Education

Ph.D. (2011): Organic Chemistry, The Ohio State University

M.S. (2007): Medicinal Chemistry, Peking University

B.S. (2005): Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University

Background

Dr. Cai was born in Chengdu, China. He received his B.S. degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences and M.S. degree in Medicinal Chemistry from Peking University. He then attended The Ohio State University, where he earned his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry under the supervision of Prof. Peng G. Wang. Dr. Li Cai joined the faculty of the University of South Carolina in 2011 and is now a Professor of Chemistry at USC Lancaster. He is an organic chemist and glyco-scientist whose research focuses on carbohydrate chemistry, the enzymatic synthesis of carbohydrates, and chemical glycobiology. He is also devoted to enhancing the teaching and learning of chemistry, including advising undergraduate researchers.

Since joining the UofSC faculty, he has published more than 30 peer-reviewed papers in chemical research and education (among more than 50 publications in total), with an h-index of 25 (Google Scholar). He is an Associate Editor for Chemistry Africa and an editorial board member for two journals. He has also reviewed more than 100 manuscripts for 44 journals. His awards include the 2021 USC Denise R. Shaw Excellence in Scholarship Award, the 2020 USC Distinguished Research Service Award, the 2017 USC Breakthrough Star Award, the 2016 USC Salkehatchie Faculty Award for Excellence in Scholarship, the 2010 Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad, and The Ohio State University Fellowship.

Research

Selected Recent Publications (Complete List of Publications)

1. Li, Z.; Li, F.; Cai, L.; Chen, Z.; Qin, L.; Gao, X. One-pot multi-enzyme synthesis of rare ketoses from glycerol. Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry 2020, 5, 1347-1353

2. Zheng, Z.; Han, Z.; Cai, L.; Zhou, D.; Chavis, B. R.; Li, C.; Sui, Q.; Jiang, K.; Gao, Q. Highly regioselective dehexanoylation in fully hexanoylated flavonoids. Tetrahedron Letters 2018, 59, 4442-4447.

3. McManus, C. L.; Emmanuel, K. A.; Cai, L. Investigating caffeine content in major Chinese tea types. Chemical Educator 2018, 23, 198-202. 

4. Han, Z.; Zheng, Z.; Cai, L.; Zhou, D.; Li, C.; Sui, Q.; Liu, S.; Gao, Q. Synthesis of flavonoid 2-deoxyglucosides via the Mitsunobu reaction. Tetrahedron Letters 2018, 59, 3773-3776.

5. Zhao, Y.; Cai, L.; Sui, Q.; Lin, F.; Jiang, W.; Chen, J.; Lu, W.; Gao, Q. Facile synthesis of acacetin and its derivatives. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters 2016, 26, 3577-3580.

6. Li, Z.; Gao, X.; Cai, L. Synthesis of rare pentoses using microbial and enzymatic reactions. Current Organic Chemistry 2016, 20, 1456-1464.

7. Li, X.; Rao, X.; Cai, L.; Liu, X.; Wang, H.; Wu, W.; Zhu, C.; Chen, M.; Wang, P. G.; Yi, W. Targeting tumor cells by natural anti-carbohydrate antibodies using rhamnose-functionalized liposomes. ACS Chemical Biology 2016, 11, 1205-1209.

8. Li, Z.; He, B.; Gao, Y.; Cai, L. Synthesis of D-sorbose and D-psicose by recombinant Escherichia coli. Journal of Carbohydrate Chemistry 2015, 34, 349-357. 

9. Cai, L. Thin layer chromatography. Current Protocols Essential Laboratory Techniques 2014, 6.3.1-6.3.18.