The research project Asymmetric Catalytic Conversion of Hydrocarbons has got approved for 60 million RMB as a basic science center project of NNSF. Being led by Feng Xiaoming (academician of CAS), the project will be undertaken by a joint research team consisting of Zhou Qilin (academician of CAS) of Nankai University and researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China. This is the first national basic science center led by our university and the first approved basic science center in southwestern China. It will strongly support the high-quality development of Chemistry as well as a world-class university at SCU.
The direct asymmetric catalytic conversion of hydrocarbon raw materials to high value-added chiral functionalized molecules is not only the frontier of modern synthetic science, but also a challenging basic science conundrum. Targeting the scientific frontier and orienting towards the state major strategic needs, Asymmetric Catalytic Conversion of Hydrocarbons is focused on the efficient catalytic activation and accurate stereoselective functionalization of alkanes, olefins and aromatics. It also aims to provide a revolutionary route for the synthesis of high value-added chiral medicine, pesticides, spices and materials so as to promote the upgrading and innovation of China's chiral medicine. At the same time, (the project) will establish a high-level basic science research team of asymmetric catalysis, maintain a leading position in the field of asymmetric catalysis, and produce more seminal and original achievements.
Being first launched in 2016, the basic science center project of NNSF is a fund that provides the largest amounts of money among all NNSF programs. The fund supports up to 15 projects annually for a period of five years. (It can be extended for five years.) Such projects aim to consolidate and integrate advantageous scientific research resources at home, produce a number of internationally leading original achievements, and form a number of academic highlands with important international influence.
