Assistant Professor
| Office: | YEUNG-P5310 |
|---|---|
| Phone: | +852 3442-7304 |
| Fax: | +852 3442-0522 |
| Email: | zhenpilu@cityu.edu.hk |
| Web: | Personal Web |
| ORCID ID: | 0000-0003-0000-6026 |
- Organic chemistry
- Organometallic chemistry
- Main group chemistry
- Catalysis
Dr. Zhenpin Lu obtained his B.Sc. in Chemistry from Fuzhou University in 2010, followed by an M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry under the supervision of Prof. Huadong Wang at Fudan University in 2013. He then joined Prof. Hermann A. Wegner's group at Justus Liebig University (JLU) in Giessen, Germany, where he earned his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry in 2016. In 2017, Dr. Lu was awarded a two-year DFG (German Research Foundation) fellowship, now known as the Walter Benjamin Fellowship, which enabled him to conduct postdoctoral research with Prof. Jonathan R. Nitschke at the University of Cambridge in the field of supramolecular chemistry. In June 2019, supported by a DFG return grant, he undertook a five-month research stay in the group of Prof. Frank Würthner at the University of Würzburg, Germany. In November 2019, he began working as a research assistant professor under Prof. Xie Zuowei at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and in January 2022, he was appointed as an assistant professor at the City University of Hong Kong.
Dr. Lu’s research interests encompass organic chemistry, organometallic chemistry, main-group chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, and catalysis. His current work focuses on the design and synthesis of new boron compounds, as well as their applications in organic synthesis, organometallic chemistry, small molecule activation, catalysis, and materials science.
- S. Li, G. Xu, Y. Luo, Z. Li*, Z. Lu*. An Organoborate Monoxide Radical. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2026, 148, 3927-3932.
- Y. Wu, Y. Pan, J. Yao, G. Xu, K. Lau*, Z. Lu*. Encapsulation of an Electron in a Diborencine Macrocycle: Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivity. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147, 35895−35902.
- G. Xu, H.T. Chan, S. Li, T.Y. Wong, L. Zhang, Q. Zhang, Z. Lin,* Z. Lu*. "A zinc boryl compound unlocks diverse reactivity pathways beyond nucleophilic borylation.” Nat. Commun, 2025, 16, 6349.
- S. Li, F. Shiri, G. Xu, S.-M. Yiu, H. K. Lee, T. H. Ng, Z. Lin,* Z. Lu*. “Reactivity of A Hexaaryldiboron(6) Dianion as Boryl Radical Anions”. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 17348-17354.
- W. Guo, Y. Wu, C. Xie, X. Tan, Z. Lu,* H. Li*. “Simultaneous covalent Au-C contact formation and C-C homo-coupling reactions from organotin compounds in single-molecule junctions”. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 26687-26693.
- H. Li, J. Yao, G. Xu, K.S.M. Yiu, C. Siu, Z. Wang, Y. Peng, Y. Xie, Y. Wang, Z. Lu*. "Reduction of Li+ within A Borate Anion". Nat. Commun., 2024, 15, 2590.
- G. Xu, M. Qu, Z. Lu*. “Flash Communication: Synthesis and Reactivity of a Zinc-Bpin Species”. Organometallics. 2025, 44, 2838-2841.
- X. Mao, J. Zhang, Z. Lu,* Z. Xie*. “A (µ-Hydrido)diborane(4) Anion and Its Coordination Chemistry with Coinage Metals” Chem Sci, 2022, 13, 3009-3013.
- M. Zhong, J. Zhang, Z. Lu,* Z. Xie*. “Diboration of Alkenes and Alkynes with a Carborane-Fused Four-Membered Boracycle Bearing an Electron-Precise B-B Bond”. Dalton Trans. 2021, 50, 17150-17155.
- Z. Lu, T. K. Ronson, J. R. Nitschke*. “Reversible reduction drives anion ejection and C60 binding within an FeII4L6 cage”. Chem. Sci., 2020, 11, 1097-1101.
- Z. Lu, R. Lavendomme, O. Burghaus, J. R. Nitschke*. “A Zn4L6 capsule shows enhanced catalytic C-C bond formation activity upon C60 binding”. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 9073-9077.
- Z. Lu, H. Quanz, J. Ruhl, G. Albrecht, C. Logemann, D. Schlettwein, P. R. Schreiner, H. A. Wegner*. "Control of excited state conformation in B,N-acenes". Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 4259-4263.
- Z. Lu, H. Quanz, O. Burghaus, J. Hofmann, C. Logemann, S. Beeck, P. R. Schreiner, H. A. Wegner*. "Stable Organic Neutral Diradical via Reversible Coordination". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 139, 18488-18491.
- Z. Lu, L. Schweighauser, H. Hausmann, H. A. Wegner*. "Metal-Free Ammonia-Borane Dehydrogenation Catalysed by a Bis(borane) Lewis Acid". Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2015, 54, 15556 -15559.
- Z. Lu, H. Hausmann, S. Becker, H. A. Wegner*. "Aromaticity as Stabilizing Element in the Bidentate Activation for the Catalytic Reduction of Carbon Dioxide". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 5332-5335.
- Z. Lu, Z. Cheng, Z. Chen, L. Weng, Z. H. Li,* H. Wang*. “Heterolytic Cleavage of Dihydrogen by Frustrated Lewis Pairs Comprised of Bis(2,4,6-tris(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-borane and Amines: Stepwise versus Concerted Mechanism”. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2011, 50, 12227-12231.
Job openings
We are always looking to recruit excellent scientists to join the group as research assistants, PhD students or PostDocs. If you are interested, please get in touch (zhenpilu@cityu.edu.hk).