Jean-Philip Lumb

Jean-Philip LumbAssociate Professor

B.A. (Cornell University,1998-2002)
Ph.D. (University of California, Berkeley, 2003-2008)
Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Fellow (Stanford University, 2008-2011)
Assistant Professor (McGill University, 2011-2016)
Associate Professor (McGill University, 2017-present)

Honours and Awards

Keith Fagnou Award, Canadian Society for Chemistry (2019)Honors and Awards
Fessenden Professorship, McGill University (2018)
Young Researcher Award, Global Green Chemistry Centers (G2C2), York University (2016)
Young Investigator Award, Thieme Chemistry Journals Award (2014)
North American New Horizons in Science Fellow, Royal Society of Canada (2014)
Fellowship in Science Communication, Environmental Health News Organization (2012)
Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Fellowship, National Institutes of Health (2008)
Postdoctoral Fellowship, American Cancer Society (declined) (2008)
Scynexis Poster Award, American Chemical Society, National Organic Symposium (2007)
Doctoral Fellowship, Organic Division, American Chemical Society (2006)
Graduated Magna cum laude, Cornell University (2002)
Dean’s List, Cornell University (2002)
Merck Index Award for Excellence in Chemistry, Cornell University (2002)
Pfizer Synthetic Organic Chemistry Research Fellowship Award, Cornell University (2001)
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Summer Fellowship, Cornell University (2000)

Affiliations

FQRNT Center for Green Chemistry and Catalysis | Member
CIHR Drug Design Training Program | Member
NSERC CREATE in Green Chemistry | Member

Contact Information

Office: Otto Maass 314
Phone: (514)398-4889
Email: jean-philip.lumb [at] mcgill.ca
Lab: Otto Maass, 340
Lab Phone: 514-398-8971
Website: https://www.lumblab.org/

Research Themes

  • Synthesis / Catalysis - Green Chemistry
  • Chemical Biology - Materials Chemistry
  • Materials Chemistry

Research Description

Research in our group focuses on synthetic chemistry and catalysis. Our work draws upon and impacts a number of areas, including:

  • methodology development
  • natural products total synthesis
  • organometallic chemistry
  • chemical biology
  • materials science

Unlike any other scientific discipline, students trained in the art of synthetic chemistry have the ability to conceive of and produce molecules with atomic-level precision. Our interests in synthetic chemistry encompass a range of projects that include: (1) the development and mechanistic understanding of new catalytic transformations, (2) the development of new synthetic strategies to produce biologically active small molecules, (3) the study of natural products and natural materials, with the goal of correlating structure and function, (4) the synthesis of metal-organic materials using new methods for the separation of mineral ores and post-consumer electronics. An overarching goal of our research is to improve the sustainability of synthetic chemistry. In all of our projects, we consider the source of our feedstocks, and minimize the waste associated with chemical transformations. As such, we recognize the central role synthetic chemistry plays in addressing major challenges facing our planet, including mitigation of global warming and minimizing the environmental impact of chemical synthesis. We also recognize the fundamental role that small molecules play in human health, and aim to improve our understanding of how small molecules function in biological contexts, with the ultimate goal of producing new therapeutics with improved performance. Our group conducts research at the interfaces of organic, inorganic and physical chemistry in a collaborative and multidisciplinary setting. Students leaving the group will have developed the necessary skills to design and execute a sequence of transformations to produce targets with desirable function.

Representative Publications

(6) Controlling the Catalytic Aerobic Oxidation of Phenols. Esguerra, K. V. N.; Fall, Y.; Petitjean, L. Lumb, J. P.* J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 7662-7668

(5) An Atom-Economic Synthesis of Nitrogen Heterocycles from Alkynes. Trost, B. M.; Lumb, J.P.; Azzarelli, J. M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 740.

(4) ortho-Quinone Methides from para-Quinones: Total Synthesis of Rubioncolin B. Lumb, J.P.; Choong, K. C.; Trauner, D. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 9230.

(3) Biomimetic Synthesis of the IDO Inhibitors Exiguamine A and B. Volgraf, M.; Lumb, J.P.; Brastianos, H. C.; Carr, G.; Chung, M. K. W.; Munzel, M.; Mauk, A. G.; Andersen, R. J.; Trauner, D. Nature Chemical Biology, 2008, 4, 535.

(2) Pericyclic Reactions of Prenylated Naphthoquinones: Biomimetic Synthesis of Mollugin and Microphyllaquinone. Lumb, J.P.; Trauner, D. Org. Lett. 2005, 7, 5865.

(1) Biomimetic Synthesis and Structure Elucidation of Rubicordifolin, a Cytotoxic Natural Product from Rubia cordifolia. Lumb, J.P.; Trauner, D. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 2870.

Currently Teaching

CHEM 482 Organic Chem:Natural Products 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

CHEM 572 Synthetic Organic Chem 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

CHEM 629 Organic Synthesis 5 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

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