Speaker: Prof. Hanfeng Ding

Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University

Time: 10:15-11:15, January 10, 2025

Location: Lecture Hall, Building 6, Zhangjiang Campus

Host: Associate Professor Jingjing Wu

Abstract

The synthesis of natural products stands as a cornerstone of organic chemistry, serving as a vital platform for discovering and developing novel synthetic strategies, theories, and methodologies that profoundly advance the field. Furthermore, natural products represent a primary source of innovative drug scaffolds. Statistics indicate that approximately 50% of small-molecule drugs derive from natural products or their analogs, and structure simplification techniques based on natural product synthesis have become pivotal in modern drug discovery.

Over the past five years, our group has focused on bioactive terpenoids and alkaloids, pioneering innovative cascade cyclization reactions to achieve efficient total syntheses of complex molecular architectures. These efforts have laid the groundwork for subsequent functional studies. This presentation will highlight our development of oxidative dearomatization-induced (ODI) (5+2) annulation reactions and their transformative applications in the total synthesis of tetracyclic diterpenoids and daphnane-type natural products.

Brief Introduction

Prof. Hanfeng Ding obtained his B.S. (2003) and Ph.D. (2008) from Zhejiang University. After postdoctoral research at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore (2008–2011), he joined Zhejiang University in August 2011, where he is currently a Qiushi Distinguished Professor, doctoral advisor, and Vice President of the Zhejiang Chemical Society.

Since establishing his independent career, Prof. Ding has developed reaction methodologies tailored for natural product synthesis, accomplishing total syntheses of over 100 terpenoids and alkaloids. As corresponding author, he has published 50+ papers in journals including J. Am. Chem. Soc. and Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. His honors include the Thieme Chemistry Journals Award, ACP Lectureship Award, and selection into China’s National "Ten Thousand Talents Program" for Young Top Scientists. He has led multiple key projects, including the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars and the Excellent Young Scientists Fund.