Nanjing University emblem HUANG GROUP

Publications

Publications

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Year:

Nanjing University

2026

32. Integrating microbial cell factory with new-to-nature photobiocatalysis for de novo biosynthesis of d-homotryptophan.

Guo, Z.; Gao, G.; Xiang, G.; Yuan, X.; Yu, J.; Chen, B.; Huang, X.*; Lu, H.* Nat. Commun. 2026. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-74128-3

Paper Link
Graphical abstract for Integrating microbial cell factory with new-to-nature photobiocatalysis for de novo biosynthesis of d-homotryptophan.

31. Radical hydroazidation of alkene enabled by synergistic photobiocatalysis combining ene-reductase with an organophotocatalyst.

Yu, J.; Hao, Y.; Ren, Y.; Zhao, B.; Ma, G.; Guo, Z.; Zhang, Y.*; Huang, X.* Chin. J. Catal. 2026, 85, 88–95. DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(26)65025-5

Paper Link
Graphical abstract for Radical hydroazidation of alkene enabled by synergistic photobiocatalysis combining ene-reductase with an organophotocatalyst.

30. Electroenzymatic oxidative desymmetrization by engineered thiamine-dependent enzymes for the enantioselective synthesis of axially chiral biaryls.

Shi, F.; Ren, Y.; Wu, J.; Yu, J.; Zhao, B.; Chen, B.; Liu, A.; Zhao, Y.; Yu, L.*; Zhang, Y.*; Huang, X.* J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2026. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6c01275

Paper Link
Graphical abstract for Electroenzymatic oxidative desymmetrization by engineered thiamine-dependent enzymes for the enantioselective synthesis of axially chiral biaryls.

29. Thiamine-based photobiocatalysis for the enantioselective construction of all-carbon quaternary stereocentres with two minimally different alkyl groups.

Bai, J.; Xu, Y.; Sun, R.; Che, F.; Shang, G.; Zhang, G.; Huang, X.*; Huang, C.* Nat. Synth. 2026. DOI: 10.1038/s44160-026-01074-9

Paper Link

Highlighted by Nature Synthesis.

Graphical abstract for Thiamine-based photobiocatalysis for the enantioselective construction of all-carbon quaternary stereocentres with two minimally different alkyl groups.

28. Electrochemically driven enzymatic oxidative desymmetrization for the enantioselective construction of silicon stereocenter.

Wu, J.; Zhu, Q.; Liu, S.; Yu, J.; Zhao, B.; Chen, B.; Liu, A.; Shi, F.; Yu, L.*; Zhang, Y.*; Huang, X.* Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2026. DOI: 10.1002/anie.3445735

Paper Link
Graphical abstract for Electrochemically driven enzymatic oxidative desymmetrization for the enantioselective construction of silicon stereocenter.

27. Enantioselective C(sp3)–C(sp3) bond formation by synergistic thiamine-dependent radical biocatalysis and photoredox catalysis.

Chun, J.; Bao, Y.; Zhang, Q.; Hou, X.; Wu, Z.; Sun, H.; Xing, Z.; Chen, B.; Zhang, Z.; Zhao, Y.; Zhou, J.*; Wang, B.*; Huang, X.* Nat. Catal. 2026. DOI: 10.1038/s41929-026-01515-w

Paper Link

Highlighted by Nature Catalysis.

Graphical abstract for Enantioselective C(sp3)–C(sp3) bond formation by synergistic thiamine-dependent radical biocatalysis and photoredox catalysis.

26. Enantioselective alkene azidooxygenation by direct visible-light excitation of an engineered ene-reductase.

Yu, J.; Zhang, Q.; Zhang, S.; Hao, Y.; Chen, B.; Zhao, Y.; Zhang, Y.*; Wang, B.*; Huang, X.* J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2026. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c18639

Paper Link
Graphical abstract for Enantioselective alkene azidooxygenation by direct visible-light excitation of an engineered ene-reductase.

2025

25. Intelligent enzyme design and hybrid catalytic systems: Driving innovation in biocatalysis.

Qu, G.*; Zhong, F.*; Xu, J.*; Huang, X.*; Sun, Z.* Green Synth. Catal. 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.gresc.2025.12.002

Paper Link
Graphical abstract for Intelligent enzyme design and hybrid catalytic systems: Driving innovation in biocatalysis.

