My organic chemistry research has two focal points:

1. Develop novel methodologies for chemoselective benzylic oxidations. These reactions would be valuable tools in the synthesis of structurally complex organic compounds.
2. Explore new synthetic strategy for the preparation of tetrazines, a class of intriguing heterocyclic compounds that could be used in molecular labeling, fluorescent imaging and site-specific drug delivery.

Research Students
 

Selected Research Publications
 

1. “Conformationally Strained trans-Cyclooctene (sTCO) Enables the Rapid Construction of 18F-PET Probes via Tetrazine Ligation” Wang, M.; Svatunek, D.; Rohlfing, K.; Liu, Y.; Wang, H.; Giglio, B.; Yuan, H.; Wu, Z.; Li, Z.; Fox, J. Theranostics, 2016, 6 (6), 887-89.
2. “Recent Advances in Catalytic Selective Synthesis of Epoxide and Aziridine via Diazocarbonyl Compound” Liu, Y. Curr. Org. Chem. 2016, 20 (1), 19-28.
3. “Asymmetric Catalytic Intramolecular Carbon-Hydrogen Insertion” Doyle, M.; Liu, Y.; Ratnikov, M.; Bykowski, D. Organic Reactions. Vol 80, John Wiley & Son, Inc., Hoboken, NJ. 2013.
4. “Pericyclic Reaction of a Zwitterionic Salt of an Enedione-diazo ester. A Novel Strategy for the Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Resorcinols” Liu, Y.; Bakshi, P.; Zavalij, P.; Doyle, M. Org. Lett. 2010, 19, 4304.
5. “Construction of Highly Functionalized Diazoacetoacetates via catalytic Mukaiyama-Michael Reactions” Liu, Y.; Jee, N.; Doyle, M. Org. Lett. 2008, 8, 1605.

Recent Presentations at Academic Conferences
 

1. “Investigation of chemoselective benzylic oxidation transforming toluene to benzaldehyde” Carroll, C.; Sweetman, B.; Handlin, L.; Liu, Y. 255th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, March 18-22, 2018; New Orleans, LA.
2. “Effective Identification of Benzaldehyde Product in Oxidation Reactions Involving a Co(II)/TEMPO Catalytic System.” Sweetman, B.; Handlin, L.; Liu Y. Midwest Region Meeting of the American Chemical Society, October 18-20, 2017; Lawrence, KS.