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Sungwoo Hong

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology · Chemistry

About the Lab

Professor Sungwoo Hong's research lab specializes in the development of innovative, metal-free, and photocatalytic strategies for selective C–H and C–C bond functionalization. The lab focuses on leveraging radical mechanisms, electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complexes, and visible-light-driven processes to enable site-selective transformations in complex molecular frameworks. Key research directions include the late-stage functionalization of biorelevant molecules, remote C(sp³)–H heteroarylation, and the direct pyridylation of unactivated hydrocarbons using sustainable and mild conditions. The work emphasizes atom-economical, transition-metal-free methods with broad functional group tolerance, advancing synthetic efficiency in drug discovery and materials science.

radical chemistryphotocatalysisC–H functionalizationmetal-free synthesispyridine chemistry

Research Overview

Papers
400
Total Citations
9,740
Papers (5y)
130
Primary Field
Chemistry

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
130total
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Citations per year (5y)
1,426total
20222023202420252026

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|214 citations·2019
Visible light induced alkene aminopyridylation using N-aminopyridinium salts as bifunctional reagents
Yonghoon Moon, Bohyun Park, In‐Won Kim, Gyumin Kang, Sanghoon Shin, Dahye Kang, Mu‐Hyun Baik, Sungwoo Hong
SJR Q1Nature CommunicationsOA

The development of intermolecular alkene aminopyridylation has great potential for quickly increasing molecular complexity with two valuable groups. Here we report a strategy for the photocatalytic aminopyridylation of alkenes using a variety of N-aminopyridinium salts as both aminating and pyridylating reagents. Using Eosin Y as a photocatalyst, amino and pyridyl groups are simultaneously incorporated into alkenes, affording synthetically useful aminoethyl pyridine derivatives under mild reacti

Organic ChemistryChemistry
2
Article|180 citations·2021
Visible‐Light‐Induced 1,3‐Aminopyridylation of [1.1.1]Propellane with N‐Aminopyridinium Salts
Sanghoon Shin, Seojin Lee, Wonjun Choi, Nam Hoon Kim, Sungwoo Hong
SJR Q1Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Abstract Through the formation of an electron donor–acceptor (EDA) complex, strain‐release aminopyridylation of [1.1.1]propellane with N ‐aminopyridinium salts as bifunctional reagents enabled the direct installation of amino and pyridyl groups onto bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane (BCP) frameworks in the absence of an external photocatalyst. The robustness of this method to synthesize 1,3‐aminopyridylated BCPs under mild and metal‐free conditions is highlighted by the late‐stage modification of structural

Organic ChemistryChemistry
3
Article|176 citations·2018
Visible‐Light‐Induced Pyridylation of Remote C(sp3)−H Bonds by Radical Translocation of N‐Alkoxypyridinium Salts
In‐Won Kim, Bohyun Park, Gyumin Kang, Jiyun Kim, Hoimin Jung, Hyeonyeong Lee, Mu‐Hyun Baik, Sungwoo Hong
SJR Q1Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Abstract Metal‐free, visible‐light‐induced site‐selective heteroarylation of remote C(sp 3 )−H bonds has been accomplished through the design of N‐alkoxyheteroarenium salts serving as both alkoxy radical precursors and heteroaryl sources. The transient alkoxy radical can be generated by the single‐electron reduction of an N‐alkoxypyridinium substrate by a photoexcited quinolinone catalyst. Subsequent radical translocation of the alkoxy radical forms a nucleophilic alkyl radical intermediate, whi

Organic ChemistryChemistry
4
Article|175 citations·2020
N-Heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed deaminative cross-coupling of aldehydes with Katritzky pyridinium salts
In‐Won Kim, Honggu Im, Hyeonyeong Lee, Sungwoo Hong
SJR Q1Chemical ScienceOA

