The University of Sheffield
Department of Chemistry

Simon JonesDr. Simon Jones

Reader in Organic Chemistry

Room: C73

Tel: +44-(0)114-22-29483

Fax: +44-(0)114-22-29346

email:

 


 

General Research Teaching

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Jones obtained a BSc in Chemistry from the University of Southampton (1991). After obtaining his PhD from the University of Wales, Cardiff in 1995, he became a postdoctoral research associate at Arizona State University. Between 1996 and 1998 he was a postdoctoral research assistant in the Dyson Perrins Laboratory at the University of Oxford. In 1999 he was appointed to a lecturership at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. In 2003 he moved to the University of Sheffield, where he was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2005 and Reader in 2013.

Awards

Senate Teaching Award 2008.

Research Keywords

Organic synthesis, asymmetric synthesis, Diels-Alder reactions, phosphorylation, organo-phosphorus chemistry, oxazaborolidine reduction, catalysis.

Teaching Keywords

Organic Chemistry

Selected Publications:

  • Synthesis of chiral β-amino acid derivatives by asymmetric hydrosilylation with an imidazole derived organocatalyst, S. Jones and X. Li, Tetrahedron, 2012, 68, 5522-5532.
  • Trichlorosilane mediated asymmetric reductions of the C=N bond, S. Jones and C. J. A. Warner, Org. Biomol. Chem., 2012, 10, 2189-2200.
  • Scope of the organocatalysed asymmetric reductive amination of ketones with trichlorosilane, F.-M. Gautier, S. Jones, X. Li and S. J. Martin, Org. Biomol. Chem., 2011, 9, 7860-7868.
  • Enantioselective Preparation of P-Chiral Phosphine Oxides, H. Adams, R. C. Collins, S. Jones, and C. J. A. Warner, Org. Lett., 2011, 13, 6576–6579.
  • Synthesis of quaternary stereogenic centres via stereoselective intermolecular Friedel-Crafts reactions, J. C. Ball, R. Gleave and S. Jones, Org Biomol Chem 2011, 9, 4353-4360.
  • A tandem asymmetric synthesis approach for the efficient preparation of enantiomerically pure 9-(hydroxyethyl) anthracene, J. C. Ball, P. Brennan, T. M. Elsunaki, A. Jaunet and S. Jones, Tetrahedron Asymmetry 2011, 22, 253-255.
  • Diastereoselective cycloadditions and transformations of N-alkyl and N-aryl maleimides with chiral 9-anthrylethanol derivatives, H. Adams, T. M. Elsunaki, I. Ojea-Jiménez, S. Jones and A. J. H. M. Meijer, J Org Chem 2010, 75, 6252-6262.
  • Evaluating the use of chiral anthracene templates to access pyroglutamic acids, S. A. Hasbullah and S. Jones, Tetrahedron Asymmetry 2010, 21, 2719-2725.
  • Enantioselective synthesis of allylic alcohols via an oxazaborolidinium ion catalyzed Diels-Alder/Retro-Diels-Alder sequence, S. Jones and D. Valette, Org Lett 2009, 11, 5358-5361. 
  • Asymmetric reduction of ketimines with trichlorosilane employing an imidazole derived organocatalyst, F. M. Gautier, S. Jones and S. J. Martin, Org Biomol Chem 2009, 7, 229-231.

Research Interests

Image of Research Simon Jones

Methods for Asymmetric Synthesis

A major theme of a majority of my research is the development of new ways to construct molecules in a controlled and selective fashion. We have established innovative methods based on chiral anthracene templates, organocatalysts and organo-boron and phosphorus species.

Construction of Molecular Probes of Biologically Active Molecules

A number of projects are underway that involve the synthesis of new, functional molecules that can be used to probe biochemical pathways. Current projects involve the development of new magnetic imaging contrast agents, fluorescent probes based upon fatty acids and bisphosphonates, and 13C labeled anti-cancer agents for use in dynamic nuclear polarisation studies.

Synthesis of Biologically Active Molecules

Several projects are underway involving the design, synthesis, and biological testing of molecules that could be used as potential novel anti-inflammatory agents and antibiotics. Another project is similarly looking at ways to develop a new herbicide.

Teaching Section

Organic Chemistry

Undergraduate Courses Taught

  • Magic medicines (Year 1)
    These lectures introduce students to the chemistry behind diseases such as cancer and bacterial and viral infections.  The course gives a brief history of how medicines have developed and the challenges that face the discovery of medicines of the future.
  • Supermarket Science (Year 1)
    In this lecture course we will look at some of the different ingredients that you can find in food and drinks, and how many of these chemicals provide a wide range of beneficial effects, from being able to see, to helping fight off heart disease.
  • Alkene Chemistry (Year 2)
    This segment examines methods available for the synthesis of alkenes and to discuss the important reactions of alkanes and alkenes.
  • Aromatics in Synthesis (Year 3)
    This course brings together many important concepts already discussed in synthetic organic chemistry with particular reference to the chemistry of aromatic molecules and aromatic heterocyclic molecules. Examples of synthetic approaches to molecules are used as examples, and the strategy for their synthesis demonstrated using retrosynthetic analysis.

Tutorial & Workshop Support

  • Second Year Organic Chemistry Tutorials
  • Third Year Workshops (Aromatics in Synthesis)
  • Third Year Literature Review.

Laboratory Teaching

  • Third Year Advanced Practical Chemistry Techniques
  • Fourth Year Research Project.