Professor at East China University of Science and Technology, China.
Prof. Yongqiang Zhang is a leading researcher in the field of organic and medicinal chemistry, with a focus on developing innovative radical-based transformations for drug discovery. His research integrates silicon chemistry and natural product modification to uncover novel therapeutic agents. With international experience and multiple national research grants, he has established a productive and impactful academic career at East China University of Science and Technology.
Publication Profile
Scopus
Orcid
Educational Details
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Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry, Second Military Medical University, China (2009–2013)
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M.S. in Organic Chemistry, Soochow University, China (2003–2006)
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B.S. in Chemistry, Datong University, China (1999–2003)
Professional Experience
Prof. Yongqiang Zhang began his career as an organic chemist at Basilea Pharm (China) from 2006 to 2008. He then pursued postdoctoral training at the University of Utah, USA (2013–2015), focusing on advanced synthetic methodologies and drug discovery. He joined East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST) in 2016 as an Associate Professor and was promoted to Full Professor in 2025. His academic tenure at ECUST has been marked by significant contributions to radical-based silicon chemistry and its application in medicinal chemistry.
Research Interest
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Development of radical-based silicon chemistry for medicinal applications
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Drug discovery through structural modification of natural products
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Synthetic methodology development for bioactive compound synthesis
Author Metrics
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Total Publications: 40+
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Total Citations: 1,800+
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H-index: 23
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i10-index: 35
Top Noted Publication
1. Discovery of N-Trifluoromethylated Noscapines as Novel and Potent Agents for the Treatment of Glioblastoma
Authors: Guangwei Cui#, Yuhang Fan#, Yue Yang, Yiwen Ma, Haiyang Deng, Pan Wang, Yuxin Zhu, Jian Li, Jinlian Wei*, and Yongqiang Zhang*
Journal: Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2025, 68, 247–260.
Highlights:
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Design and synthesis of novel trifluoromethylated noscapine derivatives.
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Strong antiproliferative effects on glioblastoma cells.
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Represents a new class of noscapine-based chemotherapeutics.
2. Photoredox/Nickel Dual-Catalytic Asymmetric Silylarylation of Alkenes
Authors: Qiyang Yuan#, Zhengrong Deng#, Yi Wan, and Yongqiang Zhang*
Journal: Organic Letters, 2025, 27, 680–685.
Highlights:
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A new asymmetric silylarylation strategy using photoredox/Ni dual catalysis.
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Enantioselective C–Si bond formation.
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Valuable for chiral silicon-containing building blocks in drug design.
3. Radical-Chain Hydrosilylation of Alkenes Enabled by Triplet Energy Transfer
Authors: Shixun Guo, Wei Wang*, and Yongqiang Zhang*
Journal: Chemistry – A European Journal, 2024, 30, e202402051.
Highlights:
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Introduced a radical-chain process driven by triplet energy transfer.
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Efficient and selective alkene hydrosilylation.
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Offers a novel mechanistic platform in photochemistry.
4. Highly Stereoselective Synthesis of Aryl/Heteroaryl-C-Nucleosides via the Merger of Photoredox and Nickel Catalysis
Authors: Yingying Ma#, Shihui Liu#, Yifan Xi, Hongrui Li, Kai Yang, Zhihao Cheng, Wei Wang*, and Yongqiang Zhang*
Journal: Chemical Communications, 2019, 55, 14657–14660.
Highlights:
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Developed a stereoselective route to C-nucleosides.
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Biomedical relevance for antiviral and anticancer nucleoside analogues.
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Cited frequently for synthetic applications.
5. Rational Design of Selective Small-Molecule Inhibitors for β-Catenin/BCL9 Protein–Protein Interactions
Authors: Logan R. Hoggard#, Yongqiang Zhang#, Min Zhang, Vanja Panic, John A. Wisniewski, and Haitao Ji*
Journal: Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2015, 137, 12249–12260.
Highlights:
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Targeted drug design for Wnt/β-catenin signaling.
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Early contribution to protein–protein interaction inhibitors.
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High citation count; widely used in drug discovery.
Conclusion
Prof. Yongqiang Zhang is a highly deserving nominee for the Best Researcher Award in Medicinal Chemistry. His strong publication record, innovation in synthetic methods, and focus on drug discovery position him as a leading researcher with substantial and growing influence. With minor enhancements in global visibility and translational output, his profile could become internationally benchmark-setting.