Research

Cluster Chemistry

Metal-Metal Bonds

Coordination Chemistry

Main-group Elemental Chemistry


PersonalProfile

1997-2001    Wuhan University                                         B.S.

2001-2006    Fujian Inst. Structure & Matter , CAS     Ph.D

2006-2008    PNNL (USA)                                                     PD               

2008-2010    NDSU (USA)                                                     PD

2010-2018    Changchun Inst. Applied Chem. CAS     Professor

2018-               Nankai University                                         Professor


Representative results

Chapters:

1. Lei Qiao, John E. McGrady, Zhong-Ming Sun*

Zintl Chemistry: From Zintl ions to Zintl clusters

Comprehensive Inorganic Chemistry III, Chapter 1.20, 2023,903-933

2. M. Kulichenko, N. Fedik, Nikolay V. Tkachenkoa, Á. Muñoz-Castro, Zhong-Ming Sun, A. I. Boldyrev 

Spherical aromaticity in inorganic chemistry

Aromaticity, 2021, Chapter 14, 447-488 

3. Nikolay V. Tkachenko, Zhong-Ming Sun, A. I. Boldyrev, A. Muñoz-Castro

Advances in Cluster Bonding. Bridging Superatomic Building Blocks via Intercluster Bonds

Atomic Clusters with Unusual Structure, Bonding and Reactivity, 2023, Chapter 18, 321-332

4. Yu-He Xu, N. V. Tkachenko, A. Muñoz-Castro, A. I. Boldyrev, Zhong-Ming Sun*

A Branch of Zintl Chemistry: Metal Clusters of Group 15 Elements

Atomically Precise Nanochemistry2023,  Chapter 13, 395-422

5. Wen-Juan Tian,Zi-Sheng Li, Si-Dian Li, Zhong-Ming Sun*

Diversity of chemical bonding in Zintl clusters

Comprehensive  Computational Chemistry, 2024, 2, 452-470 



Selected publications:


1. Yu-He Xu, Wen-Juan Tian, Alvaro Munoz-Castro, Gernot Frenking, Zhong-Ming Sun*

An all-metal fullerene: [K@Au12Sb20]5-

Science, 2023, 382(6672), 840-843. 

Highlighted by C&EN see Bethany Halford, Full-metal fullerene finally fashioned

Highlighted by Chemistry World, see Tim Wogan, All-metal fullerene cluster made for first time  

Highlighted by Technology Networks see  Alexander Beadle All-Metal Fullerene Molecule Synthesized for the First Time 

Highlighted by the Daily Science  Scientists create first all-metal fullerene molecule

Highlighted by Phys.org, see Bob Yirka: A fullerene-like molecule made entirely of metal atoms

Highlighted by C&EN's year in Chemistry, Top Chemistry Research


2. Xu-Hui Yue, Wei-Xing Chen, Tao Yang, Alvaro Muñoz-Castro, Gernot Frenking, Zhong-Ming Sun*

Carbon-free sandwich compounds based on Arsenic and Antimony with icosahedral  metal cores

Nature Synth., 2023, 2, 423-429 Highlighted by NSFC


3. Wei-Qiang Zhang, Zi-Sheng Li, John E. McGrady,* Zhong-Ming Sun*

Synthesis and Characterization of [Fe3(As3)3(As4)]3–, a Binary Fe/As Zintl Cluster Containing an Fe3 Core

Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2023, e202217316 Highlighted by Nat. Synth.


4. Harry W. T. Morgan, Cong-Cong Shu, Zhong-Ming Sun*, John E. McGrady*

A missing link in the growth of lead-based Zintl clusters: isolation of the dimeric plumbaspherene [Cu4Pb22]4–

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 8007-8017

  

5. Zi-Chuan Wang, Lei Qiao, Zhong-Ming Sun*, Manfred Scheer

Inorganic Ferrocene Analogue [Fe(P4)2]2-

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 6698-6702  (JACS spotlightACS Editors' Choice, highlighted by Chemistry World,ChemistryViewsNat. Synth.)


 6. Hong-Lei Xu, N. V. Tkachenko, D. W. Szczepanik, I. A. Popov, A. Muñoz-Castro, A. I. Boldyrev,* Zhong-Ming Sun*

Symmetry Collapse due to the Presence of Multiple Local Aromaticity in [Ge24]4- 

Nature Commun. 2022, 13, 2149 (Feature Article)


7. Yu-He Xu, N. V. Tkachenko, Ivan A. Popov, Lei Qiao, A. Muñoz-Castro, A. I. Boldyrev, Zhong-Ming Sun*

Ternary Aromatic and Anti-aromatic Clusters Derived from the Hypho Species [Sn2Sb5]3- 下载.pdf

