2026
57. Dedioxygenation of acids to phosphorus compounds (Mechanism of the Month)
Shilong Wang, Xiaoqiang Wu, and Tao XU*
Trends in Chemistry 2026, 8, 839-840.
56. Orthogonal hydrogenation of alkenes enabled by multifunctional phosphine
Dong Wang‡, Zijiang Yang‡, Zihao Hu, Huiyuan Wang, Fancong Meng, Shanya Lu, and Tao XU* (‡equal contribution)
Nature Synthesis 2026, 5, accepted.
55. Dedioxygenative Phosphonylation of Carboxylic acids
Xiaoqiang Wu, Ruining Bai, Abuduwaili Alimu, Ting Han, and Tao XU*
Journal of the American Chemical Society 2026, 148, 31577-31584.
54. Lewis Acid-Mediated Defluorination of Trifluoromethylarenes to Access Trivalent Phosphines
Abuduwaili Alimu‡, Xiaoqiang Wu‡, Siyu Song, Ting Han, and Tao XU* (‡equal contribution)
Organic Letters 2026, 28, 4882-4886.
53. Modular Access to Nitriles from Carbonyls via Deoxygenative Transformation with Polarity Inversion
Fancong Meng, Wenhao Xu, Zhiguang Wang, Yuanqiang Chen, Shuntao Xia, and Tao XU*
Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2026, 65, e8038232.
Featured in Organic Chemistry Highlights
2025
52. Lewis Acid-Mediated Deoxygenative Synthesis of Trivalent Sterically Hindered Phosphines from Aldehydes
Xiaoqiang Wu, Abuduwaili Alimu, Wei Zhong*, and Tao XU*
Organic Letters 2025, 27, 6025-6030.
51. Open-Shell Species Enabled Diverse Deoxygenative Cyanofunctionalization of Aldehydes under Metal-Free Conditions
Wenhao Xu, Xiaoqiang Wu, Yuanqiang Chen, and Tao XU*
Journal of the American Chemical Society 2025, 147, 22201-22208.
Featured in Organic Chemistry Highlights
50. Nickel-Catalyzed Reductive Coupling of α-Haloboronates to Access Internal Vicinal Bis(boronate) Esters
Huiyuan Wang‡, Shanya Lu‡, Dong Wang, and Tao XU* (‡equal contribution)
Chemical Communications 2025, 61, 9111-9114.
Invited paper for the themed collection "2025 Pioneering Investigators"
49. Trivalent Phospha-Brook Rearrangement Enabled Practical Deoxygenative Phosphonylation of Carbonyls
Xiaoqiang Wu, Shanya Lu, Wei Zhong*, and Tao XU*
Nature Communications 2025, 16, 3628.
2024
48. Dual Nickel- and Photoredox-Catalyzed Asymmetric Reductive Cross-Couplings: Just a Change of the Reduction System?
Wenhao Xu, and Tao XU*
Accounts of Chemical Research 2024, 57, 1997-2011.
47. Halogen-Atom Transfer Enabled Catalytic Enantioselective Coupling to Chiral Trifluoromethylated Alkynes via Dual Nickel and Photocatalysis
Shanya Lu, Zihao Hu, Dong Wang, and Tao XU*
Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2024, 63, e202406064.
Highlighted by Synfacts 2024, 20, 0715.
46. Dual Nickel- and Photoredox-Catalyzed Carbon-Carbon Bond Formations via Reductive Cross-Coupling Involving Organohalides (Invited Review)
Hepan Wang, and Tao XU*
Chem Catalysis 2024, 4, 100952.
45. Deoxygenative Transformation of Alcohols via Phosphoranyl Radical from Exogenous Radical Addition
Wenhao Xu, Chao Fan, Xile Hu, and Tao XU*
Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2024, 63, e202401575.
A top viewed article among work punblished in ACIE between January 1, 2024-December 31, 2024
44. Direct Synthesis of β-Amino Boronates via Amide α-C-H Bond Activation and C(sp3)-C(sp3) Coupling under Dual Ni/Photoredox Catalysis
Zihao Hu, Dong Wang, and Tao XU*
ACS Catalysis 2024, 14, 547-553.
43. Photoinduced Radical Addition Process Enabled Deoxygenative Hydroacylation and Hydrophosphonylation of Carbonyls
Xiaoqiang Wu, Jun Zhou, Zihao Hu, and Tao XU*
Chem Catalysis 2024, 4, 100828.