24. Photobiocatalytic radical repositioning for enantioselective acylation of remote C–C/C–H bonds.

Ming, Y.; Wu, Z.; Xu, Y.; Chen, Y.; Xing, Z.; Peng, X.; Chun, J.; Sun, H.; Wu, J.; Zheng, Y.; Jiang, L.*; Huang, X.* Nat. Catal. 2025, 8, 1198–1207. DOI: 10.1038/s41929-025-01435-1

Paper Link

Highlighted by NSFC and Synfacts.

Graphical abstract for Photobiocatalytic radical repositioning for enantioselective acylation of remote C–C/C–H bonds.

23. Photobiocatalytic radical hydroalkylation with C(sp3)-H bonds enabled by engineered imine reductase and redox buffering.

Chen, B.; Ge, R.; Yu, J.; Zhu, R.; Zhu, Q.; Zhang, J.; Cao, M.; Huang, X.* J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147, 38195–38203. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c10377

Paper Link
Graphical abstract for Photobiocatalytic radical hydroalkylation with C(sp3)-H bonds enabled by engineered imine reductase and redox buffering.

22. Repurposing thiamine-dependent enzymes for radical biocatalysis.

Zhao, B.; Xu, Y.; Huang, X.* Methods Enzymol. 2025, 721, 169–189. DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2025.08.006

Paper Link
Graphical abstract for Repurposing thiamine-dependent enzymes for radical biocatalysis.

21. Photobiocatalytic benzylic C-H acylation enabled by the synergy of a thiamine-dependent enzyme, an organophotocatalyst and hydrogen-atom transfer.

Peng, X.; Feng, J.; Liu, F.; Xie, W.-Z.; Sun, H.; Xu, Y.; Ming, Y.; Xing, Z.; Zheng, Y.; Wang, B.*; Long, Y.-T.*; Huang, X.* Nat. Synth. 2025, 4, 1453–1461. DOI: 10.1038/s44160-025-00866-9

Paper Link
Graphical abstract for Photobiocatalytic benzylic C-H acylation enabled by the synergy of a thiamine-dependent enzyme, an organophotocatalyst and hydrogen-atom transfer.

20. Kinetic hydrolysis of sulfinamides toward S(IV) chirality enabled by visible-light-excited ene-reductases.

Zhang, Z.; Zhang, Q.; Wang, T.; Zhao, B.; Chen, B.; Wang, X.; Chun, J.; Zhang, T.; Wang, B.*; Huang, X.* ACS Catal. 2025, 15, 12684–12690. DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.5c03056

Paper Link
Graphical abstract for Kinetic hydrolysis of sulfinamides toward S(IV) chirality enabled by visible-light-excited ene-reductases.

19. Steering oxygen-centred radicals with ground-state ene-reductases for enantioselective intermolecular hydroalkoxylations.

Chen, B.; Zhang, Q.; Yu, J.; Zhao, B.; Ge, R.; Zhang, Z.; Luo, D.; Wang, B.*; Huang, X.* Nat. Catal. 2025, 8, 740–748. DOI: 10.1038/s41929-025-01372-z

Paper Link
Graphical abstract for Steering oxygen-centred radicals with ground-state ene-reductases for enantioselective intermolecular hydroalkoxylations.

18. Electricity-driven enzymatic dynamic kinetic oxidation.

Zhao, B.; Xu, Y.; Zhu, Q.; Liu, A.; Peng, X.; Zhang, T.; Yu, L.; Zhang, Y.; Huang, X.* Nature 2025, 643, 699–704. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09178-6

Paper Link

Highlighted by NSFC.

Graphical abstract for Electricity-driven enzymatic dynamic kinetic oxidation.

17. Enantiodivergent radical alkylation by synergistic Lewis-acid-enzyme and photoredox catalysis.

Zhang, J.; Zhang, Q.; Ge, R.; Liu, A.; Chen, B.; Zhang, Z.; Zhao, B.; Yu, J.; Zhao, Y.; Yu, L.; Cao, M.; Wang, B.*; Huang, X.* Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64, e202500338

Paper Link
Graphical abstract for Enantiodivergent radical alkylation by synergistic Lewis-acid-enzyme and photoredox catalysis.

