Zhenfeng Xi (席振峰), Ph.D.
Professor of Organic Chemistry, Academician
E-mail: zfxi@pku.edu.cn
Office: C917-918
Research Experience
1999 - present Professor, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University
1998 - 1999 Associate Professor, College of Chemistry and Molecular
Engineering, Peking University
1997 - 1998 Assistant Professor, Hokkaido University, Japan
1996 - 1997 Postdoctoral Fellow, Hokkaido University, Japan
1993 - 1996 Ph.D., Institute for Molecular Science, Japan
1987 - 1989 M.S., Nanjing University, Zhengzhou University, Henan Institute of Chemistry
1979 - 1983 B. S., Department of Chemistry, Xiamen University
Research Interests
Our current research interests focus on the following area, which involve organometallic chemistry, coordination chemistry, photochemistry, electrochemistry, synthetic organic chemistry, and catalysis.
1. Activation & transformation of N2 molecule. Aiming at efficient synthesis of N-containing organic compounds directly from N2 molecule under ambient conditions.
CV：
2015.8 - 2016.8, University of California, Los Angeles, postdoc（Supervisor：Prof. Paula Diaconescu）
2010.9 - 2015.7, Department of Chemistry, Peking University，Ph.D.（Supervisor：Prof. Zhenfeng Xi and Prof. Wen-Xiong Zhang）
Representative Publications：
Nitrogen Fixation Works
1. Zhu-Bao Yin, Gao-Xiang Wang, Xuechao Yan, Junnian Wei*, Zhenfeng Xi, “Construction of N−E bonds via Lewis acid-promoted functionalization of chromium-dinitrogen complexes”. Nat. Commun., 2025, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-55998-5.
2. Xiao Chen, Gao-Xiang Wang, Ze-Jie Lv, Junnian Wei*, Zhenfeng Xi, “Monomethylation and -protonation of Lutetium Dinitrogen Complex”. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2024, DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c05492.
3. Gao-Xiang Wang,* Chunxiao Shan, Wang Chen, Botao Wu, Peng Zhang, Junnian Wei*, Zhenfeng Xi, Shengfa Ye*, “Unusual Electronic Structures of an Electron Transfer Series of [Cr(μ-η1:η1-N2)Cr]0/1+/2+”. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2024, DOI: 10.1002/anie.202315386.
4. Gao-Xiang Wang, Zhu-Bao Yin, Junnian Wei*, Zhenfeng Xi*, “Dinitrogen Activation and Functionalization Affording Chromium Diazenido and Hydrazido Complexes”. Acc. Chem. Res., 2023, DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.3c00476.
5. Rui Feng#, Yang Jiang#, Xianghui Shi, Xueli Wang, Wang Chen, Fei Xie, Jie Su, Junnian Wei*, Shengfa Ye*, Zhenfeng Xi*, “One-Electron Reduction of Constrained and Unsymmetric Diiron Dinitrogen Complexes”. CCS Chem., 2023, DOI: 10.31635/ccschem.023.202303053.
6. Zhu-Bao Yin, Botao Wu, Gao-Xiang Wang, Junnian Wei*, ZhenfengXi*, “Dinitrogen Functionalization Affording Chromium Diazenido and Side-on η2-Hydrazido Complexes”. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2023, DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c00266.
7. Li-Jun Wu, Qianru Wang, Jianping Guo, Junnian Wei*, Ping Chen*, Zhenfeng Xi*, “From Dinitrogen to N-Containing Organic Compounds: Using Li2CN2 as a Synthon”. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2023, DOI: 10.1002/anie.202219298.
8. Gao-Xiang Wang#, Xueli Wang#, Yang Jiang, Wang Chen, Chunxiao Shan, Peng Zhang, Junnian Wei*, Shengfa Ye*, Zhenfeng Xi*, “Snapshots of Early-Stage Quantitative N2 Electrophilic Functionalization”. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2023, DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c01497.
9. Xianghui Shi#, Qianru Wang#, Chao Qin#, Li-Jun Wu, Yuanjin Chen, Gao-Xiang Wang, Yongli Cai, Wenbo Gao, Teng He, Junnian Wei*, Jianping Guo*, Ping Chen*, Zhenfeng Xi*, “Synthesis of Pyrimidines from Dinitrogen and Carbon”. Natl. Sci. Rev., 2022, DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwac168.
10. Mingdong Zhong, Xianlu Cui, Botao Wu, Gao-Xiang Wang, Wen-Xiong Zhang, Junnian Wei, Lili Zhao*, Zhenfeng Xi*, “Dinitrogen Functionalization Affording Structurally Well-Defined Cobalt Diazenido Complex”. CCS Chem., 2022, DOI: 10.31635/ccschem.021.202100945.
11. Gao-Xiang Wang#, Jianhao Yin#, Jiapeng Li#, Zhu-Bao Yin, Botao Wu, Junnian Wei*, Wen-Xiong Zhang, Zhenfeng Xi*, “Dinitrogen Activation at Cyclopentadienyl-Phosphine-Iron Complexes of Three Different Valences”. CCS Chem., 2021, DOI: 10.31635/ccschem.021.202000712.
12. Ze-Jie Lv, Junnian Wei, Wen-Xiong Zhang, Ping Chen, Dehui Deng, Zhang-Jie Shi, and Zhenfeng Xi*, “Direct Transformation of Dinitrogen: Synthesis of N-Containing Organic Compounds via N−C Bond Formation”. Natl. Sci. Rev., 2020, DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwaa142.
Other Works
1. Junnian Wei*, Wen-Xiong Zhang and Zhenfeng Xi*, “The Aromatic Dianion Metalloles”. Chem. Sci. 2018, 9, 560-568.
2. Junnian Wei, Yongliang Zhang, Yue Chi, Liang Liu, Wen-Xiong Zhang and Zhenfeng Xi*, “Aromatic Dicupra [10] annulenes”. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138, 60-63.
3. Junnian Wei, Yongliang Zhang, Wen-Xiong Zhang and Zhenfeng Xi*, “Dianions as Formal Oxidants: Synthesis and Characterization of Aromatic Dilithionickeloles from 1, 4-Dilithio-1, 3-butadienes and [Ni(cod)2]”. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2015, 54, 5999-6002.
4. Junnian Wei, Wen-Xiong Zhang and Zhenfeng Xi*, “1,3-Butadienyl Dianions as Non-Innocent Ligands: Synthesis and Characterization of Aromatic Dilithio Rhodacycles”. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2015, 54, 10124-10128.
5. Junnian Wei and Paula L. Diaconescu*, "Redox-switchable Ring-opening Polymerization with Ferrocene Derivatives". Acc. Chem. Res. 2019, 52, 415-424.
6. Junnian Wei, Madeline N. Riffel and Paula L. Diaconescu*, “Redox Control of Al Ring-Opening Polymerization: A Combined Experimental and DFT Investigation”. Macromolecules 2017, 50, 1847-1861.
7. Junnian Wei, Kevin K Leung, Charles Truillet, Davide Ruggero, James A Wells* and Michael J. Evans*, “Profiling the Surfaceome Identifies Therapeutic Targets for Cells with Hyperactive mTORC1 Signaling”. Mol. Cell. Proteomics, 2020, 19, 294-307.
