Profile

Prof. Shimeng Li is currently a Distinguished Research Fellow (Tier B of the Zhuoqing Talent Program) and PhD Supervisor at the Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Northeastern University. He joined Northeastern University in March 2025 and established an independent research group to conduct systematic research. His research interests focus on synthetic methodology of organoboron compounds (transition-metal catalysis and visible-light photocatalysis) as well as rare earth chemistry, including spent nuclear fuel reprocessing and separation of lanthanides and actinides.

Education

Sep. 2013 – Jun. 2017 Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (Base Class), College of Chemistry, Sichuan UniversitySupervisor: Prof. Songdong Ding

Aug. 2017 – Oct. 2022 Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong KongSupervisor: Academician Zuowei Xie

Professional Experience

Oct. 2022 – Mar. 2025 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Grubbs InstituteCollaborative Supervisor: Academician Zuowei Xie

Mar. 2025 – PresentDistinguished Research Fellow & PhD Supervisor, Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Northeastern University

Publications

1) Wang, X.; Fu, M.; Pan, X.; Xi, J.; Wang, Z.*; Li, X.*; Li, S.* Visible-Light-Promoted Nickel-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Iodocarboranes with Triarylarsanes and Triphenylstibanes. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2026, 148, 16618–16625.

2) Lv, Y.; Zhao, Z.; Tang, Q.; Hao, H.; Zhang, Y.; Cao, K.; Xu, C.; Li, S.*; Wang, Z.* Redox-Functionalized Deep Eutectic Solvents Boost Efficient Actinide Group Separation. ACS Sustain. Resour. Manag. 2026, 3, 883–892.

3) Li, S.; Liu, Y.; Xie, Z.* Visible-Light-Promoted Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Iodocarboranes with Disulfides and Phenylselenyl Chloride. Chin. J. Chem. 2024, 42, 129-134.

4) Li, S.; Zhang, J.; Xie, Z.* Visible-Light-Induced Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Iodocarboranes with (Hetero)Arenes. Org. Lett. 2022, 24, 7497-7501.

5) Li, S.; Xie, Z.* Visible-Light-Promoted Nickel-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Iodocarboranes with (Hetero)Arenes via Boron-Centered Carboranyl Radicals. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 7960-7965.

6) Wang, Z. Huang, H.; Ding, S.; Hu, X.; Zhang, L.; Liu, Y.; Song, L.; Chen, Z.; Li, S. Extraction of trivalent americium and europium with TODGA homologs from HNO₃ solution. J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 2017, 313, 309-318.

7) Wang, Z.; Ding, S.*; Hu, X.; Li, S.; Su, D.; Zhang, L.; Liu, Y.; Jin, Y.* Selective extraction of americium(III) over europium(III) ions in nitric acid solution by NTAamide(C8) using a novel water-soluble bisdiglycolamide as a masking agent. Sep. Purif. Technol. 2017, 181, 148-158.

8) Hu, X.; Su, D.; Li, S.; Wang, Z.; Zhang, L.; Liu, Y.; Song, L.; Chen, Z.; Ding, S.* Extraction of Am(III) and Eu(III) from Nitric Acid Solution with the Pyridylpyrazole Based Ligand C8-BPP. Chemical Journal of Chinese University. 2017, 38, 1324-1333.

9) Su, D.; Liu, Y.; Li, S.; Ding, S.*; Jin, Y.*; Wang, Z.; Hu, X.; Zhang, Li. Selective Extraction of Americium(III) over Europium(III) Ionswith Pyridylpyrazole Ligands: Structure–Property Relationships. Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2017, 3, 651-658.

10) Li, S.; Tan, M.; Dong, S.*; Li, F.*; Li Q.; Zhang, L.; Liu, C. Extraction of U(VI) and Th(IV) with three neutral extractants containing phosphorus. Chemical Research and Application. 2016, 26, 307-315.

11) Wang, J.; Su, D.; Wang, D.; Ding, S.*; Huang, C.*; Huang, H.; Hu, X.; Wang, Z.; Li, S. Selective Extraction of Americium(III) over Europium(III) with the Pyridylpyrazole Based Tetradentate Ligands: Experimental and Theoretical Study. Inorg. Chem. 2015, 54, 10648-10655.

12) Tan, M.; Huang, C.; Ding, S.; Li, F.; Li, Q.*; Zhang, L.; Liu, C.; Li, S. Highly Efficient Extraction Separation of Uranium(VI) and Thorium(IV) from Nitric Acid Solution with di(1-methyl-heptyl) methyl Phosphonate. Sep. Purif. Technol. 2015, 146, 192-198.