PERSONAL DETAILS
| Name | John Arthur JOULE |
| Date of Birth | 29 May 1937 |
| Birthplace | Harrogate |
| UK Nationality | British |
| Address | Department
of Chemistry The University of Manchester Manchester M13 9PL UK. |
| Telephone (work) | 44 (0)161 275 4633 |
| Fax (work) | 44 (0)161 275 4598 |
| Telephone (home) | 44 (0)1663 764441 |
| E-mail (work) | j.a.joule@man.ac.uk |
STATEMENT
My scientific career began with a BSc degree at the University of Manchester where I continued as a postgraduate student under the guidance of George Smith, studying structure determination of complex alkaloids, the first representatives of what is now a large subdivision of the indole alkaloids, known as the akuammiline group. In postdoctoral work with Carl Djerassi at Stanford University I worked with alkaloids of the uleine and ellipticine groups, and isolated apparicine, the first example of what is now a 20-member structural group. Syntheses of uleine and ellipticine formed the focus of my earliest independent synthetic successes, following postdoctoral work with Richard Hill at Princeton University, where I completed the first syntheses of Amarylidaceous alkaloid degradation products, a- and b-lycoranes. Syntheses of neither the apparicine nor the akuammiline structural types have yet been achieved — we are still pursuing these goals.
Our total synthesis of uleine, the first, in which the thermodynamically controlled isomerisation of a six-membered cyclic allylamine to its enamine isomer was central to the strategy, gave us a theme which was exploited in several variants. Work on quinoline- and isoquinoline-containing natural products includes the synthesis of the sea sponge-derived _-adrenoceptor antagonist, aaptamine, benzo[1,2-b:4,3-b']dipyrroles as in the potent anti-cancer substances CC 1065 and duocarmycin, and marine alkaloids of the discorhabdin, batzellines, isobatzellines, and makaluvamines groups, several of which are topoisomerase inhibitors.
The ubiquitous cofactor of the oxomolybdoenzymes is a pteridine, complexed with the metal via two side-chain sulfur atoms. We are involved in an ongoing and interdisciplinary study of the synthesis of the cofactor and of model compounds, aimed at furthering understanding of the mode of action of the cofactor in the enzyme.
We have made contributions to several fundamental aspects of heterocyclic reactivity, for example in 4-pyridones and 4-quinolones we showed it possible to (a) lithiate or (b) effect nucleophilic addition (then tandem acylation) adjacent to nitrogen. A study of N-sulfonamides of azoles revealed for the first time a typical geometry, since observed in many other examples. We have developed the reactions of 3-oxidopyraziniums as 1,3-dipoles providing a route to the quinocarcin group of anti-cancer compounds. We have made extensive study of the process of nucleophilic attack on electron-rich azoles e.g. at an indole _-position: in general, one requires an N-arylsulfonyl substituent and an _-acyl group; it possible to construct diverse polyheterocyclic systems with this methodology; an application of this methodology led to one of our two total syntheses of ellipticine and later to a synthesis of cryptoleptinone.
I have been the author or co-author of 165 original publications and 30 reviews. A text-book of Heterocyclic Chemistry (1972), assembled in a joint venture with George Smith, sold more than 20,000 copies and was translated into Polish and Russian. It was completely revised and updated in collaboration with a former JAJ research student, Keith Mills, now a Senior Scientist with GlaxoSmithKline, producing the 3rd edition (1994), and a 4th edition (2000) which target advanced undergraduates, postgraduates and industrial chemists, and has now sold more than 7000 copies. The translation of this fourth edition into Chinese is underway and is scheduled to be completed by the autumn of 2002.
