July 1, 2026
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LSCCB successfully chosted a joint symposium at University of Oxford
Learn more: Symposia
July 1, 2026
che
group
Explore the fascinating world of Metal Chemistry and its integration with materials science, catalysis and medicines
Our Science
The investigations conducted by the Che Group have resulted in significant innovations. These include the development of novel excited-state atom transfer catalysis, selective hydrocarbon functionalization reactions, practical phosphorescent and metal-assisted TADF emitters, unique functional supramolecular metal assemblies, and anti-cancer metal medicines to combat metastatic malignancies.
Sustainable Catalysis
Luminescent materials
Anti-cancer d8/d10 metal complexes
Reactive Metal-Ligand Multiple-bonded Complexes for Sustainable Catalysis
Professor Che pioneered the isolation and understanding of highly reactive metal-oxygen/nitrogen/carbon complexes, transforming them from fleeting intermediates into powerful, predictable tools for chemistry and creating practical methods for synthesising valuable molecules.
Leading research in this field since 1985
Our current work
With our continuing effort to study metal-ligand multiple bonds and their applications in transition metal catalysis for practical organic transformations, various metal catalysts have been developed for oxygen atom and carbene or nitrene group transfer/insertion reactions. Through judicious choice of ligands and metal ions, we are able to synthesize and isolate diverse classes of metal-oxygen, -nitrogen and -carbon multiply bonded complexes including highly reactive ones for understanding the mechanisms of metal-catalyzed atom and group transfer to organic substrates at the molecular level via spectroscopic measurements and/or by DFT calculations. Useful structural information has been obtained for the rational design of more robust metal catalysts with higher selectivity.
Image ref: Zhou, D., To, P., Ming Tong, G. S., Cheng, G., Du, L., Phillips, D. L., & Che, M. (2020). Tetradentate Gold(III) Complexes as Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence (TADF) Emitters: Microwave-Assisted Synthesis and High-Performance OLEDs with Long Operational Lifetime. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 59(16), 6375-6382. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201914661
Phosphorescent d⁸/d¹⁰ metal complexes
Our group’s longstanding expertise in designing proprietary phosphorescent platinum(II) complexes has yielded a robust palette of highly luminescent materials—spanning from blue to red, white, and near-infrared emissions—enabling advanced full-color displays and lighting, with key patents licensed to industry leaders such as Samsung and Merck.
Development of metal complexes in cancer diagnostics and treatment
Che’s PNAS work merges coordination chemistry with multi‑omics to identify anticancer targets, showing gold(III) porphyrin and d⁸ pincer complexes as potent anti‑metastatic scaffolds. He also pioneered phosphorescent platinum(II) and gold(III) complexes for detecting DNA, RNA, and mismatched nucleic acids.
01 Innovative Gold/Platinum Anticancer Medicines and Theragnostic
02 Proteomics and Drug Targets Identification
03 Natural Products from Chinese Medicines
What’s New
March 15, 2026
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The AI-powered portable cancer detection device invented by Prof. Che and his team at LSCCB was awarded the Gold Medal with Jury Congratulations at the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva.
Learn more: Newspaper features
March 15, 2026
December 18, 2025
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Prof. Che has been named a 2025 Highly Ranked Scholar by ScholarGPS.
#13 New class
#134 Biosynthesis
#139 Chemistry
#286 Physical Sciences
Learn more: scholargps
December 18, 2025
November 28, 2025
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Prof. Che received the 2025 Yee Fong Lectureship (義芳化學講座) award at National Taiwan University
November 28, 2025
September 9, 2025
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The anti-cancer drug Pt1b developed by Prof. Che and his team in LSCCB has passed the IND application review in Mainland China and the clinical trials has now begun.
September 9, 2025
August 25, 2025
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Prof. Che received a new plaque of the State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry at the presentation ceremony hosted by the Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Yin Hejun.
Learn more: hkumedia
August 25, 2025
September 8, 2024
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Prof. Che has been prominently featured in a special topic by HKTKWW
September 8, 2024
June 18, 2024
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Prof. Che has been listed among the best scientists in the field of Chemistry and ranked 71st globally (5th in China) in the 2nd edition of Research.com with a D-index of 150.
Learn more: research.com & HKU News
June 18, 2024
May 28, 2024
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Prof. Che has received funding from the Research, Academic, and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme (RAISe+) for Innovative molecular emitters for practical OLEDs and wearable devices.
Learn more: hkumedia
May 28, 2024
Photo: Yee Fong Lectureship (義芳化學講座) at National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, China, November 25, 2025
Latest release
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Advanced Science 2026
Publication #
1114.
Last updated
Shuo Xu, Rui Tang, Qingyun Wan,* Gang Cheng, Jun Yang, Chi-Ming Che* Advanced Science 2026, Early View. doi: 10.1002/advs.202600075
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Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2026
Publication #
1113.
Last updated
Yuxiao Zhang, Dongxu Cui, Kexin Chen, Wei Li, Bo Zhu, Weichao Chen, Xinlong Wang, Zhongmin Su, Ru-Quan Ye, Chi-Ming Che, Chunyi Sun* Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2026, Early View. doi: 10.1002/anie.5948094
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Molecular Cancer 2026
Publication #
1112.
Last updated
Pengde Lu, Yau-Tuen Chan, Chun-Fung Kwok, Qiucheng Li, Zhuofeng Jiang, Lin Xu, Zixin Feng, Hongchao Yuan, Jiaqi Zou, Yunqing Xun, Tung-Leong Fong, Chi-Ming Che, Ning Wang* Molecular Cancer 2026, Early View. doi: 10.1186/s12943-026-02707-5
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MedComm 2026
Publication #
1111.
