JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jqueryui/1.8.4/themes/ui-lightness/jquery-ui.css">
<ul>
    <li>list item1</li>
    <li>list item2</li>
    <li>list item3</li>
    <li>list item4</li>
    <li>list item5</li>
   <li>list item6</li>
   <li>list item7</li>
</ul>

CSS

div.list {
    margin: 4px;
    border: 2px dashed orange;
}

JavaScript

$('ul > li:nth-child(2n-1)').each(function() {
    $(this).next().add(this).wrapAll('<div class="list"><ul></ul></div>');
}).eq(0).closest('div').unwrap();