The Magic of Chemistry

I believe chemists can build something really amazing just by using simple motifs, just like playing lego. My project is in the field of organic chemistry and it studies a highly regioselective amidation reaction of alkenes. In this transformation, the starting material alkenes are cheap and abundant in nature, while the product amides are valuable pharmaceutical motifs. This knowledge can bring great advantages to the pharmaceutical industry.

Mr. Ouyang Yuxin Oscar
BSc (Hons) Chemical Technology
Faculty of Science

Domain Expertise:

Organic Chemistry

Oscar's final year project and area of study revolve around organic chemistry. He focused on a highly regioselective amidation reaction of alkenes to synthesize amide compounds, which are important motifs in the pharmaceutical industry.

Chemical Technology

Oscar pursued a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Technology at PolyU, which provided him with a strong foundation in chemical sciences and technology.

Research Methods in Chemistry

Oscar's project involved conducting research in the field of organic chemistry. He used various research methods, including designing experiments, synthesizing compounds, and using instruments like NMR, GC-MS, HPLC, and UV-spectrometry for analysis.

Ligand Design

In Oscar's project, he mentioned the use of a special bulky ligand to improve the regioselectivity of the amidation reaction. Ligands act as guides in chemical reactions, influencing the outcome of the reaction.

Pharmaceutical Industry

The transformation of inert C-H bonds into C-N bonds to synthesize amid compounds in Oscar's project has implications for the pharmaceutical industry. The development of efficient and selective methods for synthesizing drug motifs like amides is valuable for pharmaceutical research and drug discovery.

Lifelong Learning Excellence:

Critical Thinking and Problem-solving

Oscar mentioned that critical thinking is essential for researchers, especially when encountering obstacles. He learned to trust his judgment based on his knowledge and apply critical thinking to evaluate research findings, such as questioning the validity of published papers.
Oscar emphasized the importance of proper time management to balance academic work and other responsibilities. He mentioned making detailed plans for time distribution to handle the workload effectively.

Communication and Presentation Skills

Oscar mentioned collaborating efficiently with others during his final year project. He worked closely with a postdoc fellow and a PhD student, highlighting his ability to communicate and collaborate effectively in a research setting.

Research and Information Literacy

Oscar gained a range of research skills during his project, including practical laboratory techniques for preparation, purification, and characterization of small molecules. He also became proficient in using various instruments for qualitative and quantitative analysis, such as NMR, GC-MS, HPLC, and UV-spectrometry.

Strategic Planning

Oscar advised freshmen to have a clear understanding of their goals and to stay focused on their chosen path. He emphasized the importance of knowing what one wants and being prepared to achieve those goals during their university life.

Inspiring Quotes:

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