Dr Christopher Jones
Senior Lecturer
School of Physical and Chemical Sciences
Queen Mary University of London
Queen Mary University of London
Research
Organic chemistry, Methodology development, Heterocyclic synthesis, Reactive intermediates (arynes), Functionalised carbon nanomaterials
Interests
We are interested in developing new synthetic organic methodology that has the potential to impact upon contemporary socioeconomic issues such as new drug discovery and the need to find more sustainable chemical feedstocks. As such, we aim to harness the high levels of reactivity of arynes, carbenes and radicals (“reactive intermediates”), as they afford unique and powerful opportunities to control challenging new chemical and biological processes. In our group we are particularly focused on exploiting aryne reactivity for the development of new synthetic strategies, in addition to exploring related applications in functional carbon nanomaterial preparation. Overall, we strive to facilitate the employment of cheap and abundant hydrocarbon sources within chemical processes and therefore reduce our reliance upon more limited and heavily functionalised starting materials.Publications
Publications of specific relevance to the Centre for Chemical Research2023
Li Q, Xu Y, Pedersen A, Wang M, Zhang M, Feng J, Luo H, Titirici M and Jones CR (2023). Investigating the Role of Fe‐Pyrrolic N4 Configuration in the Oxygen Reduction Reaction via Covalently Bound Porphyrin Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes. Advanced Functional Materials, Wiley 31-12-2023
Xu Y, Xie R, Li Q, Feng J, Luo H, Ye Q, Guo Z, Cao Y, Palma M, Chai G, Titirici MM and Jones CR (2023). Pyridine Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes: Unveiling the Role of External Pyridinic Nitrogen Sites for Oxygen Reduction Reaction. Small, Wiley 07-07-2023
Idiris FIM and Jones CR (2023). Rarely used strained molecules step up for organic synthesis. Nature, Springer Nature vol. 618 (7966), 683-685. 19-06-2023
Sun W, Uttendorfer M, Idiris FIM, Werling AYR, Siddiq K and Jones CR (2023). Selective access to dihydrophenanthridines and phenanthridinones via cyclisation of aryl amines onto N -tethered arynes. Chemical Communications, Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) vol. 59 (79), 11823-11826. 01-01-2023
2022
Cao Y, Xu Y, Li Q, Rose R-S, Abrahams I, Jones CR and Sheriff TS (2022). Corrosion Inhibition and Disinfection of Heating and Cooling Water Systems Using In Situ Generated Hydrogen Peroxide. New Journal of Chemistry, Royal Society of Chemistry 30-08-2022
Yang Y and Jones CR (2022). The Aryne Ene Reaction. Synthesis, Thieme vol. 54 (22), 5042-5054. 31-05-2022
2021
Fang L, Crespo-Otero R, Jones CR and Watkinson M (2021). Protect to detect: A Golgi apparatus targeted probe to image mobile zinc through the use of a lipophilic cell-labile protecting group strategy. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical: international journal devoted to research and development of physical and chemical transducers, Elsevier vol. 338 24-03-2021
Neal EA, Werling AYR and Jones CR (2021). A simple Hückel model-driven strategy to overcome electronic barriers to retro-Brook silylation relevant to aryne and bisaryne precursor synthesis. Chem Commun (Camb) 19-01-2021
2019
Fang L, Trigiante G, Crespo-Otero R, Philpott MP, Jones CR and Watkinson M (2019). An alternative modular 'click-SNAr-click' approach to develop subcellular localised fluorescent probes to image mobile Zn2+ . Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, Royal Society of Chemistry 17-10-2019
Fang L, Trigiante G, Crespo-Otero R, Hawes CS, Philpott M, Jones CR and Watkinson M (2019). Endoplasmic reticulum targeting fluorescent probes to image mobile Zn2+. Chemical Science, Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) 16-10-2019
Yang Y, Xu Y and Jones C (2019). A Ring Expansion Route to Benzofused N-Heterocycles via Aryne Insertion into 1,3-Diaza-heterocycles. European Journal of Organic Chemistry, Wiley 22-05-2019
Clement P, Trinchera P, Cervantes-Salguero K, Ye Q, Jones CR and Palma M (2019). One‐step chemical strategy for the formation of carbon nanotube junctions in aqueous solution: The Reaction of DNA‐WrappedCarbon Nanotubes with Diazonium Salts. ChemPlusChem, Wiley 30-04-2019
2018
JONES CR, TRINCHERA P, SUN W, kurdi N, Crespo-Otero R, Palomas D, Javid F and Saeed A (2018). Aryne-Mediated Arylation of Hantzsch Esters: Access to Highly Substituted Aryl-dihydropyridines, Aryl-tetrahydropyridines and Spiro[benzocyclobutene-1,1′-(3′,4′-dihydropyridines)]. SYNTHESIS, Thieme Publishing vol. 50 (23) 25-10-2018
