Faculty

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY, SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY.

Professor

Chen, David Yu-Kai

Complexity-Inspired Organic Synthesis Laboratory
LAB Website
OFFICE 503-624 / +82-2-880-4384
LAB 503-603,632 / +82-2-880-4377
RESEARCH AREAS

Research Topic

Total synthesis, a research field that renders the preparation of larger molecular constructs from their structurally simplified progenitor(s) through a series of carefully coordinated synthetic operations, has admirably served the scientific community through its contributions in both fundamental chemical research and in a wide-spectrum of physical and biological applications. Our research activity rests its foundation on complexity-inspired total synthesis, with strong emphasis on the design and orchestration of innovative synthetic strategies by employing modern synthetic technologies based on transition-metal and organo-catalysis. Convergent and yet flexible approach are pursued in order to maximize overall synthetic efficiency, and enable the preparation of rationally designed analogues for chemical-biology investigations. Novel reactivities bestowed by complex molecular architectures are explored in a methodological manner and further applied in the context of target-oriented synthesis.

Education

  • Ph.D. Chemistry, University of Cambridge, 2001
  • B.Sc. (1st class Hon) Chemistry, University of Auckland, 1998

Career

  • Principal Investigator, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, 2005-2011
  • Senior Research Chemist, Merck Research Laboratory, Rahway, USA, 2003-2005
  • Research Associate, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, USA, 2002-2003
  • Research Assistant, Auckland Cancer Society Research Center, New Zealand, 1998

Papers

  1. Late-Stage and Strain-Acclerated Oxidation Enabled Synthesis of Haouamine A. Park K. H., Rizzo A. and Chen D. Y. -K.* Chem. Sci., 2020, 11, 8132-8137.
  2. A Local-Desymmetrization-Based Divergent Synthesis of Quinine and Quinidine. Lee J. and Chen D. Y. -K.* Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 488-493.
  3. A Desymmetrization-Based Total Synthesis of Reserpine. Park J. and Chen D. Y. -K.* Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2018, 57, 16152-16156.
  4. A Personal Perspective on Organic Synthesis: Past, Present, and Future. Chen D. Y. -K.* Isr. J. Chem. 2018, 58, 85-93.
  5. Asymmetric Total Syntheses of Communesin F and a Putative Member of the Communesin Family. Park J., Jean A. and Chen D. Y. -K.* Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 14237-14240.
  6. Programmed Serial Stereochemical Relay and its Application in the Synthesis of Morphinans. Park K. H., Chen R. and Chen D. Y. -K.* Chem. Sci. 2017, 8, 7031-7037.

Search Papers

K. C. Nicolaou, Dattatraya H. Dethe, Gulice Y. C. Leung, Bin Zou, David Yu-Kai Chen, K. C. Nicolaou
Chemistry-An Asian Journal, 2008, 3, 2, (2008-02-01) Link
K. C. Nicolaou, Doron Pappo, Kit Y. Tsang, Romelo Gibe, David Yu-Kai Chen, K. C. Nicolaou
Angewandte Chemie-International Edition, 2008, 47, 5, (2008-01-18) Link
K. C. Nicolaou, Ramakrishna Guduru, Ya-Ping Sun, Biswadip Banerji, David Yu-Kai Chen, K. C. Nicolaou
Angewandte Chemie-International Edition, 2007, 46, 31, (2007-08-03) Link
K. C. Nicolaou, Utpal Majumder, Stephane Philippe Roche, David Yu-Kai Chen, K. C. Nicolaou
Angewandte Chemie-International Edition, 2007, 46, 25, (2007-06-18) Link
K. C. Nicolaou, Bin Zou, Dattatraya H. Dethe, Dong Bo Li, David Yu-Kai Chen, K. C. Nicolaou
Angewandte Chemie-International Edition, 2006, 45, 46, (2006-11-27) Link
K. C. Nicolaou, Theocharis V. Koftis, Stepan Vyskocil, Goran Petrovic, Wenjun Tang, Michael O. Frederick, David Yu-Kai Chen, Yiwei Li, Taotao Ling, Yoichi M. A. Yamada, K. C. Nicolaou
Journal of The American Chemical Society, 2006, 128, 9, (2006-03-08) Link
K. C. Nicolaou, David Yu-Kai Chen, Yiwei Li, Noriaki Uesaka, Goran Petrovic, Theocharis V. Koftis, Federico Bernal, Michael O. Frederick, Mugesh Govindasamy, Taotao Ling, Petri M. Pihko, Wenjun Tang, Stepan Vyskocil, K. C. Nicolaou
Journal of The American Chemical Society, 2006, 128, 7, (2006-02-22) Link
Ian Paterson, David Yu-Kai Chen, Mark J. Coster, Jose L. Acena, Jordi Bach, Debra J. Wallace, Ian Paterson
Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 2005, 3, 13, (2005-07-07) Link
Ian Paterson, Mark J. Coster, David Yu-Kai Chen, Renata M. Oballa, Debra J. Wallace, Roger D. Norcross, Ian Paterson
Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 2005, 3, 13, (2005-07-07) Link
Ian Paterson, Mark J. Coster, David Yu-Kai Chen, Karl R. Gibson, Debra J. Wallace, Ian Paterson
Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 2005, 3, 13, (2005-07-07) Link