The recipients of the 11th Chinese Chemical Society-Royal Society of Chemistry Young Chemist Award were recently announced by the Chinese Chemical Society (CCS), with Liu Leo LIU, Associate Professor of the Department of Chemistry at the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), being recognized with this honor.
Liu Leo LIU research focuses on the development of novel main-group molecules, which play a critical role in synthetic chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, and materials science. Since joining SUSTech in 2020, he has published a series of high-impact papers as a corresponding author in leading journals, including Science, Nature Chemistry, Nature Synthesis, Chem, CCS Chemistry, Journal of the American Chemical Society, and Angewandte Chemie International Edition.
His work has been supported by multiple grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), including original exploration programs, outstanding youth funds (overseas), general projects, and youth scientist funds.
He has received several prestigious awards, including the Huang Yao-Zeng Organometallic Chemistry Award for Young Chemists (2023-2024), the CCS Young Chemist Award (2022), the CCS Jingqing Rising Star Award (2022), and the Distinguished Lectureship Award from the Chemical Society of Japan (2024). The latest announcement marks the fourth time he has been honored by the CCS.
Liu Leo LIU’s research group explores the design and transformation of ambiphilic main-group molecules, tackling a key scientific challenge in the field. By developing strategies based on electroneutral substituents, they have successfully synthesized novel ambiphilic main-group molecules—compounds that exhibit both nucleophilic and electrophilic properties—in the condensed phase. Their research has provided deep insights into the electronic structures, chemical properties, and potential applications of these molecules.
One of their notable achievements is the development of a σ⁰π² carbene with an inverted electronic state, expanding the definition of carbenes and offering a new perspective on ambiphilic main-group chemistry. They have also designed tri-active ambiphilic carbyne anions (R-C⁻) and their derivatives, broadening the scope of carbonanions.
Their work has also led to the discovery of tri-active ambiphilic aluminylenes (R−Al) and their derivatives, laying the foundation for an aluminum-based redox catalytic system. This challenges the long-held assumption that main-group metal aluminum cannot undergo valence-state catalysis, opening up new possibilities for research in main-group element catalysis.
Established in 2007 by the CCS and the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), the CCS-RSC Young Chemist Award recognizes outstanding young scientists under the age of 40 who have made groundbreaking, original, or significant innovative contributions in basic research, applied basic research, and applied research in chemistry. As of 2024, a total of 44 recipients have been awarded this honor.
