We warmly invite outstanding doctoral graduates to join the team, and welcome students with a challenging spirit to join us!

Zhijun Zuo, Humboldt Scholar, Professor, Doctoral Supervisor, mainly engaged in organic synthesis methodology research. In 2009, he was admitted to the School of Chemistry and Materials Science of Northwest University to study for a bachelor's degree, and in 2013, he was recommended to study for a doctorate degree in the School of Chemistry and Materials Science of Northwest University (supervisor: Professor Xinjun Luan). He received his Doctor of Science degree in June 2018. He then worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University with Prof. Barry M. Trost and University of Münster, Germany with Prof. Armido Studer. In July 2022, he returned to Northwest University for independent work. He has published more than 20 academic papers in academic journals such as J. Am. Chem. Soc. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. ACS Catal. Chem. Sci., with a total of more than 1200 citations and an H-factor of 17.

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7838-4003

Independent work at NWU:

7. Modular synthetic platform for diverse substituted benzylamines through selective amide-aldehyde-aldehyde cross-cyclization reaction

 Haonan Wei, Haohao Huang, Heiyan Liu, Zhijun Zuo* Green. Synth. Catal. 2025. DOI:10.1016/j.gresc.2025.06.003

6. Photoinduced Cross-Coupling of Trifluoromethylarenes with Heteroarenes via Unactivated C(sp3)–F and C(sp2)–H Selective Cleavage

Jiyao Zhang, Yuxiang Zhang, Lebin Qian, Zhijun Zuo* Org. Lett. 2025, 10.1021/acs.orglett.4c04420

5. Metal-Free Photoinduced-Radical Hydrocyclization of 2-Isocyanides: A Unified Synthetic Approach to Facilely Assemble Diverse N-Heteroarenes

Ziyi Wang, Haonan Wei, Jingrong Du, Zhijun Zuo* Green. Chem. 2024, DOI: 10.1039/D4GC03774J

4. Carbonate-Assisted Selectively Deoxygenative Cross-Coupling  Reaction between Aryl and Aliphatic Aldehydes: A  Straightforward Route to Access α-Alkylated Aryl Ketones 

    Yu Sun, Yi Wang, Zhijun Zuo* Org. Chem. Front. 2024, DOI: 10.1039/D4QO01517G

3. Photoredox and Cobalt Co-catalyzed Dehydrogenative Ring-opening/Functionalization of Mono-donor Cyclopropanes (invited Synpacts)

    Jiyao Zhang, Haohao Huang, Zhijun Zuo* Synlett, 2024, DOI: 10.1055/a-2342-8284

2. Cooperative Photoredox and Cobalt-catalyzed Acceptorless Dehydrogenative Functionalization of Cyclopropylamides towards Allylic N,O-Acyl-acetal Derivatives

   Haohao Huang, Xinjun Luan*, Zhijun Zuo* Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, 63, e202401579

1. Highly Selective 1,4-Diacylation/Cycloisomerization of 1,3-Enynes: De Novo Synthetic Strategy to Polysubstituted Furans

    Yu Sun, Na Zhang, Jingyun Ren, Haohao Huang, Xinjun Luan*, Zhijun Zuo* Org. Lett. 2024, 26, 35

Prior to NWU:

21. 1,3-Oxyalkynylation of Aryl Cyclopropanes with Ethylnylbenziodoxolones Using Photoredox Catalysis

     Zhijun Zuo, Armido Studer,* Org. Lett. 2022, 24, 949.

20.  Cooperative NHC/Photoredox Catalyzed Ring-Opening of Aryl Cyclopropanes to 1-Aroyloxylated-3-Acylated Alkanes

     Zhijun Zuo, Constantin G. Daniliuc, Armido Studer,* Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2021, 60, 25456.

19.  Regiodivergent Synthesis of Spirocyclic Compounds through Pd-Catalyzed Regio- and Enantioselective [3+2] Spiroannulation.

    Barry. M. Trost,* Zhijun Zuo, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2021, 60, 5806.

18. Pd(0)-Catalyzed Diastereo- and Enantioselective Intermolecular Cycloaddition for Rapid Assembly of 2-Acyl-methylenecyclopentanes

    Barry. M. Trost,* Zhijun Zuo, Youliang Wang, Org. Lett. 2021, 23, 979. (Highlighted by M. Lautens and R. Sanichar, Synfacts 2021, 17, 403.)

17.  Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Cycloaddition Reactions to Access Seven‐Membered Rings

     Barry. M. Trost,* Zhijun Zuo, Johnathan E. Schultz, Chem. Eur. J. 2020, 26, 15354. (Invited contribution for Special Issue:1000th Issue of Chemistry A European Journal)

 16.  Pd(0)-Catalyzed Chemo-, Diastereo-, and Enantioselective α-Quaternary Alkylation of Branched Aldehydes

      Barry M. Trost,* Zhijun Zuo,† Youliang Wang,† Johnathan E. Schultz, ACS Catal. 2020, 10, 9496. (†these two authors contributed equally)

15.  Highly Regio-, Diastereo-, and Enantioselective Synthesis of Tetrahydroazepines and Benzo[b]oxepines via Palladium-Catalyzed [4+3] Cycloaddition Reactions

     Barry. M. Trost,* Zhijun Zuo, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 59, 1243.

