RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Functional sustainable polymers from renewable resources.
Monomer design for recyclable polymers.
Novel catalytic systems for precise synthesis of stereoregular polymers.
EDUCATION AND ACADEMIC CAREER:
2019.03-Present Professor Sichuan University
2017.09-2019.02 Research Scientist II (with Prof. Eugene Y.-X. Chen) Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA
2014.09-2017.09 Postdoctoral Research Fellow (with Prof. Eugene Y.-X. Chen) Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA
2009.09-2014.06 Ph.D., Organic Chemistry (Supervisor: Prof. Yong Tang) Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
2005.09-2009.06 B.S., Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Sichuan University
HONORS AND AWARDS:
2025 “Polymer Chemistry” Pioneering Investigator
2022 “Chinese Journal of Chemistry” Emerging Investigator
2019 Young Science and Technology Talent Award of Sichuan University.
2019 “1000 Young Talents Global Recruitment Program” Sponsored by Central Government of China.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
31. Huang, H.-Y.; Xie, M.; Wang, S.-Q.; Huang, Y.-T.; Luo, Y.-H.; Yu, D.-G.; Cai, Z.; Zhu, J.-B. Ultratough Thermoplastic Elastomers Based on Chemically Recyclable Cycloalkyl-Substituted Polyhydroxyalkanoates. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, doi.org/10.1021/jacs.4c17703.
30. Huang, Y.-T.; Huang, H.-Y.; Cheng, J.-L.; Xie, M.; Feng, L.-W.; Cai, Z.; Zhu, J.-B. A Regio- and Stereoselective Ring-Opening Polymerization Approach to Isotactic Alternating Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) with Stereocomplexation. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64, e202422147. (Selected as VIP Paper)
29. Cao, Q.; Fan, H.-Z.; Xie, M.; Cai, Z.; Zhu, J.-B. Solubility-Equilibrium-Assisted Kinetic Resolution Polymerization towards Isotactic Polyesters Containing Axial Chirality. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147, 1147–1154.
28. Huang, H.-Y.; Ren, B.-H.; Xie, M.; Huang, Y.-T.; Li, K.; Cai, Z.; Zhu, J.-B. Facile Access to Perfectly Syndiotactic Polyhydroxyalkanoates via Stereoselective Ring-Opening Polymerization by a Spiro-Salen Catalyst. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64, e202419494. (Selected as VIP Paper)
27. Li, K.; Cheng, J.-L.; Wang, M.-Y.; Xiong, W.; Huang, H.-Y.; Feng, L.-W.; Cai, Z.; Zhu, J.-B. Kinetic Resolution Polymerization Enabled Chemical Synthesis of Perfectly Isotactic Polythioesters. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, 63, e202405382.
26. Cao, Q.; Tu, Y.-M.; Fan, H.-Z.; Shan, S.-Y.; Cai, Z.; Zhu, J.-B. Torsional Strain Enabled Ring-Opening Polymerization towards Axially Chiral Semiaromatic Polyesters with Chemically Recyclability. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, 63, e202400196. (Selected as Hot Paper)
25. Huang, H.-Y.; Xiong, W.; Huang, Y.-T.; Li, K.; Cai, Z.; Zhu, J.-B. Spiro-Salen Catalysts Enable the Chemical Synthesis of Stereoregular Polyhydroxyalkanoates. Nat. Catal. 2023, 6, 720–728. (Highlighted by NSFC)
24. Tu, Y.-M.; Gong, F.-L.; Wu, Y.-C.; Cai, Z.; Zhu, J.-B. Insights into Substitution Strategy towards Thermodynamic and Property Regulation of Chemically Recyclable Polymers. Nat. Commun 2023, 14, 3198.
23. Fan, H.-Z.; Yang, X.; Chen, J.-H.; Tu, Y.-M.; Cai, Z.; Zhu, J.-B. Advancing the Development of Recyclable Aromatic Polyesters by Functionalization and Stereocomplexation. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, 61, e202117639 (Selected as Hot Paper).
22. Tu, Y.-M.; Wang, X.-M.; Yang, X.; Fan, H.-Z.; Gong, F.-L.; Cai, Z.; Zhu, J.-B. Biobased High-Performance Aromatic–Aliphatic Polyesters with Complete Recyclability. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 20591–20597. (Highlighted by NSFC)
21. Wang, S.-Q.; Liu, L.-H.; Li, K.; Xiong, W.; Fan, H.-Z.; Cao, Q.; Cai, Z.; Zhu, J.-B. Implementing Sulfur-Substitution Approach Towards High-Performance Recyclable Plastics. Polym. Chem. 2025, 16, 987–99. (Invited contribution to the special issue on 2025 Polymer Chemistry Pioneering Investigators)
20. Liu, L.-H.; Wang, S.-Q.; Fan, H.-Z.; Cao, Q.; Cai, Z.; Zhu, J.-B. Chemically Recyclable Poly(thioether-thioester)s via Ring-Opening Polymerization of Seven-Membered Thiolactones. Polym. Chem. 2025, 16, 972–978. (Invited contribution to the special issue on Make polymers sustainable, why and how?)
