基于弱相互作用的硫键催化几乎是一个全新的研究领域。目前，国际上只有两个课题组近期探索过硫键催化的简单模型反应，限制这个研究领域进一步发展的最大的难题在于催化剂活性太低。本项目首次以基于S∙∙∙O和Se∙∙∙O弱相互作用催化为研究目标，对硫键催化领域进行突破性研究，发展具有实用价值的高活性硫键催化剂并用其催化新型环化反应，具体包括中等大小的环系、并环、螺环、多环以及桥环体系的合成。此外，本项目的一个重要目标是对硫键催化的不对称反应进行探索研究。

Catalysis with weak chalcogen bond is almost a completely new research field. Currently, only two research groups worldwide have investigated simple model reactions catalyzed by chalcogen bond. The most difficult problem that largely restricts the further development of this research field is the very low activation ability of chalcogen-bonding catalysts. For the first time, this project aims at exploring catalytic reactions based on S∙∙∙O or Se∙∙∙O weak interaction and making a breakthrough in the research field of chalcogen-bonding catalysis. The purpose of this project is to develop practical and highly reactive chalcogen-bonding catalysts which will be used in the catalytic cyclization reactions including the construction of medium-sized, fused, spiro, multiple, and bridged ring systems. In addition, an important goal of this project is the exploration of asymmetric chalcogen bond catalyzed reactions.