By employing an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyst, we developed a versatile catalytic system that enables deaminative cross-coupling reactions of aldehydes with redox-active pyridinium salts. Katritzky pyridinium salts behave as single-electron oxidants capable of generating alkyl radicals enabled by the redox properties of the enolate form of Breslow intermediates. The resultant alkyl radical undergoes efficient recombination with the NHC-bound aldehyde-derived carbonyl carbon radical for t

Organic ChemistryChemistry
5
Article|158 citations·2011
Design and Synthesis of Imidazopyridine Analogues as Inhibitors of Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase Signaling and Angiogenesis
Okseon Kim, Yujeong Jeong, Hyunseung Lee, Sun-Sun Hong, Sungwoo Hong
SJR Q1Journal of Medicinal ChemistryOA

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase α (PI3Kα) is an important regulator of intracellular signaling pathways, controlling remarkably diverse arrays of physiological processes. Because the PI3K pathway is frequently up-regulated in human cancers, the inhibition of PI3Kα can be a promising approach to cancer therapy. In this study, we have designed and synthesized a new series of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives as PI3Kα inhibitors through the fragment-growing strategy. By varying groups at the 3- and

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
6
Article|157 citations·2020
Visible-Light-Driven C4-Selective Alkylation of Pyridinium Derivatives with Alkyl Bromides
Sungwoo Jung, Sanghoon Shin, Seongjin Park, Sungwoo Hong
SJR Q1Journal of the American Chemical Society

Reported herein is a general strategy for the photochemical cross-coupling between <i>N</i>-amidopyridinium salts and various alkyl bromides under photocatalyst-free conditions, granting facile access to various C4-alkylated pyridines. This approach exploits the intriguing photochemical activity of electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complexes between <i>N</i>-amidopyridinium salts and bromide, which provides a photoactive handle capable of generating silyl radicals and driving the alkylation process.

Organic ChemistryChemistry
7
Article|154 citations·2021
Site-Selective Direct C–H Pyridylation of Unactivated Alkanes by Triplet Excited Anthraquinone
Wooseok Lee, Sungwoo Jung, Minseok Kim, Sungwoo Hong
SJR Q1Journal of the American Chemical Society

Site-selective C-H functionalization in chemical feedstocks is a challenging and useful reaction in the broad field of chemical research. Here, we report a modular photochemical platform for the site-selective C-H pyridylation of unactivated hydrocarbons via the unique synergistic effects of triplet excited anthraquinone and an amidyl radical-based reverse hydrogen atom transfer (RHAT) agent. The selective pyridylation of tertiary and secondary C(sp<sup>3</sup>)-H bonds in abundant chemical feed

Organic ChemistryChemistry
8
Review|145 citations·2022
N-Functionalized Pyridinium Salts: A New Chapter for Site-Selective Pyridine C–H Functionalization via Radical-Based Processes under Visible Light Irradiation
Myojeong Kim, Yejin Koo, Sungwoo Hong
SJR Q1Accounts of Chemical Research

The radical-mediated C-H functionalization of pyridines has attracted considerable attention as a powerful tool in synthetic chemistry for the direct functionalization of the C-H bonds of the pyridine scaffold. Classically, the synthetic methods for functionalized pyridines often involve radical-mediated Minisci-type reactions under strongly acidic conditions. However, the site-selective functionalization of pyridines in unbiased systems has been a long-standing challenge because the pyridine sc

Organic ChemistryChemistry
9
Article|139 citations·2019
Site-Selective Functionalization of Pyridinium Derivatives via Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalysis with Quinolinone
In‐Won Kim, Gyumin Kang, Kangjae Lee, Bohyun Park, Dahye Kang, Hoimin Jung, Yu‐Tao He, Mu‐Hyun Baik, Sungwoo Hong
SJR Q1Journal of the American Chemical Society

The selective installation of phosphinoyl and carbamoyl moieties on the pyridine scaffold is an important transformation in synthetic and medicinal chemistry. By employing quinolinone as an efficient organic photocatalyst, we developed a catalytic system driven by visible light that forms phosphinoyl and carbamoyl radicals, which react with various heteroarenium derivatives under mild, transition-metal-free conditions. This straightforward and environmentally friendly synthetic method represents

