Prof. C.M. Che　　　支志明教授

B.Sc., Ph.D. H.K.;
Dr. Hui Wai Haan Chair of Chemistry;
Member of Chinese Academy of Sciences (China);
Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry;
Fellow of the Academy of Science for the Developing World (TWAS) in Chemical Sciences;
Fellow of the World Innovation Foundation;
Fellow of Federation of Asian Chemical Societies

Office:

We have demonstrated that platinum(II), gold(I) and copper(I) complexes can be developed to have long-lived and emissive electronic excited states for light-induced multi-electron atom transfer reactions and activation of small molecules of natural abundance. Of particular interest is the observation of metal-solvent/anion exciplex emissions from d¹⁰ metal complexes, and light-induced inner-sphere H-atom abstraction reactions from Pt(II) complexes. Current research aims to design highly robust metal complexes having high energy and long-lived electronic excited states for activation of saturated C-H bonds and for light-to chemical conversion reactions. We intend to harness the phosphorescence of transition metal complexes as probes for molecular recognition reactions and for the detection of bio-molecules with practical interest. We are studying organic triplet emissions that are switched on through metal ion coordination. Applications of phosphorescent metal-organic compounds in organic optoelectronics are under active investigation.

Green Oxidation

We are studying the oxidation chemistry of ruthenium- and iron-oxo complexes. With sterically bulky ligands, we have developed ruthenium-oxo catalysts for selective organic oxidations and aerobic oxidation of alkenes to aldehydes. Our present research is to develop new metal catalysts for green oxidations using hydrogen peroxide or dioxygen as terminal oxidant. The design of metal complexes covalently attached to water-soluble polymers will be pursued to achieve stereo-selective oxidations in aqueous media. We are studying the oxidation chemistry of high-valent iron-oxo complexes using robust oligopyridine and macrocyclic ligands , and are applying iron-oxo complexes for catalytic oxidation of alkanes and cis-dihydroxylation of alkenes using inexpensive terminal oxidants.

Metal-Nitrogen Multiple Bonds

The proposed research involves the synthesis and reactivity study of reactive metal-imido and -nitrido complexes, and electrophilic metal-nitrene complexes. Ruthenium, manganese and iron-imido complexes with diverse auxiliary ligands are prepared, identified by ESI-MS, and characterized by x-ray crystallography and/or DFT calculations. The reactivity of metal-nitrogen multiple bonded complexes towards organic substrates are studied. Of particular interest is to develop robust metal catalysts for selective activation of hydrocarbons via nitrene insertion to saturated C-H bonds.

Metal-Carbon Multiple Bonds. Materials Science and Chemical Catalysis

We are studying the synthesis, spectroscopic properties and reactivity of highly reactive metal-carbon multiple bonded complexes. Our objective is to develop new methods for carbenoid transfer and insertion reactions that can be used for natural product synthesis and bio-conjugation reactions. We are also probing the electronic structures of M-(C≡C-R-)_n and M=(C)_n=CR₂ by spectroscopic methods and molecular orbital calculations.

Inorganic Medicines

The success of the clinical applications of a platinum(II) complex, cisplatin, has stimulated considerable interest in searching for new metal complexes as modern therapeutics. Of particular interest to platinum, gold and ruthenium complexes, we have successfully prepared a series of physiologically stable metal complexes which display promising in vitro/ in vivo anti-cancer, and in vitro anti-viral activities. Our current research is to pursue the illustration on the detailed biological in vitro and in vivo mechanisms, and the dual cytotoxic/ anti-angiogenic properties of some of these promising drug leads.

1. X-Y. Liu, C.-M. Che, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 3805.
2. W. Lu, S. S.-Y. Chui, K.-M. Ng, C.-M. Che, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 4568.
3. G. Jinag, J. Chen, H.-Y. Thu, J.-S. Huang, N. Zhu, C.-M. Che, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 6638.
4. H.-Y. Thu, G. S.-M. Tong, J. S. Huang, S. L.-F. Chan, Q.-H. Deng, C.-M. Che, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 9747
5. M.-Y. Yuen, V. A. L. Roy, W. Lu, S. C.-F. Kui, G. S. M. Tong, S. S.-Y. Chui, M. Muccini, J. Q. Ning, S. J. Xu, C.-M. Che, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 9895.
6. Z.-J. Xu, R. Fang, C. Zhao, J.-S. Huang, G.-Y. Li, N. Zhu, C.-M. Che, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 4405.
7. M.-X. Zhu, W. Lu, N. Zhu, C.-M. Che, Chem. Eur. J. 2008, 14, 9736.
8. M.-Z. Wang, M.-K. Wong, C.-M. Che, Chem. Eur. J. 2008, 14, 8353.
9. G. S.-M. Tong, E. L.-M. Wong, C.-M. Che, Chem. Eur. J. 2008, 14, 5495.
10. D.-L. Ma, C.-M. Che, S.-C. Yan, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 1835.
11. X.-Y. Liu, C.-M. Che, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2009, 48, 2367.