Nature Commun. 2021, 12, 4465

8. Yi Wang, John E. McGrady, Zhong-Ming Sun*

Solution-Based Group 14 Zintl Anions: New Frontiers and Discoveries下载.pdf

Acc. Chem. Res. 2021, 54, 1506-1516

9. Hong-Lei Xu, Nikolay V. Tkachenko, Alvaro Muñoz-Castro,  Alexander I. Boldyrev*, Zhong-Ming Sun*
 [Sn8]6--bridged mixed-valence Zn(I)/Zn(II) in {[K2ZnSn8(ZnMes)]2}4- Inverse Sandwich-Type Cluster Supported by Zn(I)-Zn(I) Bond anie.下载.pdf
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2021, 60(18), 9990-9995


10. Hong-Lei Xu, Nikolay V. Tkachenko, Zi-Chuan Wang, Wei-Xing Chen,  Lei Qiao, Alvaro Muñoz-Castro, A.I. Boldyrev*, Zhong-Ming Sun

A Sandwich-Type Cluster Containing Ge@Pd3 Planar Fragment Flanked by Aromatic Nonagermanide Caps 下载pdf

Nature Commun. 2020, 11, 5286 (Feature Article)

11. Lei QiaoChao Zhang, Cong-Cong Shu, Harry Morgan, John E. McGrady,*  Zhong-Ming Sun* 

[Cu4@E18]4– (E=Sn, Pb): Fused Derivatives of Endohedral Stannaspherene and Plumbaspherene“ 下载pdf

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142(31), 13288–13293

12. Hong-Lei Xu, I. A. Popov, N. V. Tkachenko, Zi-Chuan Wang, A. Muñoz-Castro, A.I. Boldyrev,* Zhong-Ming Sun,*  

sigma-Aromaticity-Induced Stabilization of Heterometallic Supertetrahedral Clusters [Zn6Ge16]4- and [Cd6Ge16]4-下载pdf

Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 59 (39), 17286 (Hot Paper)


13. Cong-Cong Shu, H. W. T. Morgan, L. Qiao, J. E.McGrady*, Zhong-Ming Sun*  

A family of lead clusters with precious metal cores” 下载pdf

Nature Commun. 2020, 11, 3477  (Feature Article)

14.  Chao Liu, N. V. Tkachenko, I. A. Popov, N. Fedik, Xue Min, C.-Q. Xu,Jun Li, J. E. McGrady, A. I. Boldyrev, Zhong-Ming Sun*

Structure and Bonding in [Sb@In8Sb12]3- and [Sb@In8Sb12]5–下载pdf

Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58(25), 8367-8371  (Inside Cover)

15Xue Min, Ivan A. Popov, Fu-Xing Pan, Lei-Jiao Li, Eduard Matito, Zhong-Ming Sun,Lai-Sheng Wang, Alexander I. Boldyrev*

All-Metal Antiaromaticity in Sb4-Type Lanthanocene Anions下载pdf

Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 55(18), 5531-5535 

For a  highlight of this paper, see: Ritter, S. K. “Cyclic antimony complexes take aromaticity to a new level Chemical & Engineering News, 2016, 94, P5

16 Ivan A. Popov, Fu-Xing Pan, X.-R. You, Lei-Jiao Li, E. Matito, C. Liu, H.-J. Zhai, Zhong-Ming Sun, Alexander I. Boldyrev* 

“Peculiar All-Metal sigma-Aromaticity of the [Au2Sb16]4-  Anion in the Solid下载pdf

Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 55(49), 15344–15346

17Fu-Xing Pan , Lei-Jiao Li , Ying-Jin Wang , Jin-Chang Guo , Hua-Jin Zhai*, Li Xu, Zhong-Ming Sun

An All-Metal Aromatic Sandwich Complex [Sb3Au3Sb3]3-下载pdf

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 10954-10957.  

For a  highlight of this paper, see: Ritter, S. K. “All-Metal Sandwich Is Now On The Menu,Chemical & Engineering News 2015,93 (34) 24.  This article was also featured as a JACS spotlight

18Jing Zhang, Jun-Feng Liu, Angel Ugrinov, Anthony F. X. Pillai, Zhong-Ming Sun*, Pinjing Zhao* 

Methoxy-Directed Aryl-to-Aryl 1,3-Rhodium Migration

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135 (46), 17270–17273

独立开展工作前

19. Zhong-Ming Sun, Jing Zhang, Rajith S. Manan, Pinjing Zhao*  

Rh(I)-Catalyzed Olefin Hydroarylation with Electron-Deficient Perfluoroarenes

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010,132, 6935-6937.

20. Zhong-Ming Sun, Pinjing Zhao*  

Rhodium-Mediated Decarboxylative Conjugate Addition of Fluorinated Benzoic Acids: Stoichiometric and Catalytic Transformations

Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2009, 48, 6854-6858.

21. Zhong-Ming Sun,Hai Xiao, Jun Li, Lai-Sheng Wang*

“[Pd2@Sn18]4-: Fusion of two endohedral stannaspherenes

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 9560-9561.