19. Xie, M.; Huang, H.-Y.; Huang, Y.-T.; Ye, Y.-C.; Cai, Z.; Zhu, J.-B. Syndioselective Ring-Opening Polymerization of β-lactones Enabled by Dimethylbiphenyl-Salen Complexes. ACS Macro Lett. 2025, 14, 57–63.
18. Sun, Y.; An, Z.; Gao, Y.; Hu, R.; Liu, Y.; Lu, H.; Lu, X.-B.; Pang, X.; Tao, Y.; Shen, Y.; Wang, Y.-Z.; Wu, G.; Wu, G.-P.; Wang, J.; Zhang, X.-H.; Zhang, Y.-T.; Zhang, Z.; Zhu, J.-B.; Hong, M.; Li, Z. New Sustainable Polymers with On-demand Depolymerization Property. Sci. China Chem. 2024, 67, 2803–2841. (Invited Review)
17. Xia, Y.-Y.; Yang, X.; Zhang, W.; Fu, Y.; Cai, Z.; Cao, P.; Zhu, J.-B. A Facile Approach to Construct Functional Polyesters as Soft Midblock for Thermoplastic Elastomers. Chem. Eur. J. 2024, 30, e202401727. (Invited contribution to the special issue on chirality: from small molecules to macromolecules, selected as Hot Paper)
16. Zhang, W.; Shan, S.-Y.; Dai, J.; Cai, Z.; Zhu, J.-B. Well-Controlled Organocatalytic Ring-Opening Polymerization of Seven-Membered Cyclic Carbonates with Cyclohexyl Fusion. Chem. Res. Chin. Univ. 2024, 40, 856–862. (Invited contribution to the special issue on 20th anniversary of the Department of Chemistry at Renmin University of China)
15. Chen, J.-H.; Tu, Y.-M.; Yao, J.-R.; Tang, X.-X.; Xia, Y.-Y.; Cai, Z.; Zhang, Q.; Zhu, J.-B. Accessing Chemically Recyclable Polyamides via Geminal Dimethyl Substitution. Polymer, 2024, 298, 126898.
14. Shan, S.-Y.; Zhang, W.; Cao, Q.; Ye, Y.-C.; Cai, Z.; Zhu, J.-B. Cis-Fused Cyclohexane Promoted the Chemical Recycling of Polycarbonate to Monomer. Polym. Chem. 2024, 15, 1070–1076.
13. Xiong, W.; Dai, J.; Cai, Z.; Zhu, J.-B. Advancing the Material Performance of Chemically Recyclable Polythioesters via Copolymerization. Polymer, 2024, 290, 126515.
12. Huang, H.-Y.; Cai, Z.; Zhu, J.-B. Stereoregular Polyhydroxyalkanoates via Ring-Opening Polymerization of rac-β-lactones Catalysed by Spiro-Salen Yttrium Complexes. Chin. Sci. Bull. 2023, 68, 4597–4599. (Invited contribution on popular science)
11. Dai, J.; Xiong, W.; Li, D.-Y.; Cai, Z.; Zhu, J.-B. Bifunctional Thiourea-Based Organocatalysts Promoted Kinetic Resolution Polymerization of Racemic Lactide to Isotactic Polylactide. Chem. Commun. 2023, 59, 12731–12734.
10. Wu, Y.-C.; Fan, H.-Z.; Shan, S.-Y.; Wang, S.-Q.; Cai, Z.; Zhu, J.-B. Functionalizable and Recyclable Aliphatic Polycarbonates Derived from Biomass Feedstocks and CO2. Chem. Res. Chin. Univ. 2023, 39, 809–815. (Invited contribution to the special issue on polymer science)
9. Wang, X.-M.; Huang, H.-Y.; Tu, Y.-M.; Cai, Z.; Zhu, J.-B. Naphthalene Engineering of Chemically Recyclable Polyesters with Enhanced Thermal and Mechanical Properties. Polym. Chem. 2023, 14, 2027–2033. (Invited contribution to the special issue on plastic conversion)
8. Fan, H.-Z.; Yang, X.; Wu, Y.-C.; Cao, Q.; Cai, Z.; Zhu, J.-B. Leveraging the Monomer Structure for High-Performance Chemically Recyclable Semiaromatic Polyesters. Polym. Chem. 2023, 14, 747–753. (Invited contribution to the special issue on plastic conversion; Selected as one of Polymer Chemistry’s most popular 2023 articles)
7. Dai, J.; Xiong, W.; Du, M.-R.; Wu, G.; Cai, Z.; Zhu, J.-B. A Facile Approach towards High-Performance Poly(thioether-thioester)s with Full Recyclability. Sci. China Chem. 2023, 66, 251–258.
6. Wu, Y.-C.; Fan, H.-Z.; Zhang, W.; Wang, M.-Y.; Cai, Z.; Zhu, J.-B. Biobased Bifunctional Monomers toward Functionalizable Polycarbonates and Poly(cyclic olefin)s with Tunable Properties. Macromolecules 2022, 55, 9232–9241.