16. Recent advances in repurposing natural enzymes for new-to-nature asymmetric photobiotransformations.

Liu, F.; Peng, X.; Yu, J.; Huang, X.* Org. Chem. Front. 2025, 12, 4608–4634. DOI: 10.1039/D5QO00470E

Paper Link
Graphical abstract for Recent advances in repurposing natural enzymes for new-to-nature asymmetric photobiotransformations.

15. Enantioselective biosynthesis of vicinal diamines enabled by synergistic photo/biocatalysis consisting of an ene-reductase and a green-light-excited organic dye.

Shi, F.; Chen, B.; Yu, J.; Zhu, R.; Zheng, Y.; Huang, X.* Chin. J. Catal. 2025, 68, 223–229

Paper Link
Graphical abstract for Enantioselective biosynthesis of vicinal diamines enabled by synergistic photo/biocatalysis consisting of an ene-reductase and a green-light-excited organic dye.

14. Single-electron oxidation triggered by visible-light-excited enzymes for asymmetric biocatalysis.

Yu, J.; Chen, B.; Huang, X.* Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, e202419262

Paper Link

Minireview.

Graphical abstract for Single-electron oxidation triggered by visible-light-excited enzymes for asymmetric biocatalysis.

13. Synergistic photobiocatalysis for enantioselective triple radical sorting.

Xing, Z.; Liu, F.; Feng, J.; Yu, L.; Wu, Z.; Zhao, B.; Chen, B.; Ping, H.; Xu, Y.; Liu, A.; Zhao, Y.; Wang, C.; Wang, B.*; Huang, X.* Nature 2025, 637, 1118–1123. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08399-5

Paper Link

Highlighted by C&EN, NSFC, and other outlets.

Graphical abstract for Synergistic photobiocatalysis for enantioselective triple radical sorting.

2024

12. Repurposing type I aldolase for stereospecific radical coupling with light.

Yu, J.; Hao, Y.; Huang, X.* Chem Catalysis 2024, 4(11). DOI: 10.1016/j.checat.2024.101191

Paper Link

Invited Preview.

11. Repurposing naturally occurring enzymes using visible light.

Xu, Y.; Liu, F.; Zhao, B.; Huang, X.* Chin. J. Chem. 2024, 42, 3553–3558. DOI: 10.1002/cjoc.202400656

Paper Link
Graphical abstract for Repurposing naturally occurring enzymes using visible light.

10. Modular access to chiral amines via imine reductase-based photoenzymatic catalysis.

Chen, B.; Li, R.; Feng, J.; Zhao, B.; Zhang, J.; Yu, J.; Xu, Y.; Xing, Z.; Zhao, Y.; Wang, B.*; Huang, X.* J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 14278–14286. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c03879

Paper Link

Highlighted by Synfacts.

Graphical abstract for Modular access to chiral amines via imine reductase-based photoenzymatic catalysis.

9. Repurposing visible-light-excited ene-reductases for diastereo- and enantioselective lactones synthesis.

Yu, J.; Zhang, Q.; Zhao, B.; Wang, T.; Zheng, Y.; Wang, B.*; Zhang, Y.*; Huang, X.* Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, 63, e202402673

Paper Link
Graphical abstract for Repurposing visible-light-excited ene-reductases for diastereo- and enantioselective lactones synthesis.

8. A light-driven enzymatic enantioselective radical acylation.

Xu, Y.; Chen, H.; Yu, L.; Peng, X.; Zhang, J.; Xing, Z.; Bao, Y.; Liu, A.; Zhao, Y.; Tian, C.*; Liang, Y.*; Huang, X.* Nature 2024, 625, 74–78. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06822-x

Paper Link

Highlighted by NSFC, Nanjing University, and X-MOL.

Graphical abstract for A light-driven enzymatic enantioselective radical acylation.

7. Focused rational iterative site-specific mutagenesis (FRISM): A powerful method for enzyme engineering.

Bao, Y.; Xu, Y.; Huang, X.* Mol. Catal. 2024, 553, 113755

Paper Link

Invited review in honour of Prof. Manfred T. Reetz.

Graphical abstract for Focused rational iterative site-specific mutagenesis (FRISM): A powerful method for enzyme engineering.

2023

6. Photoenzymatic conversion of enamides to enantioenriched benzylic amines enabled by visible-light-induced single-electron reduction.

