Jing Xu, Professor, Principal Investigator (PI)

Distinguished Professor of the Yangtze River Scholars Program, Ministry of Education

Educational Background

2005–2009
Ph.D. (summa cum laude), University of Leipzig, Germany

2001–2004
M. Sc., Department of Chemistry, Tongji University

1996–2000
B. S., Department of Chemistry, Nanchang University

Professional Experience

2020–Present
Tenured Professor, Department of Chemistry, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech)

2015–2020
Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, SUSTech

2014–2015
Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, SUSTech

2009–2013
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of California, San Diego (UCSD)

2004–2005
Scientist, WuXi AppTec

Awards, Honors & Talent Programs

2024, Outstanding Mentor Award, ACS Spring Meeting

2023, Distinguished Professor of the Yangtze River Scholars Program, Ministry of Education
2023, Presidential Award for Excellence in Research, SUSTech
2023, Award for Excellence in Research, School of Science, SUSTech
2023, Distinguished Professor of the Pengcheng Peacock Plan, Shenzhen

2022, WuXi AppTec Life Chemistry Research Award
2022, Second Prize of Shenzhen Natural Science Award

2020, Thieme Chemistry Journals Award

2015, National Young Talent Program

2014, Shenzhen Overseas High-Level Talent Peacock Plan

Representative Publications

1. Total synthesis of Daphniphyllum alkaloids: from bicycles to diversified caged structures. L.-D. Guo, Y. Chen, J. Xu,* Acc. Chem. Res. 2020, 53, 2726.

2. Enantioselective Total Synthesis of Fortalpinoid Q via a TEMPO+BF4–-Mediated Dehydrative Nazarov Cyclization. H.-K. Mao, Q. Wang, J. Xu,* J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147, 9079. 

3. Total syntheses of calyciphylline A-type alkaloids (−)-10-deoxydaphnipaxianine A, (+)-daphlongamine E, and (+)-calyciphylline R via late-stage diallylic alcohol rearrangements. Y. Zhang,+ Y. Chen,+ M. Song, B. Tan, Y. Jiang, C. Yan, Y. Jiang, X. Hu, C. Zhang, W. Chen, J. Xu,* J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 16042. (+equal contribution)

4. Asymmetric total synthesis of yuzurimine-type Daphniphyllum alkaloid (+)-caldaphnidine J. L.-D. Guo, Y. Zhang, J. Hu, C. Ning, H. Fu, Y. Chen, J. Xu,* Nat. Commun. 2020, 11, 3538.

5. Enantioselective total Synthesis of (−)-caldaphnidine O via a radical cyclization cascade. L.-D. Guo, J. Hu, Y. Zhang, W. Tu, Y. Zhang, F, Pu, J. Xu,* J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, 141, 13043−13048.

6. Total synthesis of dapholdhamine B and dapholdhamine B lactone. L.-D. Guo, J. Hou, W. Tu, Y. Zhang, Y. Zhang, L. Chen, J. Xu*, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, 141, 11713−11720.

7. A concise total synthesis of (–)-himalensine A. Y. Chen, J. Hu, L.-D. Guo, W. Zhong, C. Ning, J. Xu*, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 7390−7394.

8. 13-Step total synthesis of atropurpuran. S. Xie,+ G. Chen,+ H. Yan,+ J. Hou, Y. He, T. Zhao, J. Xu*, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, 141, 3435−3439. (+ equal contribution)

9. Innovation in protecting-group-free natural product synthesis. C. Hui, F. Chen,+ F. Pu,+ J. Xu*, Nat. Rev. Chem. 2019, 3, 85–107. (+equal contribution)

10. Total synthesis of sesterterpenoids. Y. Chen, J. Zhao,* S.-P. Li, J. Xu*, Nat. Prod. Rep. 2019, 36, 263−288. (Front Cover Article)

11. Total synthesis of astellatol. N. Zhao,+ S. Yin,+ S. Xie, H. Yan, P. Ren, G. Chen, F. Chen, J. Xu*, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2018, 57, 3386−3390. (+equal contribution) (VIP, Back Cover)