5. Yang, X.; Fan, H.-Z.; Cai, Z.; Zhang, Q.; Zhu, J.-B. Ring-Opening Polymerization of a Benzyl-Protected Cyclic Ester towards Functional Aliphatic Polyester. Chin. J. Chem. 2022, 40, 2973–2980. (Dedicated to the Special Issue of Emerging Investigators in 2022, Selected as Cover Paper)
4. Cai, Z.; Liu, Y.; Tao, Y.-H.; Zhu, J.-B. Recent Advances in Monomer Design for Recyclable Polymers. Acta Chim. Sinica 2022, 80, 1165–1182 (Invited Review, in Chinese, Selected as Cover Paper).
3. Zhu, J.-B. Introducing… Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, 61, e202202854.
2. Yang, X.; Zhang, W.; Huang, H.-Y.; Dai, J.; Wang, M.-Y.; Fan, H.-Z.; Cai, Z.; Zhang, Q.; Zhu, J.-B. Stereoselective Ring-Opening Polymerization of Lactones with a Fused Ring Leading to Semicrystalline Polyesters. Macromolecules 2022, 55, 2777–2786.
1. Zhang, W.; Dai, J.; Wu, Y.-C.; Chen, J.-X.; Shan, S.-Y.; Cai, Z.; Zhu, J.-B. Highly Reactive Cyclic Carbonates with a Fused Ring toward Functionalizable and Recyclable Polycarbonates. ACS Macro Lett. 2022, 11, 173–178.
Supervised Work (Before 2019)
11. Sangroniz, A.; Zhu, J.-B.; Tang, X.; Etxeberria, A.; Chen, E.-Y. X.; Sardon, H. Packaging Materials with Desired Mechanical and Barrier Properties and Full Chemical Recyclability. Nat. Commun 2019, 10, 3559–3566.
10. Cao, Z.§; Zhu, J.-B.§; Wang, L.; Liao, S.; Tang, Y. A Synthesis of Multifunctionalized Indoles from [3 + 2] Annulation of 2-Bromocyclopropenes with Anilines. Org Lett. 2019, 21, 4097–4100 (§contributed equally).
9. Zhu, J.-B.; Chen, E.-Y. X. Catalyst-Sidearm-Induced Stereoselectivity Switching in Polymerization of a Racemic Lactone for Stereocomplexed Crystalline Polymer with a Circular Life Cycle. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 1178–1182.
8. Zhu, J.-B.; Chen, E.-Y. X. Living Coordination Polymerization of a Six‐Five Bicyclic Lactone to Produce Completely Recyclable Polyester. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2018, 57, 12588–12562.
7. Zhu, J.-B.; Watson, E. M.; Tang, J.; Chen, E.-Y. X. A Synthetic Polymer System with Repeatable Recyclability. Science, 2018, 360, 398–403. Highlighted by Science (Plastics recycling with a difference)，Science News (This plastic can be recycled over and over and over again), C&EN (Strong, stable polymer can be recycled again and again) and The Times (New ‘infinitely recyclable’ plastic created). Selected as the Research of the Year 2018 by C&EN!
6. Zhu, J.-B.; Tang, X.; Falivene, L.; Caporaso, L.; Cavallo, L.; Chen, E.-Y. X. Organocatalytic Coupling of Bromo-Lactide with Cyclic Ethers and Carbonates to Chiral Bromo-Diesters: NHC or Anion Catalysis? ACS Catal. 2017, 7, 3929–3933.
5. Zhu, J.-B.; Chen, E.-Y. X. From meso-Lactide to Isotactic Polylactide: Epimerization by B/N Lewis Pairs and Kinetic Resolution by Organic Catalysts. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 12506–12509.
4. Zhu, J.-B.; Chen, H.; Liao, S.; Li, Y.-X.; Tang, Y. A Sidearm-assisted Phosphine for Catalytic ylide Intramolecular Cyclopropanation. Org. Chem. Front. 2014, 1, 1035–1039.
3. Zhu, J.-B.; Chen, H.; Wang, L.; Tang, Y. Stereospecific Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Benzo[3.1.0]bicycloalkanes via Multistep Cascade Reactions. Org. Chem. Front. 2014, 1, 965–968.
2. Zhu, J.-B.; Wang P.; Liao, S.; Tang, Y. PPh3-mediated Intramolecular Conjugation of Alkyl Halides with Electron-deficient Olefins: Facile Synthesis of Chromans and Relevant Analogues, Chem. Commun. 2013, 49, 4570–4572.
1. Zhu, J.-B.; Wang, P.; Liao, S.; Tang, Y. Ylide Hydrolysis in Tandem Reactions: A Highly Z/E-Selective Access to 3-Alkylidene Dihydrobenzofurans and Related Analogues. Org. Lett. 2013, 15, 3054–3057.
ISSUED PATENTS
2.Chen, E. Y.-X.; Zhu, J.-B. “Recyclable Polymers Based on Ring-Fused Gamma-Butyrolactones”, U.S. Pat. 10,759,899 B2, 2020.
1. Chen, E. Y.-X.; Zhu, J.-B. “Transformation of Meso-Lactide”, U.S. Pat. 10,174,161 B2, 2019.
