Jón T. Njarðarson

Abstract

Angewandte Chemie International EditionVolume 55, Issue 33 p. 9468-9468 Author ProfileFree Access Jón T. Njarðarson First published: 21 March 2016 https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201602442AboutSectionsPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Graphical Abstract “My favorite food is Sushi. If I were not a scientist, I would be an architect, artist, or designer of some sort. ...” This and more about Jón T. Njarðarson can be found on page 9468. 1 Table 1. Jón T. Njarðarson Date of birth: February 2, 1970 Position: Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona E-mail: njardars@email.arizona.edu Homepage: http://njardarson.lab.arizona.edu/ Education: 1993 BS in Chemistry, University of Iceland 2001 PhD supervised by Professor John L. Wood, Yale University 2001–2004 Postdoctoral position with Professor Samuel J. Danishefsky, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Awards: 2001 General Motors Cancer Research Scholar Program Award; 2006 Marilyn Emmons Williams Award, Cornell University; 2008 Thieme Chemistry Journal Award; 2009 Merrill Presidential Scholar Outstanding Educator Award, Cornell University; 2016 Distinguished Scholar Award, University of Arizona Current research interests: Development of new synthetic methods and total synthesis of natural and non-natural products; reactions employing strained-ring substrates, dearomatization themes and orchestrated anionic cascades; structurally unusual diterpenoid natural products and pharmaceutically relevant architectures My favorite food is Sushi. If I were not a scientist, I would be an architect, artist, or designer of some sort. My favorite place on earth is a beautiful isolated beach, together with my family. I chose chemistry as a career because it was time for me to decide, and I concluded that my other passions at the time (history, philosophy, and mathematics) could be hobbies instead of career paths. My worst nightmare is no longer enjoying chemistry. The most exciting thing about my research is all of the discoveries I did not plan or predict, and which my graduate students cleverly recognized were exciting. I lose track of time when I am sitting in a comfortable place with a great coffee or a glass of wine with my notebook, scribbling down ideas for new reactions and syntheses or trying to decipher mechanistic puzzles. The most amusing chemistry-related adventure in my career was on my tour of US universities as a prospective graduate students where I was introduced to interesting things like roller disco and thrust into the drama and excitement of basketball March Madness on an unforgettable cab ride from Chicago to Lafayette with a wonderful cab driver. My favorite drinks are cava, champagne, prosecco, and other lovely brands of sparkling wine. My favorite piece of research is the reaction, synthesis, structure, and function my research group has not yet discovered. My 5 top papers: References 1“Copper-Catalyzed Rearrangement of Vinyl Oxiranes”: L. A. Batory, C. E. McInnis, J. T. Njardarson, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128, 16054. (The beginning of an enjoyable scientific journey focused on the catalytic expansion of strained rings.) 2“Stereoselective Ring Expansion of Vinyl Oxiranes: Mechanistic Insights and Natural Product Total Synthesis”: M. Brichacek, L. A. Batory, J. T. Njardarson, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010, 49, 1648; Angew. Chem. 2010, 122, 1692. (Established how unique and useful our new catalytic ring-expansion reaction is.) 3“A Graphical Journey of Innovative Organic Architectures That Have Improved Our Lives”: N. A. McGrath, M. Brichacek, J. T. Njardarson, J. Chem. Educ. 2010, 87, 1348. (The creation and uses of posters featuring the top 200 pharmaceuticals.) 4“Total Synthesis of Vinigrol”: Q. Yang, J. T. Njardarson, C. Draghici, F. Li, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2013, 52, 8648; Angew. Chem. 2013, 125, 8810. (This total synthesis was quite the journey, but original key design principles were realized in the end.) 5“Asymmetric [3+2] Annulation Approach to 3-Pyrrolines: Concise Total Syntheses of (−)-Supinidine, (−)-Isoretronecanol, and (+)-Elacomine”: I. Chogii, J. T. Njardarson, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2015, 54, 13706; Angew. Chem. 2015, 127, 13910. (Our latest methodological contribution, and the birth of a new research program we are enthusiastic about.) Volume55, Issue33August 8, 2016Pages 9468-9468 ReferencesRelatedInformation