Wen-Ching Chen

Dr. Wen-Ching Chen is an accomplished synthetic and organometallic chemist whose research has significantly advanced the field of carbone ligand chemistry and main group–transition metal reactivity. Currently serving as Project Leader at the Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Dr. Chen has established a clear trajectory of independent research leadership. His work focuses on the development of carbodicarbene (CDC) ligands, bis(carbone) pincers, and ylidone frameworks as novel platforms for small molecule activation, FLP-type catalysis, and persistent radical stabilization for catalysis and material application. These achievements are documented in 27 peer-reviewed publications in leading international journals such as Nature Synthesis, Journal of the American Chemical Society, and Angewandte Chemie, underscoring his consistent ability to produce high-impact and frontier research. Beyond laboratory accomplishments, Dr. Chen has taken an active and leading role in research planning and strategic proposal writing. He co-authored two major funded projects: NSTC 112-2123-M-001-007 (Ligand Design Derived from Carbone for Emerging Chemistry of Persistent Radicals and Surface Science) and Academia Sinica Investigator Award AS-IA-113-M01 (Mapping the Next-Generation Super-α-Enhanced Ligands and Ylidones in Various Ion Radical States). These awards reflect both his scientific foresight and his integral role in advancing the research direction of his group and institution. Dr. Chen’s research aligns with long-term goals in sustainable catalysis, redox-responsive materials, and molecular design, positioning him as a leading figure in the next generation of main group and ligand-centered chemistry.

Ministry of Science and Technology Postdoctoral Researchers Paper Award, 2015

• Isolated Carbon(I) Species Featuring a Carbone Cation Radical, Nat. Synth., 2025, Groundbreaking isolation of a carbone-centered cation radical, representing a new paradigm in redox-active carbon ligands.
• Diversification of the Carbodicarbene Class by Embedding an Anionic Component, Chem. Eur. J., 2023, Engineered new CDC variants with anionic backbones for cooperative reactivity with Lewis acids and metals.
• Synergistic Catalysis by Brønsted Acid/Carbodicarbene, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed., 2021, Demonstrated FLP-type reactivity in non-classical CDC–acid systems without requiring steric hindrance.
• Carbodicarbenes: Unexpected π-Accepting Ability during Reactivity with Small Molecules, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2017, Redefined CDCs as ambiphilic ligands capable of π-acceptance, reshaping their role in ligand design.
• A Bis(carbone) Pincer Ligand and Its Coordinative Behavior toward Multi-Metallic Configurations, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed., 2022, Designed the first structurally defined bis(carbone) pincer ligand, enabling selective binding of multinuclear assemblies.
• Expanding the Ligand Framework Diversity of Carbodicarbenes and Direct Detection of Boron Activation in the Methylation of Amines with CO₂, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed., 2015, Reported a mechanistic breakthrough in CO₂ methylation and development of synthetic strategy for building a series of ligand framework.
• The Elusive Three-Coordinate Dicationic Hydrido Boron Complex, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2014, Isolated and structurally characterized a rare 3-coordinate B(III) cationic hydride complex, challenging existing bonding paradigms in boron chemistry.

• Date of Birth: 03/17/1970
• Nationality: R.O.C.

• NMR (1D/2D)
• CD
• UV-Vis
• IR spectroscopy
• Polarized Optical Microscopy (POM)
• Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
• Cyclic Voltammetry (CV)
• Single-crystal X-ray diffraction (in collaboration)

I. 2020~2025 (recent 5 year)

1. Yi-Chen Chan, He-Xin Xiao, Lei Qin, Jiun-Shian Shen, Chen-Rui Yang, Glenn P. A. Yap, Wei-Min Ching, Wen-Ching Chen,* Yun-Wei Chiang,* Gernot Frenking,* Lili Zhao,* and Tiow-Gan Ong*; “Isolated Carbon(I) Species Featuring a Carbone Cation Radical”; Nat. Synth. 2025.

2. Yu-Syuan Tsai, Yu-Wei Chen, Charasee Laddika Dayawansa, Hsuan Chang, Wen-Ching Chen, Jiun-Shian Shen, Tiow-Gan Ong, Glenn P. A. Yap, Vincent C.-C. Wang*; “Mechanistic Investigations of a Hydrogen-Evolving Cobalt Diimine-Dioxime Complex in an Oxygen Environment: Roles of Secondary Coordination Sphere, Brønsted Acid, and Axial Ligand”; Inorg. Chem. 2025, 64, 4213−4222.

