Professor Ai-Lan Lee

1. Decarboxylative Radical Reactions: We develop both light-mediated as well as metal- and light-free direct decarboxylative radical reactions, such as C-H functionalisations of heterocycles, hydrodecarboxylations and Giese reactions. We have also recently developed photocatalyst-free light-mediated reactions. We are keen to compare the reactions with and without light and to develop more sustainable synthetic methodologies. 2. Gold Catalysis: In the past decade, gold has emerged as a powerful catalyst for the electrophilic activation of carbon-carbon π bonds. We are interested in the development of novel gold catalysed reactions with the aim of expanding the current toolkit of synthetic techniques. Highlights from our group include developing novel gold-catalysed reactions with cyclopropenes, allenes and allylic alcohols. 3. Dual Metal- and Photoredox-Catalysis: We developed dual metal- (e.g. Au, Cu) and photoredox-catalysed methods for cross couplings through C-H activation or transmetallations. 4. Palladium Catalysis: We developed various Pd(II)-catalysed conjugate addition and oxidative Heck reactions and are particularly interested in developing methodologies for challenging substrates.