Organic ChemistryChemistry
10
Article|128 citations·2020
Visible-Light-Enabled Ortho-Selective Aminopyridylation of Alkenes with N-Aminopyridinium Ylides
Yonghoon Moon, Wooseok Lee, Sungwoo Hong
SJR Q1Journal of the American Chemical Society

By utilizing an underexplored reactivity mode of <i>N</i>-aminopyridinium ylides, we developed the visible-light-induced <i>ortho</i>-selective aminopyridylation of alkenes via radical-mediated 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. The photocatalyzed single-electron oxidation of <i>N</i>-aminopyridinium ylides generates the corresponding radical cations that enable previously inaccessible 1,3-cycloaddition with a broader range of alkene substrates. The resulting cycloaddition adducts rapidly undergo subseq

Organic ChemistryChemistry
11
Article|127 citations·2017
Relative muscle mass and the risk of incident type 2 diabetes: A cohort study
Sungwoo Hong, Yoosoo Chang, Hyun Suk Jung, Kyung Eun Yun, Ho Cheol Shin, Seungho Ryu
SJR Q1PLoS ONEOA

RMM was negatively associated with development of T2DM in a large sample of young and middle-aged Korean adults. Further research is required to determine whether preservation of muscle mass through intervention affects the risk of T2DM.

PhysiologyMedicine
12
Article|123 citations·2012
Palladium‐Catalyzed Dehydrogenation/Oxidative Cross‐Coupling Sequence of β‐Heteroatom‐Substituted Ketones
Youngtaek Moon, Daeil Kwon, Sungwoo Hong
SJR Q1Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Concise and selective: the title one-pot sequence allows formation of the enone functionality and subsequent cross-coupling. The process provides access to highly functionalized cyclic enolones and enaminones from readily accessible β-heteroatom-substituted cyclic ketones.

Organic ChemistryChemistry
13
Article|120 citations·2012
Regioselective palladium-catalyzed olefination of coumarinsvia aerobic oxidative Heck reactions
Minsik Min, Yechan Kim, Sungwoo Hong
SJR Q1Chemical Communications

Pd-catalyzed oxidative Heck reactions of coumarins were developed via simultaneous C-H functionalization at the C3 position of coumarins under aerobic conditions.

Organic ChemistryChemistry
14
Article|119 citations·2011
Palladium(II)-Catalyzed Direct Intermolecular Alkenylation of Chromones
DH Kim, Sungwoo Hong
SJR Q1Organic Letters

A new efficient method for the direct alkenylation of chromones via a palladium(II)-catalyzed C-H functionalization reaction was developed. The use of pivalic acid with Cu(OAc)(3)/Ag(2)CO(3) provided superior reactivity in the cross-coupling of chromones with alkene partners. This approach represents a significant advance over the existing two-step method and afforded various 3-vinylchromone derivatives, which are privileged structures in many biologically active compounds and versatile syntheti

Organic ChemistryChemistry
15
Article|118 citations·2020
NiH-Catalyzed Proximal-Selective Hydroamination of Unactivated Alkenes
Jinwon Jeon, Changseok Lee, Huiyeong Seo, Sungwoo Hong
SJR Q1Journal of the American Chemical Society

Reported herein is a modular, NiH-catalyzed system capable of proximal-selective hydroamination of unactivated alkenes with diverse amine sources. The key to the successful implementation of this approach is the promotion of NiH insertion into even highly substituted olefins via coordination of the bidentate directing group to the nickel complex. A wide range of primary and secondary amines can be installed in both internal and terminal unactivated alkenes with excellent regiocontrol under the o

Organic ChemistryChemistry

Research Areas

Organic ChemistryMaterials ChemistryMolecular BiologyPulmonary and Respiratory MedicineCancer ResearchPharmaceutical Science

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