Previewed in Chem Catalysis
2023
42. Formal Deoxygenative Cross-Coupling of Aldehydes to Ketones through α-Haloboronates: A Route to Deoxygenative Hydroacylation of Aldehydes
Zihao Hu, Wanqi Zhang, and Tao XU*
Chinese Journal of Chemistry 2023, 41, 3593-3597.
Invited paper for the special issue in memory of Professor Xiyan Lu
41. Nickel-Catalyzed Regio- and Enantioselective Borylative Coupling of Terminal Alkenes with Alkyl Halides (Invited Highlight)
Hepan Wang, and Tao XU*
Chinese Journal of Organic Chemistry 2023, 43, 3328-3330.
40. Synthesis of Chiral Allylic Phosphonates via Asymmetric Reductive Cross-Coupling of α-Bromophosphonates and Vinyl Bromides
Hepan Wang, Xinxuan Li, and Tao XU*
Science China Chemistry 2023, 66, 2621-2625.
39. Cross-Coupling of Aldehydes and α-Bromophosphonates to Modularly Access α-Substituted-β-Ketophosphonates Under Dual Nickel/Photoredox Catalysis
Xinxuan Li‡, Hepan Wang‡, and Tao XU* (‡equal contribution)
Organic Chemistry Frontiers 2023, 10, 3061-3066.
Featured in Organic Chemistry Highlights
38. Selectively Tunable Synthesis of α-Trifluoromethyl Ketones
Pan Zhou, Shanya Lu, Xiaoqiang Wu, Wei Zhong*, and Tao XU*
Organic Letters 2023, 25, 2344-2348.
37. Enantioconvergent Reductive C(sp)-C(sp3) Cross-Coupling to Access Chiral α-Alkynyl Phosphonates Under Dual Nickel/Photoredox Catalysis (Hot Paper)
Hepan Wang, Xiaoqiang Wu, and Tao XU*
Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2023, 62, e202218299.
Highlighted by Chinese Journal of Organic Chemistry
Highlighted by Synfacts 2023, 19, 0583
A Top Viewed Article in ACIE 2023
36. Recent Advances on The Preparation and Asymmetric Transformation of α-Haloboron Compounds
Dong Wang, and Tao XU*
Synlett 2023, 34, 2085-2096.
Invited paper for the special issue on modern boron chemistry: 60 years of the Matteson reaction
35. Enantioselective C(sp3)-C(sp3) Reductive Cross-Electrophile Coupling of Unactivated Alkyl Halides with α-Chloroboronates via Dual Nickel/Photoredox Catalysis
Jun Zhou, Dong Wang, Wenhao Xu, Zihao Hu, and Tao XU*
Journal of the American Chemical Society 2023, 145, 2081-2087.
Highlighted by Synfacts 2023, 19, 0377
Featured in Organic Chemistry Highlights
34. Deoxygenative Alkylboration of Aldehydes to Synthesize Versatile Secondary α,α-Dialkyl Boronates (Synpacts)
Wenhao Xu, Liejin Zhou*, and Tao XU*
Synlett 2023, 34, 1075-1078.
2022
33. Deoxygenative Haloboration and Enantioselective Chloroboration of Carbonyls
Dong Wang, Jun Zhou, Zihao Hu, and Tao XU*
Journal of the American Chemical Society 2022, 144, 22870-22876.
Featured in Organic Chemistry Highlights
Collected by Organic Chemistry Portal
32. Deoxygenative Arylboration of Aldehydes via Copper and Nickel/Photoredox Catalysis
Purui Zheng, Wenhao Xu, Hepan Wang, Dong Wang, Xiaoqiang Wu, and Tao XU*
ACS Catalysis 2022, 12, 14926-14933.
31. Modular and Fast Synthesis of Versatile Secondary α,α-Dialkyl Boronates via Deoxygenative Alkylboration of Aldehydes
Wenhao Xu, Purui Zheng, Jun Zhou, Zihao Hu, and Tao XU*
Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2022, 61, e202214213.
30. Molybdenum-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Benzyl Alcohols: Direct C-OH Bond Transformation via [2+2]-Type Addition and Elimination
Pan Zhou, Yuqiang Li*, and Tao XU*
Organic Letters 2022, 24, 4218-4223.