14.  A Borane-Mediated Palladium-Catalyzed Reductive Allylic Alkylation of α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds

    Barry M. Trost,* Zhijun Zuo,† Johnathan E. Schultz,† Nagaraju Anugula and Katherine A. Carr, Chem. Sci. 2020, 11, 2136. (†these two authors contributed equally)

13.  Palladium-Catalyzed [2+2+1] Spiroannulation via Alkyne-Directed Remote C−H Arylation and Subsequent Arene Dearomatization

     Zhijun Zuo,† Jing Wang,† Jingjing Liu,* Yaoyu Wang, Xinjun Luan,* Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 59, 653. (†these two authors contributed equally)

12. Palladium-Catalyzed Aryne Insertion/Arene Dearomatization Domino Reaction: A Highly Chemoselective Route to Spirofluorenes

     Zhijun Zuo,† Hui Wang,† Yunxia Diao, Yicong Ge, Jingjing Liu, Xinjun Luan,* ACS Catal. 2018, 8, 11029. (†these two authors contributed equally)

11.  Modular Assembly of Spirocarbocyclic Scaffolds through Pd0-Catalyzed Intermolecular Dearomatizing [2+2+1] Annulation of Bromonaphthols with Aryl Iodides and Alkynes

      Zhijun Zuo,† Hui Wang,† Liangxin Fan, Jingjing Liu, Yaoyu Wang, Xinjun Luan,* Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 2767. (†these two authors contributed equally)

10. Highly Stereoselective Synthesis of Imine-Containing Dibenzo[b,d]azepines by a Palladium(II)-Catalyzed [5+2] Oxidative Annulation of o-Arylanilines with Alkynes

    Zhijun Zuo, Jingjing Liu, Jiang Nan, Liangxin Fan, Wei Sun, Yaoyu Wang, Xinjun Luan,* Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2015, 54, 15385.

9. Ru(II)-Catalyzed Oxidative Spiroannulation of 2‑Arylphenols with Alkynes via a C−H Activation/Dearomatization Strategy

     Zhijun Zuo, Xin Yang, Jingjing Liu, Jiang Nan, Lu Bai, Yaoyu Wang, Xinjun Luan,* J. Org. Chem. 2015, 80, 3349.

8.  RuII-Catalyzed Vinylative Dearomatization of Naphthols via a C(sp2)-H Bond Activation Approach

      Jiang Nan,† Zhijun Zuo,† Lei Luo, Lu Bai, Huayu Zheng, Yini Yuan, Jingjing Liu, Xinjun Luan,* Yaoyu Wang. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 17306. (†these two authors contributed equally)

7.  Palladium(0)-catalyzed [2+2+1] Cyclization of 1,6-Enynes with Vinyl Bromides: a Highly Diastereoselective Synthesis of Tetrahydro-1H-cyclopenta[c]furans Bearing Two Quaternary Carbon Centers

      Yunxia Diao, Zhijun Zuo, Hui Wang, Jingjing Liu,* Xinjun Luan,* Org. Biomol. Chem. 2017, 15, 4601.

6.  Catalytic Enantioselective Tauomerization of Metastable Enamines

      Jingjing Liu, Xin Yang, Zhijun Zuo, Jiang Nan, Yaoyu Wang, Xinjun Luan,* Org. Lett. 2018, 20, 244.

5.  Palladium-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation of Dihydroquinolinones

      Barry. M. Trost,* Anugula Nagaraju, Feijun Wang, Zhijun Zuo, Jiayi Xu, Kami L. Hull. Org. Lett. 2018, 21, 1784.

4.  Palladium-Catalyzed Regio-, Enantio- and Diastereoselective Asymmetric [3+2] Cycloaddition Reactions: Synthesis of chiral cyclopentyl phosphonates

      Barry M. Trost,* Anand H. Shinde, Youliang Wang, Zhijun Zuo and Chang Min, ACS Catal. 2020, 10, 1969.

3.  Direct Asymmetric Dearomatization of 2-Naphthols by Scandium-Catalyzed Electrophilic Amination

      Jiang Nan, Jingjing Liu, Huayu Zheng, Zhijun Zuo, Lei Hou, Huaiming Hu, Yaoyu Wang, Xinjun Luan,* Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2015, 54, 2356.

2.  Pd(0)-Catalyzed Chemoselective Construction of Spirocarbocycles via an Alkyne Insertion/β-Naphthol Dearomatization Cascade

      Huayu Zheng, Lu Bai, Jingjing Liu, Jiang Nan, Zhijun Zuo, Liu Yang, Yaoyu Wang, Xinjun Luan,* Chem. Commun. 2015, 51, 3061.

1. Synthesis and Spectral Properties of Water-Soluble Indocyanine Dyes as well as the Interaction with DNA and BSA

      Xiufu Zhang, Yile Fu, Zhijun Zuo, Yuan Hou, Yuexuan Li, Yanxia Liu, Lanying Wang.* Chin. J. Org. Chem., 2013, 33, 1709.