Prof. Joseph P. A. Harrity

Biographical Sketch

Prof. Harrity obtained his BSc (Hons.) in Chemistry from the University of Strathclyde in 1991, followed by a PhD from the same institution in 1994. He was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Boston College, USA from 1994 to 1997, after which he became a Lecturer at the University of Sheffield. Here he was promoted to Senior Lecturer and Reader. He was promoted to Professor in 2009.

Awards

Pfizer Discovery Award (2004); AstraZeneca Research Award (2006).

Research Keywords

Organometallic chemistry, carbon-carbon bond formation, asymmetric synthesis, catalysis, total synthesis.

Teaching Keywords

Organic Chemistry

Selected Publications:

Ambient Temperature Nitrogen-Directed Difluoroalkynylborane Carboni-Lindsey Cycloaddition Reactions, J. F. Vivat, H. Adams and J. P. A. Harrity, Org. Lett. 2010, 12, 160-163.
Alkyne [3+2] Cycloadditions of Iodosydnones Toward Functionalized 1,3,5-Trisubstituted Pyrazoles, D. L. Browne, J. B. Taylor, A. Plant and J. P. A. Harrity, J. Org. Chem. 2010, 75, 984-987.
Ambient-Temperature Cobalt-Catalyzed Cycloaddition Strategies to Aromatic Boronic Esters, A. L. Auvinet, J. P. A. Harrity and G. Hilt, J. Org. Chem. 2010, 75, 3893-3896.
An alkynylboronate cycloaddition strategy to functionalised benzyne derivatives, J. D. Kirkham, P. M. Delaney, G. J. Ellames, E. C. Row and J. P. A. Harrity, Chem. Commun. 2010, 46, 5154-5156.A cycloaddition route to novel triazole boronic esters, J. H. Huang, S. J. F. Macdonald and J. P. A. Harrity, Chem. Commun. 2009, 436-438.
Investigation of the Scope and Regiochemistry of Alkynylboronate Cycloadditions with Sydnones, D. L. Browne, J. F. Vivat, A. Plant, E. Gomez-Bengoa and J. P. A. Harrity, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 7762-7769.
Steric and Electronic Effects on the Reactivity of Rh and Ir Complexes Containing P-S, P-P, and P-O Ligands. Implications for the Effects of Chelate Ligands in Catalysis, Luca Gonsalvi, Harry Adams, Glenn J. Sunley, Evert Ditzel and Anthony Haynes, Journal of the American Chemical Society 2002, 124, 13597-13612.

Research Interests

Synthesis provides the opportunity to design and prepare specific molecules whilst exploring novel processes that further develop the field of organic chemistry. In this context, our programme has concentrated on new and selective carbon-carbon bond forming strategies for the preparation of functionalised synthetic Intermediates. A summary of projects currently under investigation is outlined below:

Alkynylboronate Cycloadditions. Aromatic boronic acids and esters are extremely useful and versatile substrates in modern organic chemistry. We have developed a strategically novel approach to these compounds through cycloaddition reactions of alkynylboronates. To date, this approach has allowed us to generate boronic esters that are connected to benzene, quinone, pyridine, pyrazole, isoxazole and pyridazine scaffolds.

[3 + 3] Annelation Reactions. We have designed an efficient method for the synthesis of piperidines and pyrans by the addition of conjunctive reagents to aziridines and epoxides. Moreover, the ready availability of enantiopure aziridnes/epoxides has allowed to us to employ this technique in the stereoselective synthesis of alkaloid natural products, as well as bioactive compounds of marine origin.

Organocobalt complexes. A Lewis acid catalysed rearrangement reaction of cobalt-alkyne complexes bearing a cyclic enol ether unit has been developed that provides a direct and stereoselective route to 3-alkynylcycloalkanones. A catalytic variant of this process is currently under investigation as is its employment in target synthesis.

Teaching Section