29. Modular and Facile Access to Chiral α-Aryl Phosphonates via Dual Nickel- and Photoredox-catalyzed Reductive Cross-Coupling
Hepan Wang, Purui Zheng, Xiaoqiang Wu, Yuqiang Li*, and Tao XU*
Journal of the American Chemical Society 2022, 144, 3989-3997.
Highlighted by Chinese Journal of Organic Chemistry
Highlighted by Synfacts 2022, 18, 0515
2021
28. A Pivotal Role of Chloride Ion on Nickel-Catalyzed Reductive Cross-Coupling to Access Chiral Perfluoroalkylated Boronate Esters
Dong Wang, and Tao XU*
ACS Catalysis 2021, 11, 12469-12475.
27. Dual Nickel- and Photoredox-Catalyzed Reductive Cross-Coupling to Access Chiral Trifluoromethylated Alkanes
Pan Zhou, Xinxuan Li, Dong Wang, and Tao XU*
Organic Letters 2021, 23, 4683-4687.
One of the most viewed articles in Organic Letter in July
26. Reductive Cross-Coupling to Access C-N Bond from Aryl Halides and Diazoesters under Dual Nickel/Photoredox-Catalyzed Conditions
Xiaoqiang Wu, Purui Zheng, Wanfang Li*, and Tao XU*
Organic Chemistry Frontiers 2021, 8, 4118-4123.
25. Dual Ni/Photoredox-catalyzed asymmetric cross-coupling to access chiral benzylic boronic esters
Purui Zheng, Pan Zhou, Dong Wang, Wenhao Xu, Hepan Wang, and Tao XU*
Nature Communications 2021, 12, 1646.
Highlighted by Synfacts 2021, 17, 0657
2020
24. Dual Nickel- and Photoredox-Catalyzed Reductive Cross-Coupling of Aryl Halides with Dichloromethane via a radical process
Wenhao Xu‡, Purui Zheng‡, and Tao XU* (‡equal contribution)
Organic Letters 2020, 22, 8643-8647.
23. A Novel Bisoxazoline-Imidazolium Salt in Ytterbium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Reduction of Ketone
Yujie Zhai, Wenhao Xu, Dong Wang, Purui Zheng, Xiaoming Zhao*, and Tao XU*
European Journal of Organic Chemistry 2020, 2020, 5025-5028.
22. Nickel-catalyzed Intramolecular Desymmetrization Addition of Aryl Halides to 1,3-Diketones
Pan Zhou, and Tao XU*
Chemical Communications 2020, 56, 8194-8197.
Invited paper for the themed collection "2020 Emerging Investigators"
2019
21. Enantioselective Copper-Catalyzed Desymmetrization of 1,3-Diketones Involving Borylation of Styrenes
Purui Zheng, Xiaoyu Han, Jiao Hu, Xiaoming Zhao*, and Tao XU*
Organic Letters 2019, 21, 6040-6044.
20. Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of gem-Bis(boronates) with Aryl Halides: An Alternative To Access Quaternary α-Aryl Aldehydes
Purui Zheng, Yujie Zhai, Xiaoming Zhao*, and Tao XU*
Organic Letters 2019, 21, 393-396.
Collected by Organic Chemistry Portal
Highlighted by Synfacts 2019, 15, 0264
2018
19. Difunctionalization of ketones via gem-bis(boronates) to synthesize quaternary carbon with high selectivity
Purui Zheng, Yujie Zhai, Xiaoming Zhao*, and Tao XU*
Chemical Communications 2018, 54, 13375-13378.
Postdoc and Ph.D. work of Prof. Tao XU
18. A Water-bridged H-bonding network contributes to the catalysis of a SAM-dependent C-methyltransferase HcgC
Liping Bai#, Tristan Wagner#, Tao Xu, Xile Hu, Ulrich Ermler, and Seigo Shima*
Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2017, 56, 10806-10809.
17. Towards artificial methanogenesis: biosynthesis of the [Fe]-hydrogenase cofactor and characterization of the semi-synthetic hydrogenase
Liping Bai, Takashi Fujishiro, Gangfeng Huang, Jürgen Koch, Atsushi Takabayashi, Makio Yokono, Ayumi Tanka, Tao Xu, Xile Hu, Ulrich Ermler, and Seigo Shima*
Faraday Discussion 2017, 198, 37-58.
