Jonathan Ellman, PhD
Eugene Higgins Professor of Chemistry and Professor of PharmacologyDownloadHi-Res Photo
Cards
Appointments
Chemistry
Fully Joint
Pharmacology
Fully Joint
Contact Info
About
Titles
Eugene Higgins Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Pharmacology
Biography
Jon was born and raised near Los Angeles and received his B.S. degree at MIT and his Ph.D. degree from Harvard University. He was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California at Berkeley and subsequently joined the faculty at the same institution. Prior to coming to Yale University, he was Professor in the Department of Chemistry at UC Berkeley and jointly held a faculty position in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology at UC San Francisco. He has published more than 290 research articles on the application of chemistry to biomedical research.
Appointments
Chemistry
ProfessorFully JointPharmacology
ProfessorFully Joint
Other Departments & Organizations
- Chemistry
- Developmental Therapeutics
- Pharmacology
- Primary Faculty
- Yale Cancer Center
Education & Training
- NSF Postdoctoral Fellow
- University of California at Berkeley (1992)
- PhD
- Harvard University, Chemistry (1989)
- BS
- MIT, Chemistry (1984)
Research
Overview
For a detailed research description please look at my group website: https://ellman.chem.yale.edu/
Medical Research Interests
Chemicals and Drugs
ORCID
0000-0001-9320-5512- View Lab Website
Ellman Homepage
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Jonathan Ellman's published research.
Matt Simon, PhD
Publications
2024
C–H Activation and Sequential Addition to Dienes and Imines: Synthesis of Amines with β‑Quaternary Centers and Mechanistic Studies on the Complex Interplay Between the Catalyst and Three Reactants
Goodner R, Brandes D, Morais G, Tao Q, Tassone J, Mercado B, Chen S, Ellman J. C–H Activation and Sequential Addition to Dienes and Imines: Synthesis of Amines with β‑Quaternary Centers and Mechanistic Studies on the Complex Interplay Between the Catalyst and Three Reactants. ACS Catalysis 2024, 14: 18124-18133. DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.4c05866.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRhodacycle intermediateCatalytic cycleX-ray structure analysisDensity functional theory calculationsC-H activationDeuterium labeling studiesSynthesis of aminesTransition state structuresFunctional theory calculationsFormaldimine precursorsEthyl glyoxylateHigh diastereoselectivityN-CbzNitrogen substituentQuaternary centerAlkyl substituentsAlkyl sulfonamidesC-HTheory calculationsRhodacycleState structuresCarbon sitesDienesX-rayMechanistic studiesSynthesis of α‑Quaternary Amides via Cp*Co(III)-Catalyzed Sequential C–H Bond Addition to 1,3-Dienes and Isocyanates
Yeo J, Tassone J, Ellman J. Synthesis of α‑Quaternary Amides via Cp*Co(III)-Catalyzed Sequential C–H Bond Addition to 1,3-Dienes and Isocyanates. Organic Letters 2024, 26: 9769-9774. PMID: 39481088, PMCID: PMC11578270, DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.4c03740.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSynthesis of Monodehydro-Diketopiperazines Enabled by Cp*Rh(III)-Catalyzed Amine-Directed N–H Functionalization
Molas J, Poag E, Ellman J. Synthesis of Monodehydro-Diketopiperazines Enabled by Cp*Rh(III)-Catalyzed Amine-Directed N–H Functionalization. Organic Letters 2024, 26: 8527-8531. PMID: 39332014, PMCID: PMC11512471, DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.4c03105.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEnantioselective S‐Alkylation of Sulfenamides by Phase‐Transfer Catalysis
Champlin A, Kwon N, Ellman J. Enantioselective S‐Alkylation of Sulfenamides by Phase‐Transfer Catalysis. Angewandte Chemie 2024, 136 DOI: 10.1002/ange.202408820.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsExcellent functional group compatibilityChiral sulfur centerFunctional group compatibilityPhase-transfer catalysisEfficient asymmetric synthesisChiral HPLC separationEnantioselective alkylationPseudoenantiomeric catalystsAsymmetric synthesisGroup compatibilityCinchona alkaloidsProtecting groupsSulfur centerPhase-transferReductive cleavageBioactive pharmacophoresAqueous KOHAqueous conditionsHPLC separationBroad scopeSulfenamideCinchonidineSulfiliminePharmacophoreCatalystEnantioselective S‐Alkylation of Sulfenamides by Phase‐Transfer Catalysis
