John C.-G. Zhao

John C.-G. Zhao is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). His research focuses on synthetic organic chemistry with applications in asymmetric synthesis, organocatalysis, photochemistry, and medicinal chemistry. He develops green and sustainable synthetic methods for biologically significant molecules and explores visible-light-driven radical reactions using electron-donor-acceptor (EDA) complexes. He also investigates drug conjugates for tumor-selective targeting via click chemistry.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, University of Würzburg
  • M.S. in Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • B.S. in Applied Chemistry, Tongji University

Research Interests: Zhao’s lab specializes in asymmetric organocatalysis, particularly using proline- and cinchona-based catalysts to synthesize chiral molecules. They pioneered modularly designed organocatalysts (MDOs), which self-assemble from precatalyst modules for enhanced reactivity and stereoselectivity. Their work includes diastereodivergent catalysis to produce multiple stereoisomers from identical substrates and visible-light-driven EDA complex reactions for sustainable chemistry.

Publications Trends: Recent articles (2024–2020) emphasize photochemical ring-opening, C-H functionalization, heterocyclic synthesis, and multicomponent reactions. These studies often integrate green reagents (e.g., N-halosuccinimides, triphenylphosphine) and highlight modular catalyst systems for efficiency. Key subfields include radical chemistry, stereoselective transformations, and sustainable oxidation methods.

Advising: Zhao mentors doctoral students like Dhiraj Jha, Sandhya Acharya, and Roshan Baral, alongside numerous former advisees now in academia or industry. His lab emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly in medicinal chemistry and green catalysis.

Labs & Funding: The Zhao Research Group operates in BSE 4.224 and has received support from the UTSA College of Sciences and external grants (not detailed in text).