 141, 13749-13752. (Selected as supplementary cover, highlighted in Chemistry Views, X-mol).
9) Xiaowei Li, Xiangyang Yuan, Pengchi Deng, Lixi Chen, Yi Ren, Chengyuan Wang, Lixin Wu, Wen Feng, Bing Gong and Lihua Yuan* Macrocyclic Shape-Persistency of Cyclo[6]aramide Results in Enhanced Multipoint Recognition for Highly Efficient Template-Directed Synthesis of Rotaxanes. Chem. Sci. 2017, 8, 2091-2100.
10) Xiaowei Li, Bao Li, Long Chen, Jinchuan Hu, Chengdanyang Wen, Qingdong Zheng, Lixin Wu, Huaqiang Zeng, Bing Gong* and Lihua Yuan* Liquid-Crystalline Mesogens Based on Cyclo[6]aramides: Distinctive Phase Transitions in Response to Macrocyclic Host-Guest Interactions. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2015, 54, 11147-11152.
11) Shanshan Shi, Yumin Zhu, Xiaowei Li, Xiangyang Yuan, Teng Ma, Wen-Li Yuan, Guo-Hong Tao, Wen Feng and Lihua Yuan* Ion-Pair Recognition of Amidinium Salts by Partially Hydrogen-Bonded Heteroditopic Cyclo[6]aramide. RSC Adv. 2016, 6, 39839-39845.
12) Long Chen, Zhiyong Peng, Shuo Liu, Xiaowei Li, Rongzhou Chen, Yi Ren, Wen Feng and Lihua Yuan* “Cyclo[6]aramide-Tropylium Charge Transfer Complex as a Colorimetric Chemosensor for Differentiation of Intimate and Loose Ion Pairs” Org. Lett. 2015, 17, 5950-5953.
13) Youzhou He, Min Xu, Rongzhao Gao, Xiaowei Li, Fengxue Li, Xuedan Wu, Dingguo Xu*, Huaqiang Zeng and Lihua Yuan* “Two-Component Supramolecular Gels Derived from Amphiphilic Shape-Persistent Cyclo[6]aramides for Specific Recognition of Native Arginine” Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2014, 53, 11834-11839.
14) Jinchuan Hu, Long Chen, Yi Ren, Pengchi Deng, Xiaowei Li, Youjia Wang, Yiming Jia, Jian Luo, Xinshi Yang, Wen Feng* and Lihua Yuan* “Nonaggregational Shape-Persistent Cyclo[6]aramide and Its Macrocyclic Effect toward Binding Secondary Ammonium Salts in Moderately Polar Media” Org. Lett., 2013, 15, 4670-4673.
