From pioneering work in hypervalent iodine chemistry to patented industrial innovations, Dr. Guobi Li has earned international recognition for blending rigorous science with industry execution. Trained in the United States and now serving as Vice President at Jaryeefine LLC, Dr. Li leads cross-border projects spanning pharmaceuticals, advanced materials, and sustainable chemistry. In this interview, he reflects on his scholarly contributions, editorial service, intellectual property, and vision for the future.

Q1 | How would you evaluate your own publications and research contributions?

Dr. Li: My work has always aimed to expand both the theoretical and practical boundaries of chemistry. In the field of hypervalent iodine chemistry, I have authored studies such as ‘Remote Substituents as Potential Control Elements for the Solid-State Structures of Hypervalent Iodine (III) Compounds’, which revealed how distant substituents can dictate crystalline packing—insights now referenced in structural design for functional materials. Another paper, ‘Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Nitro-Functionalized Cyclic Hypervalent Iodine Compounds’, demonstrated synthetic pathways to nitro-functionalized iodine heterocycles with enhanced reactivity profiles.

Other publications—such as ‘Sterically Crowded 1,4-Diiodobenzene as a Precursor to Difunctional Hypervalent Iodine Compounds’ and ‘Solid-State Aggregation of Cyclic Iodonium Ylides’—have each contributed to understanding how steric and electronic factors shape reactivity and stability. I also have a forthcoming paper exploring organophosphorus chemistry that bridges oxidation chemistry with functional group transformations for pharmaceuticals. Collectively, these works have been cited internationally, adopted in research groups across multiple continents, and in some cases adapted into early-stage industrial processes. For me, the highest recognition is seeing research move from the page into real-world application.

Q2 | You have been an invited peer reviewer for several high-profile journals. How do you view this role?

Dr. Li: Peer review is more than a service—it’s a form of stewardship for the scientific community. I’ve had the privilege of reviewing manuscripts for Petroleum (Elsevier), Nano Materials Science (KeAi), International Journal of Hydrogen Energy (Elsevier), and Sustainable Energy & Fuels (Royal Society of Chemistry). These journals are influential platforms in their respective fields, and being trusted to evaluate submissions reflects international recognition of my expertise. The work demands a balance between constructive feedback and rigorous standards, ensuring that published research is both innovative and reproducible.

Q3 | Your patents appear to connect with your research themes. Could you explain how they fit into your overall vision?

Dr. Li: Every invention I’ve patented started with a real-world bottleneck. One device addresses the safety of industrial pipeline systems by enabling precise, multi-condition dynamic testing of bellows—a critical component in chemical and energy infrastructure. Another patent translates nanomaterials work into a functional product: micro–nano dual-confinement porous microspheres capable of anchoring gold nanoparticles with high stability, improving catalytic activity and durability in fine chemical production. The third covers a cobalt-based polyoxometalate catalyst that enables solvent-free, mechanochemical synthesis of bioactive 4H-pyran compounds under mild conditions, achieving high turnover numbers and reducing environmental impact.

What unites them is an emphasis on industrial readiness—scalability, regulatory compliance, and integration into existing production systems. I see patents not as isolated achievements, but as bridges between discovery and adoption, ensuring that ideas developed in the lab can withstand the demands of real-world use.

Q4 | Why have you shifted your focus toward bridging laboratory research and commercialization? How has your career prepared you for this?

Dr. Li: In my early years, I was driven by curiosity and the intellectual challenge of chemical problem-solving. But I saw a pattern: many promising discoveries stalled at the point of scale-up. That insight reshaped my career path. After earning my Ph.D. in the U.S., I collaborated across disciplines—from synthetic chemistry and materials science to pharmaceutical development and process engineering. At Jaryeefine LLC, I’ve been able to lead projects that integrate R&D with manufacturing, quality systems, and market strategy.

Working in both U.S. and Asian markets has also shown me the importance of regulatory foresight and supply chain integration. This dual perspective—scientific depth coupled with commercial execution—allows me to navigate the complexities of turning breakthrough chemistry into sustainable, market-ready products.

Q5 | Looking ahead, what are your goals for the next five years?

Dr. Li: I want to operate where science meets implementation. Over the next five years, my priorities are threefold:

1. From laboratory to the real world in chemistry — Drive the commercialization of advanced chemical discoveries, ensuring that high-value synthetic methods, functional materials, and sustainable processes are transferred from research laboratories into scalable, market-ready industrial applications.

2. Interdisciplinary integration — Expand beyond chemistry to actively integrate insights and tools from biology, materials science, engineering, data science, and energy technology. By fostering true cross-disciplinary collaboration, I aim to develop solutions that address complex industrial and societal challenges.

3. Global innovation platforms — Build and lead transnational R&D-to-market ecosystems that link scientists, industry leaders, and regulatory bodies across North America, Europe, and Asia. Such platforms will accelerate technology transfer, harmonize compliance pathways, and create globally competitive innovations.

Ultimately, I aim to be recognized not only as a scientist who advances the frontiers of chemistry, but also as a leader who ensures those advances are accessible, scalable, and beneficial to industry and society worldwide.

(Interview by Jessie Epstein)

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