JONES CR, IDIRIS F, Majesté C and Craven G (2018). Intramolecular hydride transfer onto arynes: redox-neutral and transition metal-free C(sp3)-H functionalization of amines. Chemical Science, Royal Society of Chemistry 08-02-2018
2017
JONES CR and Idiris FIM (2017). Recent advances in fluoride-free aryne generation
from arene precursors., Editors: Yu J-Q. Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, Royal Society of Chemistry 27-10-2017
JONES CR, Trinchera P, Sun W, Smith JE, Palomas D and Crespo-Otero R (2017). Intermolecular Aryne Ene Reaction of Hantzsch Esters: Stable Co-valent Ene Adducts from a 1,4-Dihydropyridine Reaction., Editors: Molander G. Organic Letters, American Chemical Society 17-08-2017
2014
Ferguson MD, Donohoe TJ and Jones CR (2014). Lithium 4,4′‐Di‐tert‐butylbiphenylide. Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis 1-11. 27-05-2014
Donohoe TJ, Jones CR, Kornahrens AF, Barbosa LCA, Walport LJ, Tatton MR, O'Hagan M, Rathi AH and Baker DB (2014). ChemInform Abstract: Total Synthesis of the Antitumor Antibiotic (.+‐.)‐Streptonigrin: First‐ and Second‐Generation Routes for de Novo Pyridine Formation Using Ring‐Closing Metathesis. ChemInform, Wiley vol. 45 (21), no-no. 08-05-2014
Donohoe TJ, Jones CR and Winter C (2014). 8.22 Partial and Complete Reduction of Pyrroles, Furans, Thiophenes, and their Benzo Analogs, Heterocycles Containing More Than One Heteroatom. Comprehensive Organic Synthesis II 794-837. 01-01-2014
2013
Donohoe TJ, Jones CR, Kornahrens AF, Barbosa LCA, Walport LJ, Tatton MR, O'Hagan M, Rathi AH and Baker DB (2013). Total synthesis of the antitumor antibiotic (±)-streptonigrin: first- and second-generation routes for de novo pyridine formation using ring-closing metathesis. J Org Chem vol. 78 (24), 12338-12350. 20-12-2013
2012
Donohoe TJ, O’Riordan TJC, Peifer M, Jones CR and Miles TJ (2012). Asymmetric Synthesis of the Fully Elaborated Pyrrolidinone Core of Oxazolomycin A. Organic Letters, American Chemical Society (ACS) vol. 14 (21), 5460-5463. 12-10-2012
Jones CR, Baruah PK, Thompson AL, Scheiner S and Smith MD (2012). Can a C-H•••O interaction be a determinant of conformation? Journal of the American Chemical Society vol. 134 (29), 12064-12071. 25-07-2012
Neier R, Journot G, R. Jones C and Blangy V (2012). The Hydrogenation of Heterocyclic Calix[4]arenes, a Transformation Leading to Novel Macrocyclic Ligands. Heterocycles, The Japan Institute of Heterocyclic Chemistry vol. 85 (4) 01-01-2012
2011
Donohoe TJ, Jones CR and Barbosa LCA (2011). Total Synthesis of (±)-Streptonigrin: De Novo Construction of a Pentasubstituted Pyridine using Ring-Closing Metathesis. Journal of the American Chemical Society, American Chemical Society (ACS) vol. 133 (41), 16418-16421. 23-09-2011
2009
Jones CR, Dan Panto G, Morrison AJ and Smith MD (2009). Plagiarizing proteins: enhancing efficiency in asymmetric hydrogenbonding catalysis through positive cooperativity. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition vol. 48 (40), 7391-7394. 21-09-2009
Jones CR, Pantoş GD, Morrison AJ and Smith MD (2009). Plagiarizing Proteins: Enhancing Efficiency in Asymmetric Hydrogen‐Bonding Catalysis through Positive Cooperativity. Angewandte Chemie, Wiley vol. 121 (40), 7527-7530. 17-09-2009
2008
Jones CR, Qureshi MKN, Truscott FR, Hsu STD, Morrison AJ and Smith MD (2008). A nonpeptidic reverse turn that promotes parallel sheet structure stabilized by C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds in a cyclopropane γ-peptide. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition vol. 47 (37), 7099-7102. 01-09-2008
Jones CR, Qureshi MKN, Truscott FR, Hsu SD, Morrison AJ and Smith MD (2008). A Nonpeptidic Reverse Turn that Promotes Parallel Sheet Structure Stabilized by CH⋅⋅⋅O Hydrogen Bonds in a Cyclopropane γ‐Peptide. Angewandte Chemie, Wiley vol. 120 (37), 7207-7210. 27-08-2008
Grants
Grants of specific relevance to the Centre for Chemical ResearchInnovations in ADC linker design - PhD studentship (AstraZeneca)Christopher Jones and Stellios Arseniyadis
£60,000 AZ AstraZeneca UK Limited (18-09-2023 - 17-09-2027)
PAK UK Education Gateway Mobility Partnership for FacultyAlan Drew, Maria Crespo Ribadeneyra, Annalisa Bruno, Devis Di Tommaso, Edo Boek, Mahdieh Sadabadi, Paul Balcombe and Christopher Jones
£26,500 British Council (01-04-2023 - 31-03-2024)