1. Synthetic methodologies involving C-H and C-S bond activation

2. Homogeneous catalysis with highly active transition-metal complex catalysts

Ph.D., 1995: Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, P. R. China (Organic Chemistry)

M.Sc., 1992: Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, P. R. China (Organic Chemistry)

B.Sc., 1984: Department of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, P. R. China (Chemistry)

02/2003-present: Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, CAS, Dalian, P. R. China. Full Professor 

08/2001-01/2003: Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA ,

Research Associate

1. 08/2000-07/2001: Japan Science and Technology Corporation (JST)/Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan, Research Associate

2. 11/1998-07/2000: Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA , Postdoctoral Associate

3. 01/1997-10/1998: Ames Lab of DOE, USA / Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA, Postdoctoral Associate

4. 10/1995-12/1996: Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany, Postdoctoral Associate

5. 07/1995-09/1995: Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, CAS, P. R. China, Assistant Professor

6. 07/1984-08/1989: Changsha College of Aeronautic Engineering, Changsha, Hunan, P. R. China, Instructor (Chemistry and Materials Chemistry)

2004: Distinguished Professorship of CAS

2009: Innovation Award of DICP

2010: Expert of Dalian City

2012: Advisory Board of Radiation Chemistry, CAS

2013: Expert of Dalian City

2016: SABIC-CAS Scholarship

2019: First Class Distinguished Professorship of DICP

1. Fei Huang, Zhuqing Liu, Zhengkun Yu,* C-Alkylation of Ketones and Related Compounds by Alcohols via Transition Metal-Catalyzed Dehydrogenatin. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 55, 862-875.

2. Zhengkun Yu,* Weiwei Jin, Quanbin Jiang, Bronsted Acid Activation Strategy in Transition Metal-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Unprotected N-H Imines, Enamines and N-Heteroaromatics. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2012, 51, 6060-6072.

3. Haifeng Yu, Weiwei Jin, Chenglin Sun, Jiping Chen, Wangmin Du, Songbo He, S. B.; Zhengkun Yu,* Palladium-Catalyzed Direct Cross-Coupling of Internal Alkenes with Terminal Alkenes to Functionalized 1,3-Butadienes via C-H Bond Activation: Efficient Synthesis of Bicyclic Pyridones. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010, 49, 5792-5797.

4. Haifeng Yu, Zhengkun Yu,* Direct Alkenylation of Indoles through Acid-mediated Substitution Reactions with alpha-Oxo Ketene Dithioacetals: Efficient Synthesis of Indole Alkaloids Meridianin Derivatives. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2009, 48, 2929-2933.

5.Xiaodan Zhao, Zhengkun Yu,* Rhodium-Catalyzed Regioselective C-H Functionalization via Decarbonylation of Acid Chlorides and C-H Bond Activation under Phosphine-Free Conditions. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 8136-8137.