3. Cheng-Han Yu, Ka-Chun Au-Yeung, Ruiqin Liu, Chao-Hsien Lee, Dandan Jiang, Bamlaku Semagne Aweke, Chia-Hung Wu, Yu-Jou Wang, Ting-Hsuan Wang, Kien Voon Kong, Glenn P. A. Yap, Wen-Ching Chen,* Gernot Frenking,* Lili Zhao,* and Tiow-Gan Ong*; “Diversification of the Carbodicarbene Class by Embedding an Anionic Component in its Scaffold”; Chem. Eur. J. 2023, 29, e202302886.

4. Bamlaku Semagne Aweke, Cheng-Han Yu, Jiun-Shian Shen, Sheng Wang, Glenn P. A. Yap, Wen-Ching Chen,* and Tiow-Gan Ong*; Binuclear Macrocyclic Silver(I) Complex of a Bis(carbone) Pincer Ligand: Synthesis and Application as a Carbone-Transfer Agent; Inorg. Chem. 2023, 62, 12664−12673.

5. Bamlaku Semagne Aweke, Cheng‐Han Yu, Minna Zhi, Wen‐Ching Chen, Glenn P. A. Yap, Lili Zhao,* Tiow‐Gan Ong*; “A Bis ‐(carbone) Pincer Ligand and Its Coordinative Behavior toward Multi‐Metallic Configurations”; Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2022, 61, e202201884.

6. Hsuan Chang, Wen-Ching Chen, Jiun-Shian Shen, Tiow-Gan Ong, Vincent C.-C. Wang,* and Glenn P. A. Yap*; “Mirror-plane disorder in a nickel chloride Schiff base complex: a suitable case study for crystallographic instruction”; Acta Cryst.2022, C78, 137–140.

7. Yi-Chen Chan, Yuna Bai, Wen-Ching Chen, Hsing-Yin Chen, Chen-Yu Li, Ying-Yann Wu, Mei-Chun Tseng, Glenn P. A. Yap, Lili Zhao,* Hsuan-Ying Chen,* and Tiow-Gan Ong*; “Synergistic Catalysis by Brønsted Acid/Carbodicarbene Mimicking Frustrated Lewis Pair-Like Reactivity”; Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2021, 60, 19949–19956.

8. Ka-Chun Au-Yeung, Dengmengfei Xiao, Wei-Chih Shih, Hsiu-Wen Yang, Yuh-Sheng Wen, Glenn P. A. Yap, Wen-Ching Chen,* Lili Zhao,* and Tiow-Gan Ong*; “Carbodicarbene: geminal-Bimetallic Coordination in Selective Manner”; Chem. Eur. J. 2020, 26, 17350−17355.

9. Shu-kai Liu, Wen-Ching Chen,* Glenn P. A. Yap, and Tiow-Gan Ong*; “Synthesis of Carbophosphinocarbene and Their Donating Ability: Expansion of Carbone Class” Organometallics 2020, 39, 4395−4401.

10. Cheng-Yuan Liu, Taveechai Wititsuwannakul, Chu-Han Hsieh, Chung-Yu Tsai, Ting-Hsuan Wang, Ram Ambre, Wen-Ching Chen, Panida Surawatanawong,* and Tiow-Gan Ong*; “Nickel‐Mediated Cross‐Coupling via C-O Activation Assisted by Organoaluminum”; J. Chin. Chem. Soc. 2020, 67, 376–382.

II. Before 2020

11. Ram Ambre, Hsuan Yang, Wen-Ching Chen, Glenn P. A. Yap, Titel Jurca,* and Tiow-Gan Ong*; “Nickel Carbodicarbene Catalyzes Kumada Cross-Coupling of Aryl Ethers with Grignard Reagents through C-O Bond Activation”; Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2019, 30, 3511–3517.

12. Shashank Reddy Patlolla, Chen-Rui Kao, Ai-Hsuan Yeh, Hung-Min Lin, Yu-Chun Chuang, Yuh-Sheng Wen, Brian T. Sneed, Wen-Ching Chen,* Tiow-Gan Ong,* and Chun-Hong Kuo*; “Interface-Controlled Synthesis of Au-BINOL Hybrid Nanostructures and Mechanism Study”; Langmuir 2018, 34, 13697–13704.

13. Shu-kai Liu, Wen-Ching Chen,* and Tiow-Gan Ong*; “Synthesis and Structure of Carbodicarbenes and their Application in Catalysis”; Structure and Bonding. Springer International Publishing AG. Feb, 2018: 177, 51–71.

14. Shu-kai Liu, Wei-Chih Shih, Wen-Ching Chen,* and Tiow-Gan Ong*; “Carbodicarbenes and their Captodative Behavior in Catalysis”; ChemCatChem 2018, 10, 1483–1498.

15. Wen-Ching Chen,* Wei-Chih Shih, Titel Jurca, Lili Zhao, Diego M. Andrada, Chun-Jung Peng, Chun-Chi Chang, Shu-kai Liu, Yi-Ping Wang, Yuh-Sheng Wen, Glenn P. A. Yap, Chao-Ping Hsu, Gernot Frenking,* and Tiow-Gan Ong*; “Carbodicarbenes: Unexpected π‑Accepting Ability during Reactivity with Small Molecules”; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 139, 12830–12836.