Zhang, J.; Zhang, Q.; Chen, B.; Yu, J.; Wang, B.*; Huang, X.* ACS Catal. 2023, 13, 15682–15690. DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.3c04711

Paper Link
Graphical abstract for Photoenzymatic conversion of enamides to enantioenriched benzylic amines enabled by visible-light-induced single-electron reduction.

5. Direct visible-light-excited flavoproteins for redox-neutral asymmetric radical hydroarylation.

Zhao, B.; Feng, J.; Yu, L.; Xing, Z.; Chen, B.; Liu, A.; Liu, F.; Shi, F.; Zhao, Y.; Tian, C.*; Wang, B.*; Huang, X.* Nat. Catal. 2023, 6, 996–1004. DOI: 10.1038/s41929-023-01024-0

Paper Link
Graphical abstract for Direct visible-light-excited flavoproteins for redox-neutral asymmetric radical hydroarylation.

4. Rational evolution of a fatty acid photodecarboxylase for highly selective photodecarboxylation of trans fatty acid.

Zeng, S.; Bao, Y.; Cao, A.; Huang, X.* Univ. Chem. 2023, 38, 1–10

Paper Link

2022

3. Recent advances in photoenzymatic synthesis.

Ming, Y.; Chen, B.; Huang, X.* Synth. Biol. J. 2022, 3, 1–25

Paper Link
Graphical abstract for Recent advances in photoenzymatic synthesis.

2. Photoinduced chemomimetic biocatalysis for enantioselective intermolecular radical conjugate addition.

Huang, X.; Feng, J.; Cui, J.; Jiang, G.; Harrison, W.; Zang, X.; Zhou, J.; Wang, B.*; Zhao, H.* Nat. Catal. 2022, 5, 586–593. DOI: 10.1038/s41929-022-00777-4

Paper Link

Highlighted by Nature Catalysis, X-MOL, and UIUC.

Graphical abstract for Photoinduced chemomimetic biocatalysis for enantioselective intermolecular radical conjugate addition.

1. Photobiocatalysis for abiological transformations.

Harrison, W.; Huang, X.*; Zhao, H.* Acc. Chem. Res. 2022, 55, 1087–1096. DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.1c00719

Paper Link
Graphical abstract for Photobiocatalysis for abiological transformations.

