Assoc Prof WU Jie, Faculty Young Scientist Award (2020)

Assoc Prof Wu’s research group seeks to advance difficult or ineffective chemical reactions using advanced flow techniques, as well as to develop new chemical strategies to aid automated multistep synthesis. 

His team developed the “stop-flow” micro-tubing (SFMT) reactor, where they applied advanced engineered micro-tubing reactors to serve as better platforms for new chemical transformations and sustainable manufacturing. Using the SFMT reactor, his team developed new fundamental reactions that transform inexpensive and non-toxic gaseous feedstocks to value added-chemicals by harvesting visible-light as the energy source.

In line with his efforts to develop green and sustainable synthetic methodology using visible-light, Assoc Prof Wu’s group also develops novel photo-catalysts as an efficient means for sustainable chemical manufacturing. His team found that neutral eosin Y can be utilised as a direct hydrogen atom transfer photocatalyst for carbon-hydrogen (C-H) functionalisations.

He also developed novel technology for end-to-end automated synthesis of APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients), which has the potential to change the paradigm of how the pharmaceutical industry synthesises and develops drugs. 

In recognition of his work, Assoc Prof Wu has received the Department of Chemistry’s Young Chemist Award, Thieme Chemistry Journal Award and Distinguished Lectureship Award from the CSJ Asian International Symposium.