16. Ting-Hsuan Wang, Wen-Ching Chen,* and Tiow-Gan Ong*; “Carbodicarbenes or Bent Allenes”; J. Chin. Chem. Soc. 2017, 64, 124–132.

17. Wen-Ching Chen, Jiun-Shian Shen, Titel Jurca, Chun-Jung Peng, Yen-Hsu Lin, Yi-Ping Wang, Wei-Chih Shih, Glenn P. A. Yap, and Tiow-Gan Ong*; “Expanding the Ligand Framework Diversity of Carbodicarbenes and Direct Detection of Boron Activation in the Methylation of Amines with CO2”; Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2015, 54, 15207–15212.

18. Yu-Chen Hsu, Jiun-Shian Shen, Bo-Chao Lin, Wen-Ching Chen, Yi-Tsu Chan, Wei-Min Ching, Glenn P. A. Yap, Chao-Ping Hsu,* and Tiow-Gan Ong*; “Isolation of Tridentate Acyclic Bis(Pyridine)carbodicarbene and Further Studies on Its Structural Implications and Reactivities”; Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2015, 54, 2420–2424.

19. Wen-Ching Chen, Ying-Chieh Lai, Wei-Chun Shih, Ming-Shiuan Yu, Glenn P. A. Yap, and Tiow-Gan Ong*; “Mechanistic Study of a Switch in the Regioselectivity of Hydroheteroarylation of Styrene Catalyzed by Bimetallic Ni-Al through C-H Activation”; Chem. Eur. J. 2014, 20, 8099–8105.

20. Wen-Ching Chen, Ching-Yu Lee, Bo-Chao Lin, Yu-Chen Hsu, Jiun-Shian Shen, Chao-Ping Hsu,* Glenn P. A. Yap, and Tiow-Gan Ong*; “The Elusive Three-Coordinate Dicationic Hydrido Boron Complex”; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 914–917.

21. Wen-Ching Chen, Yu-Chen Hsu, Ching-Yu Lee, Glenn P. A. Yap, and Tiow-Gan Ong*; “Synthetic Modification of Acyclic Bent Allenes (Carbodicarbenes) and Further Studies on Their Structural Implication and Reactivities”; Organometallics, 2013, 32, 2435–2442.

22. Titel Jurca, Wen-Ching Chen, Sheila Michel, Ilia Korobkov, Tiow-Gan Ong, and Darrin S. Richeson*; “Solid-State Thermolysis of a fac-Rhenium(I) Carbonyl Complex with a Redox Non-Innocent Pincer Ligand”; Chem. Eur. J. 2013, 19, 4278–4286.

23. Wen-Ching Chen, Yu-Chen Hsu, Wei-Chun Shih, Ching-Yu Lee, Wen-Han Chuang, Yi-Fang Tsai, Peter Ping-Yu Chen,* and Tiow-Gan Ong*; “Metal-free Arylation of Benzene and Pyridine Promoted by Amino-linked Nitrogen Heterocyclic Carbenes”; Chem. Commun. 2012, 48, 6702–6704.

24. Ya-Ming Liu, Yi-Chun Lin, Wen-Ching Chen, Jen-Hao Cheng, Yi-Lin Chen, Glenn P. A. Yap, Shih-Sheng Sun,* and Tiow-Gan Ong*; “Synthesis and Characterization of para-Pyridine Linked NHC Palladium Complexes and Their Studies for the Heck-Mizoroki Coupling Reaction”; Dalton Trans. 2012, 41, 7382–7389.

25. Wei-Chun Shih, Wen-Ching Chen, Ying-Chieh Lai, Ming-Shiuan Yu, Jhao-Jhe Ho, Glenn P. A. Yap, and Tiow-Gan Ong*; “The Regioselective Switch for Amino-NHC Mediated C-H Activation of Benzimidazole via Ni-Al Synergistic Catalysis”; Org. Lett. 2012, 14, 2046–2049.

26. Wen-Ching Chen, Po-Chiao Lin, Chien-Hsiang Chen, and Chien-Tien Chen*; “Modulation of Photoswitching Profiles by 10,11-Dialkoxymethyl Substituents in C2-Symmetric Dibenzosuberane-based Helicene”; Chem. Eur. J. 2010, 16, 12822–12830.

27. Wen-Ching Chen, Yi-Wei Lee, and Chien-Tien Chen*; “Diastereoselective, Synergistic Dual-Mode Optical Switch with Integrated Chirochromic Helicene and Photochromic Bis-Azobenzene Moieties”; Org. Lett. 2010, 12, 1472–1475.