16. Nickel pincer model of the active site of lactate racemase involves ligand participation in hydride transfer
Tao Xu, Matthew D. Wodrich, Rosario Scopelliti, Clemence Corminboeuf, and Xile Hu*
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 2017, 114, 1242-1245.
15. Identification of HcgC as SAM-Dependent Pyridinol Methyltransferase in [Fe]- Hydrogenase Cofactor Biosynthesis
Takashi Fujishiro#, Liping Bai#, Tao Xu, Xiulan Xie, Michael Schick, Jörg Kahnt, Michael Rother, Xile Hu, Ulrich Ermler, and Seigo Shima*
Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2016, 55, 9648-9651.
14. A Functional Model of [Fe]-Hydrogenase
Tao Xu, Chih-Juo Madeline Yin, Matthew D. Wodrich, Simona Mazza, Katherine M. Schultz, Rosario Scopelliti, and Xile Hu*
Journal of the American Chemical Society 2016, 138, 3270-3273.
13. Mechanistic Investigation on the Silver-Catalyzed Oxidative Intramolecular Aminofluorination of Alkynes
Tao Xu, Yichen Wu, Zheliang Yuan, Hairong Guan, and Guosheng Liu*
Organometallics 2016, 35, 1347-1349.
12. A Novel Nickel Pincer Complex in the Active Site of Lactate Racemase
Tao Xu, Gerald Bauer, and Xile Hu*
ChemBioChem 2016, 17, 31-32.
11. Reconstitution of [Fe]-hydrogenase using model complexes
Seigo Shima*, Dafa Chen, Tao Xu, Matthew D. Wodrich, Takashi Fujishiro, Katherine M. Schultz, Jörg Kahnt, Kenichi Ataka, and Xile Hu*
Nature Chemistry 2015, 7, 995-1002.
10. Abnormal Mesoionic Carbene Silver Complex: Synthesis, Reactivity, and Mechanistic Insight on Oxidative Fluorination
Qilun Liu, Zheliang Yuan, Hao-yang Wang*, Yang Li, Yichen Wu, Tao Xu, Xuebing Leng, Pinhong Chen, Yinlong Guo, Zhenyang Lin*, and Guosheng Liu*
ACS catalysis 2015, 5, 6732-6737.
9. Hydrogen-activating models of hydrogenases
Tao Xu, Dafa Chen, and Xile Hu*
Coordination Chemistry Reviews 2015, 303, 32-41.
8. Copper-Catalyzed 1,2-Addition of α-Carbonyl Iodides to Alkynes
Tao Xu, and Xile Hu*
Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2015, 54, 1307-1311.
7. Iron-catalyzed 1,2-Addition of Perfluoroalkyl Iodides to Alkynes and Alkenes
Tao Xu, Chi Wai Cheung, and Xile Hu*
Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2014, 53, 4910-4914.
6. Ag(I)-Catalyzed Aminofluorination of Alkynes: Efficient Synthesis of 4-Fluoroisoquinolines and 4‑Fluoropyrrolo[α]isoquinolines
Tao Xu, and Guosheng Liu*
Organic Letters 2012, 14, 5416-5419.
5. Silver-Catalyzed Fluorination Reactions
Tao Xu, and Guosheng Liu*
Synlett 2012, 23, 955-958.
4. Silver-Catalyzed Intramolecular Aminofluorination of Activated Allenes
Tao Xu, Xin Mu, Haihui Peng, and Guosheng Liu*
Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2011, 50, 8176-8179.
3. Palladium-Catalyzed Intramolecular Aminofluorination of Styrenes
Tao Xu, Shuifa Qiu, and Guosheng Liu*
Chinese Journal of Chemistry 2011, 29, 2785-2790.
2. Palladium-catalyzed inter- and intramolecular hydroamination of styrenes coupled with alcohol oxidation using N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide as the oxidant
Tao Xu, Shifa Qiu, and Guosheng Liu*
Journal of Organometallic Chemistry 2011, 696, 46-49.
1. Palladium-Catalyzed Intermolecular Aminofluorination of Styrenes
Shifa Qiu, Tao Xu, Juan Zhou, Yinlong Guo, and Guosheng Liu*
Journal of the American Chemical Society 2010, 132, 2856-2857.