Champlin A, Kwon N, Ellman J. Enantioselective S‐Alkylation of Sulfenamides by Phase‐Transfer Catalysis. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2024, 63: e202408820. PMID: 39058627, PMCID: PMC11514311, DOI: 10.1002/anie.202408820.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsExcellent functional group compatibilityChiral sulfur centerFunctional group compatibilityPhase-transfer catalysisEfficient asymmetric synthesisChiral HPLC separationEnantioselective alkylationPseudoenantiomeric catalystsAsymmetric synthesisGroup compatibilityCinchona alkaloidsProtecting groupsSulfur centerPhase-transferReductive cleavageBioactive pharmacophoresAqueous KOHAqueous conditionsHPLC separationBroad scopeSulfenamideCinchonidineSulfiliminePharmacophoreCatalystDisulfide Tethering to Map Small Molecule Binding Sites Transcriptome-wide
Moon M, Vock I, Streit A, Connor L, Senkina J, Ellman J, Simon M. Disulfide Tethering to Map Small Molecule Binding Sites Transcriptome-wide. ACS Chemical Biology 2024, 19: 2081-2086. PMID: 39192734, DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.4c00538.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCytochrome c oxidase 1Binding sitesRNA-small molecule interactionsPotential binding sitesTranscriptome-wide screeningSmall molecule disulfideSpinal muscular atrophyCellular RNARNA sitesTarget RNAMetabolic labelingSmall molecule bindingRNADisulfide analoguesLead moleculesMolecule bindingTranscriptomeFDA-approved drugsStructural probesMolecule interactionsCovalent attachmentDisulfide tetherThermodynamic propertiesTreat spinal muscular atrophyDisulfideRh(II)-Catalyzed Enantioselective S‑Alkylation of Sulfenamides with Acceptor–Acceptor Diazo Compounds Enables the Synthesis of Sulfoximines Displaying Diverse Functionality
Patel S, Greenwood N, Mercado B, Ellman J. Rh(II)-Catalyzed Enantioselective S‑Alkylation of Sulfenamides with Acceptor–Acceptor Diazo Compounds Enables the Synthesis of Sulfoximines Displaying Diverse Functionality. Organic Letters 2024, 26: 6295-6300. PMID: 39004842, PMCID: PMC11292377, DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.4c02402.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCopper-Catalyzed Three-Component Synthesis of Highly Substituted Morpholines
Chu D, Zoll A, Ellman J. Copper-Catalyzed Three-Component Synthesis of Highly Substituted Morpholines. Organic Letters 2024, 26: 4803-4807. PMID: 38810982, PMCID: PMC11195447, DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.4c01634.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCorrection to “Catalytic Enantioselective Sulfur Alkylation of Sulfenamides for the Asymmetric Synthesis of Sulfoximines”
Greenwood N, Champlin A, Ellman J. Correction to “Catalytic Enantioselective Sulfur Alkylation of Sulfenamides for the Asymmetric Synthesis of Sulfoximines”. Journal Of The American Chemical Society 2024, 146: 5712-5712. PMID: 38364827, DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c00239.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2023
Visible-Light-Mediated, Diastereoselective Epimerization of Exocyclic Amines
Vargas-Rivera M, Liu A, Ellman J. Visible-Light-Mediated, Diastereoselective Epimerization of Exocyclic Amines. Organic Letters 2023, 25: 9197-9201. PMID: 38114418, PMCID: PMC10771010, DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.3c03801.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
honor Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
National AwardAmerican Academy of Arts and SciencesDetails10/19/2016United Stateshonor Yale Dylan Hixon ’88 Prize for Teaching Excellence in the Natural Sciences
Yale University AwardYale UniversityDetails05/10/2016United Stateshonor Herbert C. Brown Award for Creative Research in Synthetic Methods
National AwardAmerican Chemical SocietyDetails12/04/2012United Stateshonor GlaxoSmithKline Chemistry Scholar Award
International AwardDetails09/24/2010United Stateshonor Pedler Award
International AwardRoyal Society of ChemistryDetails06/01/2010United States
News
News
- April 22, 2015
Seven Yale faculty members elected to AAAS
- February 12, 2013
For drug makers, new 3-D control opens wealth of options
- August 01, 2011
A young scientist scores another first