Before Joining Nanjing University

  1. Huang, X.;† Wang, B.;† Wang, Y.; Jiang, G.; Feng, J.; Zhao, H.* Photoenzymatic enantioselective intermolecular radical hydroalkylation, Nature 2020, 584, 69–74. (†Co-first author; highlighted by C&EN and Synfacts)
  2. Huang, X.; Cao, M.; Zhao, H.* Integrating biocatalysis with chemocatalysis for selective transformations, Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol. 2020, 55, 161–170. Invited review.
  3. Huang, X.; Meggers, E.* Asymmetric photocatalysis with bis-cyclometalated rhodium complexes, Acc. Chem. Res. 2019, 52, 833–847.
  4. Huang, X.; Zhang, Q.; Lin, J.; Harms, K.; Meggers, E.* Electricity driven asymmetric Lewis acid catalysis, Nat. Catal. 2019, 2, 34–40.
  5. Huang, X.; Lin, J.; Shen, T.; Harms, K.; Marchini, M.; Ceroni, P.; Meggers, E.* Asymmetric [3+2] photocycloadditions of cyclopropanes with alkenes or alkynes via visible light excitation of catalyst-bound substrates, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2018, 57, 5454–5458. Hot Paper.
  6. Huang, X.; Li, X.; Xie, X.; Harms, K.; Riedel, R.; Meggers, E.* Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of a nitrogen heterocycle through stereocontrolled direct photoreaction from electronically excited state, Nat. Commun. 2017, 8, 2245.
  7. Huang, X.; Quinn, T. R.; Harms, K.; Webster, R. D.; Zhang, L.; Wiest, O.; Meggers, E.* Direct visible-light-excited asymmetric Lewis acid catalysis of intermolecular [2+2] photocycloadditions, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 139, 9120–9123.
  8. Huang, X.; Webster, R. D.; Harms, K.; Meggers, E.* Asymmetric catalysis with organic azides and diazo compounds initiated by photoinduced electron transfer, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138, 12636–12642.
  9. Huang, X.; Li, X.; Zou, M.; Song, S.; Tang, C.; Yuan, Y.; Jiao, N.* From ketones to esters by a Cu-catalyzed highly selective C(CO)-C(alkyl) bond cleavage: aerobic oxidation and oxygenation with air, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 14858–14865.
  10. Chen, F.;† Huang, X.;† Li, X.;† Shen, T.; Zou, M.; Jiao, N.* Dehydrogenative N-incorporation: a direct approach to quinoxaline N-oxides under mild conditions, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2014, 53, 10495–10499. (†Co-first author)
  11. Huang, X.;† Luo, S.;† Burghaus, O.; Webster, R. D.; Harms, K.; Meggers, E.* Chem. Sci. 2017, 8, 7126–7131. (†Co-first author)
  12. Huo, H.;† Huang, X.;† Shen, X.; Harms, K.; Meggers, E.* Synlett 2016, 27, 749–753. Invited paper; †Co-first author.
  13. Huang, X.; Li, X.; Jiao, N.* Chem. Sci. 2015, 6, 6355–6360.
  14. Huang, X.; Li, X.; Zou, M.; Pan, J.; Jiao, N.* Org. Chem. Front. 2015, 2, 354–359.
  15. Huang, X.; Jiao, N.* Org. Biomol. Chem. 2014, 12, 4324–4328.
  16. Jung, H.; Hong, M.; Marchini, M.; Villa, M.; Steinlandt, P. S.; Huang, X.; Hemming, M.; Meggers, E.; Ceroni, P.;* Park, J.;* Baik, M.-H.* Chem. Sci. 2021, DOI: 10.1039/D1SC02745J.
  17. Wang, Y.; Huang, X.; Hui, J.; Vo, L. M.; Zhao, H.* ACS Catal. 2020, 10, 9431–9437.
  18. Kuang, Y.; Wang, K.; Shi, X.; Huang, X.; Meggers, E.; Wu, J. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 16859–16863.
  19. Zhu, B.; Shen, T.; Huang, X.; Zhu, Y.; Song, S.; Jiao, N. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 11028–11032.
  20. Grell, Y.; Hong, Y.; Huang, X.; Mochizuki, T.; Xie, X.; Harms, K.; Meggers, E. Organometallics 2019, 38, 3948–3954.
  21. Liu, J.; Qiu, X.; Huang, X.; Luo, X.; Zhang, C.; Wei, J.; Pan, J.; Liang, Y.; Zhu, Y.; Qin, Q.; Song, S.; Jiao, N. Nat. Chem. 2019, 11, 71–77.
  22. De Assis, F.; Huang, X.; Akiyama, M.; Pilli, R. A.; Meggers, E.* J. Org. Chem. 2018, 83, 10922–10932.
  23. Ma, J.; Zhang, X.; Huang, X.; Luo, S.; Meggers, E.* Nat. Protoc. 2018, 13, 605–632.
  24. Zhang, X.; Qin, J.; Huang, X.; Meggers, E.* Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2018, 571–577.
  25. Zhang, X.; Qin, J.; Huang, X.; Meggers, E.* Org. Chem. Front. 2018, 5, 166–170.
  26. Chen, S.; Huang, X.; Meggers, E.; Houk, K. N.* J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 139, 17902–17907.
  27. Ma, J.; Rosales, A. R.; Huang, X.; Harms, K.; Riedel, R.; Wiest, O.; Meggers, E.* J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 139, 17245–17248.
  28. Song, S.; Huang, X.; Liang, Y.-F.; Tang, C.; Li, X.; Jiao, N.* Green Chem. 2015, 17, 2727–2731.
  29. Shen, T.; Huang, X.; Liang, Y.-F.; Jiao, N.* Org. Lett. 2015, 17, 6186–6189.
  30. Zhu, Y.; Li, X.; Wang, X.; Huang, X.; Shen, T.; Zhang, Y.; Sun, X.; Zou, M.; Song, S.; Jiao, N.* Org. Lett. 2015, 17, 4702–4705.
  31. Liang, Y.-F.; Wu, K.; Song, S.; Li, X.; Huang, X.; Jiao, N.* Org. Lett. 2015, 17, 876–879.
  32. Li, Z.; Huang, X.; Chen, F.; Zhang, C.; Wang, X.; Jiao, N.* Org. Lett. 2015, 17, 584–587.
  33. Chen, F.; Huang, X.; Cui, Y.; Jiao, N.* Chem. Eur. J. 2013, 19, 11199–11202.