Yixin Lu talks to Vikki Allen about his dreams and the importance of medicinal chemistry

Yixin Lu is an assistant professor at the National University of Singapore. His main areas of interest are medicinal chemistry and asymmetric catalysis.

Who or what inspired you to become a scientist? 
In my childhood, scientists were very highly regarded. In the past few decades, scientific and technological advances and inventions have transformed our world, and scientists are the heroes who made all these possible. It was a dream for me to become a scientist.

What motivated you to specialise in organic and medicinal chemistry?
Making completely new molecules with desired properties and functions is truly interesting and challenging. What is more, modern organic chemistry is very powerful; it also contributes enormously to developments in related fields, for example, biological sciences, materials science and medicinal chemistry. Developing efficient catalytic asymmetric synthetic methods is a major goal in our research.

Medicinal chemistry is a subject which is highly relevant to human health and I cannot think of anything more important than this. Medicinal chemistry relies so heavily on organic chemistry; the vast majority of synthetic molecules capable of interacting with biological systems are prepared by organic chemists. Being an organic chemist working in the areas related to medicinal chemistry means I can really do something with practical clinical applications - this is truly exciting!

Do you remember your first experiment? 
The first organic experiment I carried out gave me many products. I still remember it took me almost a day to separate all those compounds, and I even had to miss going to the movies that night - it was a tough starting point!

What hot project are you working on at the moment? 
We are currently looking at asymmetric organocatalysis and using substoichiometric amounts of small organic molecules to catalyse chemical reactions. One main focus is to develop novel enantioselective organic reactions which can be promoted by primary amino acid-derived organocatalysts. Ever since the renaissance of organocatalysis in 2000, proline has emerged as one of the most powerful and versatile organocatalysts. Surprisingly, the use of primary amino acids as organocatalysts has been largely unexplored in the past few years. The potential of primary amino acids and their structural derivatives as privileged organocatalysts needs to be fully explored. Such research would greatly contribute to asymmetric organocatalysis. 

What's going to be the next big thing in your field? 
It is always a lot easier to look back into history and learn a lesson from the past than to predict what is going to happen in the future, even in your own field. I think that the development of organocatalytic systems that can truly mimic the enzymatic actions in nature will have a huge impact on asymmetric synthesis and catalysis.

Where do you look for ideas? 
One major source is through reading primary literature. On many occasions, new ideas come from interactions with colleagues, either by informal chatting or formal discussions at conferences. Sometimes, ideas also come from serendipitous findings in on-going research.

You have trained and worked in a number of countries. What made you choose to come to Singapore? In your experience, what are the benefits/disadvantages of working in Singapore compared to the other countries you have worked in? 
I was born and raised in China, received my PhD in Canada, carried out postdoctoral work in Japan, worked briefly in the USA, and currently work in academia in Singapore. I have been exposed to both eastern and western cultures and I think a good mix of cultures is the best. This is why Singapore attracted me - it is a unique place with a blend of cultures, like a bridge linking the East and the West. 

The funding situation in Singapore is relatively good. Young faculty members are offered good research money and there are ample opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations. However, as a city country, the chemical society in Singapore is really small. Chemists need to work hard to get connected to the outside world and be vigorously involved in the international activities. 

What do you love about your job? 
I think the best job for anyone is to do something one really likes. I love chemistry, therefore the best aspect of my job is that I can do something that I have passion for in my life. 

What do you do when you aren't working? 
I enjoy life as much as I can. I play with my daughter and spend wonderful time with my family. I also love sports and travelling. I try to play sport on a weekly basis to keep myself physically fit. My philosophy is to work hard and play hard.

If you weren't a scientist, what would you be? 
I really enjoy badminton so I probably would want to be a sports star.