JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<ul class="list">
    <li>One</li>
    <li class="special">Two</li>
    <li>Three</li>
    <li>
        <ul class="sublist">
            <li>1</li>
            <li>2</li>
            <li>3</li>
        </ul>
    </li>
</ul>

JavaScript

$('ul.list > li:not(:has(.sublist))').on('click', function () {
    alert('working');
});