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:
34. Wang, M.-Y.; Tu, Y.-M.; Zeng, Q.-Q.; Li, K.; Xiong, W.; Cai, Z.; Zhu, J.-B. High-Performance Recyclable Polymers Enabled by Stereo- and Sequence-Controlled Polymerization. Nat. Chem. 2025, //doi.org/10.1038/s41557-025-01828-6.
33. Tang, X.-T.; Zhou, J.-A.-Q.; Tu, Y.-M.; Fan, H.-Z.; Wang, M.-Y.; Cao, Q.; Cai, Z.; Zhu, J.-B. Ring-Opening Polymerization Enables Access to High-Performance Aliphatic-Aromatic Polyamides with Chemical Recyclability. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64, e202505310. (Selected as VIP Paper)
32. 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, 147, 7788�7798.
31. 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)
30. 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.
29. Huang, H.-Y.; Ren, B.-H.; Xie, M.; Huang, Y.-T.; Li, K.; Cai, Z.; Zhu, J.-B. Access to Polyhydroxyalkanoates with Diverse Syndiotacticity via Polymerization by Spiro-Salen Complexes and Insights into the Stereocontrol Mechanism. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64, e202419494. (Selected as VIP Paper)
28. 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.
27. 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)
26. 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)
25. 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.
24. 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).
23. 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)
22. Xiong, W.; Li, K.; Liu, L.-H.; Wang, S.-Q.; Cai, Z.; Zhu, J.-B. Ring-Opening Polymerization of Benzo-Fused Thiolactones toward Chemically Recyclable Semi-Aromatic Polythioesters. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2025, Doi: 10.1007/s10118-025-3372-0. (Invited contribution to the special issue on �Depolymerizable polymers�)
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�993. (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.
