Special Talent：National Outstanding Young Scientists Fund, Tianjin Leading Talent (Innovation Category)
Address: No.38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Room 550, Materials Building, Tianjin 300350, P.R. China
Telephone:
Email: sunlab@nankai.edu.cn
Website:
Research Interest:
1.Cluster Chemistry
2.Metal-Metal Bonds
3.Coordination Chemistry
4.Main-group Elemental Chemistry
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-Present NankaiUniversity Professor
National Outstanding Young Scholar (Sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, NSFC)
Excellent Young Scholar (Sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, NSFC; with Excellent Rating in Project Conclusion)
Young Pioneer of Changchun Branch, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
Lu Jiaxi Excellent Tutor Award
Outstanding Postgraduate Supervisor (Master’s and Doctoral Programs) of Nankai University
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 Nanochemistry, 2023, 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. Wei-Xing Chen, Aidan Manley, Zisheng Li, John McGrady*, Zhong-Ming Sun*
Synthesis, structure and electronic properties of XXXX : a Cr6 octahedron encapsulated in a Zintl-ion ligand
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147, accepted
2. Ya-Shan Huang, Honglei Xu, Wen-Juan Tian, Zisheng Li, Sílvia Escayola, Miquel Solà, Alvaro Muñoz-Castro, Zhong-Ming Sun*
[Co3@Ge6Sn18]5−: A Giant σ-Aromatic Cluster Analogous to H3+ and Li3+
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147, 11, 9407-9414
3. Yu-He Xu, Xing Yang, Ya-Nan Yang, Lili Zhao*, Gernot Frenking*, Zhong-Ming Sun*
Synthesis of triple-decker sandwich compounds featuring a M–M bond through cyclo-Bi5 and cyclo-Sb5 rings
Nature Chem. 2025, 17, 556-563
Highlighted by NSFC
4. Wei-Xing Chen, Wen-Juan Tian, Zi-Sheng Li, Jing-Jing Wang, Alvaro Munoz-Castro, Gernot Frenking, Zhong-Ming Sun*
Capturing Aromatic Cr5 Pentagons in Large Main Group Molecular Cages
Nature Synth. 2025, 4, 471-478
selected as Feature Article by the editor
Highlighted by NSFC
5. Yun Zhang, Wen-Juan Tian, Wei-Xing Chen, Manfred Scheer, Zhong-Ming Sun*
Synthesis of Sb688-: Crafting Homoatomic Antimony Nanotorus
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 27977-27982
6. Yu-He Xu, Wen-Juan Tian, Jing-Ying Sun, Manfred Scheer*, Zhong-Ming Sun*
Extension and Fusion of Cyclic Polyantimony Units
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146,15473-15478
7. Cong-Cong Shu, Dariusz W. Szczepanik, Alvaro Muñoz-Castro, Miquel Solà, Zhong-Ming Sun*
[K2(Bi@Pd12@Bi20)]4−: An Endohedral Inorganic Fullerene with Spherical Aromaticity
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 14166-14173
8. 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
ACS Molecule of the Week
9. 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
10. 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. see Dr. Alexandra R. Groves, Iron arsenide clusters
11. 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
12. 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
ACS Editors' Choice, JACS spotlight,
Highlighted by Chemistry World, see Katrina KRÄMER, The closest chemists have ever got to an inorganic ferrocene;
Highlighted by ChemistryViews, An Inorganic Ferrocene Analogue
Highlighted by Nat. Synth., see Hey-Hawkins, Phosphrous makes inroads
13. 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)
14. 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-
Nature Commun. 2021, 12, 4465
15. Yi Wang, John E. McGrady, Zhong-Ming Sun*
Solution-Based Group 14 Zintl Anions: New Frontiers and Discoveries
Acc. Chem. Res. 2021, 54, 1506-1516
16. 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
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2021, 60(18), 9990-9995
17. 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
Nature Commun. 2020, 11, 5286 (Feature Article)
18. Lei Qiao, Chao 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
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142(31), 13288–13293
19. 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-
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 59 (39), 17286 (Hot Paper)
20. Cong-Cong Shu, H. W. T. Morgan, L. Qiao, J. E.McGrady*, Zhong-Ming Sun*
“A family of lead clusters with precious metal cores”
Nature Commun. 2020, 11, 3477 (Feature Article)
21. 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–
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58(25), 8367-8371 (Inside Cover)
22. Xue 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
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 55(18), 5531-5535
Highlighted by C&EN, 2016, 94, P5; see: Ritter, S. K. “Cyclic antimony complexes take aromaticity to a new level
23. 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”
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 55(49), 15344–15346
24. Fu-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-”
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 10954-10957.
Highlighted by C&EN,2015,93 (34) 24 see: Ritter, S. K. “All-Metal Sandwich Is Now On The Menu.
This article was also featured as a JACS spotlight
Highlighted by Chemistry World, see Alex Pashley All-metal sandwich inspires a theoretical following
25. Jing 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
Before starting work independently
26. 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.
27. 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.
28. 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.
