Let’s (break/form) bond! Functionalization of abundant and inexpensive feedstock chemicals is a highly desirable yet challenging goal.  We aim to combine novel bond activation mechanism with transition metal catalysis to rapidly build molecular complexity.  The development of new synthetic methodology  encompasses catalyst design, reaction optimization, and mechanistic studies.

When light meets molecules! Photoresponsive molecules have found their wide applications in controlling chemical systems.  An emerging development in this field is the utilization of long-wavelength irradiation to trigger these processes.  We synthesize and study red-light activatable photoswitches and photocatalysts to provide new molecular tools.