Last updated
Bo Tang, Wing Hei Leung, Chihao Shao, Dongfang Li, Kwai Man Lau, Macro K. H. Lui, Jingyi Liu, Jacky C. H. Chu, Clare S. W. Yan, Chi-Ming Che, Xuechen Li, Wing-Tak Wong,* Larry Ming Cheung Chow,* Terence K. W. Lee,* Clarence T. T. Wong* MedComm 2026, 7, e7808. doi: 10.1002/mco2.70808
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Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology 202
Publication #
1110.
Last updated
Jemma Arakelyan,* Herbert Loong, Robert Peter Gale, Chi-Ming Che Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology 2026, 96, 33. doi: 10.1007/s00280-026-04882-0
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PNAS of the United States of America 2026
Publication #
1109.
Last updated
Jilin He, Chun-Nam Lok, Guanya Yang, Ying He, Yungen Liu, Amir Ata Saei, Yiwei Zhang, Chunlei Zhang, Yanting Zhu, Zhiwen Fu, Christian Michel Beusch, Pierre Sabatier, Roman A. Zubarev,* Chi-Ming Che* Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2026, 123, e2533505123. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2533505123
What’s New
March 15, 2026
Timeline Heading 1
The AI-powered portable cancer detection device invented by Prof. Che and his team at LSCCB was awarded the Gold Medal with Jury Congratulations at the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva.
Learn more: HKU News
March 15, 2026
December 18, 2025
Timeline Heading 1
Prof. Che has been named a 2025 Highly Ranked Scholar by ScholarGPS.
Learn more: scholargps
December 18, 2025
November 28, 2025
Timeline Heading 1
Prof. Che received the 2025 Yee Fong Lectureship (義芳化學講座) award at National Taiwan University
November 28, 2025
September 9, 2025
Timeline Heading 1
The anti-cancer drug Pt1b developed by Prof. Che and his team in LSCCB has passed the IND application review in Mainland China and the clinical trials has now begun.
September 9, 2025
August 25, 2025
Timeline Heading 1
Prof. Che received a new plaque of the State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry at the presentation ceremony hosted by the Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Yin Hejun.
Learn more: hkumedia
August 25, 2025
September 8, 2024
Timeline Heading 3
Prof. Che has been prominently featured in a special topic by HKTKWW
September 8, 2024
June 18, 2024
Timeline Heading 4
Prof. Che has been listed among the best scientists in the field of Chemistry and ranked 71st globally (5th in China) in the 2nd edition of Research.com with a D-index of 150.
Learn more: research.com/u/chi-ming-che & HKU News
June 18, 2024
May 28, 2024
Timeline Heading 5
Prof. Che has received funding from the Research, Academic, and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme (RAISe+) for Innovative molecular emitters for practical OLEDs and wearable devices.
Learn more: hkumedia
May 28, 2024
Image: Yee Fong Lectureship (義芳化學講座) at National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, China, November 25, 2025
Latest release
-
Advanced Science 2026
Shuo Xu, Rui Tang, Qingyun Wan,* Gang Cheng, Jun Yang, Chi-Ming Che* Advanced Science 2026, Early View. doi: 10.1002/advs.202600075
Publication #
1114.
Last updated
-
Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2026
Yuxiao Zhang, Dongxu Cui, Kexin Chen, Wei Li, Bo Zhu, Weichao Chen, Xinlong Wang, Zhongmin Su, Ru-Quan Ye, Chi-Ming Che, Chunyi Sun* Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2026, Early View. doi: 10.1002/anie.5948094
Publication #
1113.
Last updated
-
Molecular Cancer 2026
Pengde Lu, Yau-Tuen Chan, Chun-Fung Kwok, Qiucheng Li, Zhuofeng Jiang, Lin Xu, Zixin Feng, Hongchao Yuan, Jiaqi Zou, Yunqing Xun, Tung-Leong Fong, Chi-Ming Che, Ning Wang* Molecular Cancer 2026, Early View. doi: 10.1186/s12943-026-02707-5
Publication #
1112.
Last updated
-
MedComm 2026
Bo Tang, Wing Hei Leung, Chihao Shao, Dongfang Li, Kwai Man Lau, Macro K. H. Lui, Jingyi Liu, Jacky C. H. Chu, Clare S. W. Yan, Chi-Ming Che, Xuechen Li, Wing-Tak Wong,* Larry Ming Cheung Chow,* Terence K. W. Lee,* Clarence T. T. Wong* MedComm 2026, 7, e7808. doi: 10.1002/mco2.70808
Publication #
1111.
Last updated
-
Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology 202
Jemma Arakelyan,* Herbert Loong, Robert Peter Gale, Chi-Ming Che Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology 2026, 96, 33. doi: 10.1007/s00280-026-04882-0
Publication #
1110.
Last updated
-
PNAS of the United States of America 2026
Jilin He, Chun-Nam Lok, Guanya Yang, Ying He, Yungen Liu, Amir Ata Saei, Yiwei Zhang, Chunlei Zhang, Yanting Zhu, Zhiwen Fu, Christian Michel Beusch, Pierre Sabatier, Roman A. Zubarev,* Chi-Ming Che* Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2026, 123, e2533505123. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2533505123
Publication #
1109.
Last updated