At the invitation of the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Renewable Energy, Professor Victor Chernyshev from the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology visited the Guangzhou Institute of Energy from September 23 to 27.

On September 24, Victor Chernyshev delivered a special academic lecture titled “Alternative Roles of NHC Ligands in Transition Metal Catalysis.” Zhang Yu, a senior engineer at the Center for High-Value Utilization of Biomass Energy, chaired the session, which was attended by researchers and students from the Biomass Biochemical Conversion Team. The presentation focused on the dynamic processes of metal-carbene bond cleavage and formation, systematically elucidating cutting-edge research concepts regarding the role of NHC ligands in transition metal catalysis. Victor Chernyshev pointed out that the functions of NHC ligands are not limited to stabilizing catalytic active sites; they can also play multiple roles, such as regulating the release rate of active species, serving as precursors for ionic stabilizers of active species, selectively inhibiting side reactions, and acting as organic catalysts in metal/NHC synergistic catalytic systems. In addition, he provided a detailed overview of the latest research methods for the selective functionalization of biomass-derived furans and related compounds in NHC-ligand-promoted transition metal catalytic systems. The presentation was both innovative and in-depth, broadening the academic horizons of the attending researchers engaged in biomass catalytic conversion and offering entirely new research perspectives. During the Q&A session, Professor Chernyshev provided detailed answers to each of the numerous technical questions raised by the attendees.

During the visit, the two sides held in-depth discussions on the progress of the jointly undertaken NSFC-RSF project, “Process Control of the Directed Degradation and Conversion of Lignocellulose into Chemicals.” At the same time, Victor Chernyshev provided on-site guidance on the research work of the Chinese research team and offered several constructive suggestions.

This visit was funded by the Guangdong Province Overseas Distinguished Scholars Program. It not only significantly advanced the implementation of the NSFC-RSF project but also deepened mutual understanding between the Guangzhou Institute of Energy and the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, laying a solid foundation for continued and deeper cooperation between the two institutions in the future.