I have given lectures on our research work at the Universities of Birmingham, Liverpool, Oxford, Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam, Newcastle, and Nottingham, Astra Charnwood (Loughborough), Boots (Nottingham), Shell Research Centre, Glaxo (Ware), SmithKline Beecham (Tonbridge), UK; CNRS des Substances Naturelles (Gif-sur-Yvette), University of Montpellier, France; Technical University, Berlin, Germany; Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden; CNT, NOVUM Research Park, Huddinge, Sweden; University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth College, University of Florida (Gainesville), Clemson University , Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore), University of Maryland (Baltimore), FMC Corporation (Princeton), USA; University of Waterloo, Canada; at the 14th (Antwerp, Belgium, 1993), 13th (Corvallis, USA, 1991) and 7th (Tampa, USA, 1979) biennial meetings of the International Society of Heterocyclic Chemistry; various meetings of the Royal Society of Chemistry Heterocyclic Group; the 8th Lakeland Heterocyclic Symposium (Grasmere, 1987); I was invited to give a plenary lecture at the 6th Ibn Sina International Conference of Pure and Applied Heterocyclic Chemistry, Cairo, 1997. In 1998 I gave plenary lectures at the 9th FECHEM Conference on Heterocycles in Bio-Organic Chemistry in Aussois, France, and at the 2nd meeting of the Xarxa Temàtico de Productes Naturals in Barcelona, Spain; in November 1999 I gave a plenary lecture at the Autumn meeting of the RSC Heterocyclic Group. I have given courses on Heterocyclic Chemistry at ICI/Zeneca Pharmaceuticals, Zeneca Specialties, and Glaxo/GlaxoWellcome/GlaxoSmithKline, at CNT, NOVUM Research Park, Huddinge, Sweden and in Äre, Sweden (2001), for the Swedish Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
During my 38-year career on the academic staff of the Chemistry Department at the University of Manchester I have supervised 52 students who have gained (or are currently working towards) their PhD degree. These included students from Bahrain, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, and Venezuela. I have welcomed externally funded post-doctoral and pre-doctoral coworkers from Bangladesh, China, Iran, Morocco, Spain, Syria, and Venezuela who spent periods of 6-12 months working in my group in Manchester.
I have taught at all levels and on many Organic topics within the Manchester undergraduate and post-graduate lecture framework. In 1984 I chaired the committee which devised a restructured course which has been a key component in maintaining Manchester Chemistry’s competitiveness and standing in undergraduate teaching. It was this committee which introduced the concept of ‘Chemistry with ....' courses which have been extremely popular and effective in attracting students; notable examples are the 'Chemistry with Industrial Experience' and the 'Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry' streams, for the second of which I currently act as Course Tutor. I am currently Director of Teaching.
QUALIFICATIONS, AWARDS, AND PRIZES
| John A Joule | BSc, MSc, PhD, CChem, FRSC | |
| RSC Medal | 1996 | Heterocyclic Chemistry |
| Fulbright Scholarship. | 1961 | Travel grant to USA. |
| Mercer Prize | 1958 | BSc final year examinations. |
| Swan Prize | 1958 | BSc final year examinations. |
| State Scholarship | 1955 — 1958 | Undergraduate study |
EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
| Department
of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. |
2000 — date | Professor |
| 1983 — 2000 | Reader | |
| 1972 — 1983 | Senior Lecturer | |
| 1963 — 1972 | Lecturer | |
| University
of Maryland, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Baltimore County Campus, Baltimore, USA |
Jan — May 1989 |
Visiting Professor, |
| Johns Hopkins
Medical School, Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics. Baltimore, USA. |
Aug — Dec 1972 |
Visiting Professor, |
| University
of Ibadan, Department of Chemistry. Nigeria. |
Jan — June 1965 | Exchange Lecturer, |
| Stanford University, USA. | 1962 — 63 | Postdoctoral work with Professor Carl Djerassi |
| Princeton University, USA. | 1961 — 62 | Postdoctoral work with Professor Richard K Hill. |
| University
of Manchester, Manchester, UK. |
1959 — 1961 | PhD (with Dr G F Smith). |
| 1958 — 1959 | MSc (with Dr G F Smith). | |
| 1955 — 1958 | BSc | |
| John Bright Grammar School, Llandudno, North Wales. | 1948 — 1955 |
RESEARCH INTERESTS
| Heterocyclic chemistry and synthesis |
|
TEACHING RESPONSIBILITES
| Current lecturing duties |
|
| Current tutorial duties |
|
| Current undergraduate
laboratory duties |
|
DEPARTMENTAL ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES
| 1999 - date | Director of Teaching |
| 1996 - 1999 | Chairman — Undergraduate Programmes Committee |
| 1996 - date | Deputy Chairman — Departmental Board. |
| 1996 - date | Member — Staff-Student Committee. |
| 1994 - date | Tutor — Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry. |
| 1987 - date | Organic Representative — X-ray Service Steering Committee. |
| 1982 - date | Timetables — Organic lectures. |
| 1984 - 1989 | Chairman — Undergraduate Teaching Committee. |
| 1981 - 1989 | Chairman — Departmental Board. |
EXTRA-DEPARTMENTAL/UNIVERSITY ACTIVITIES
| 2001 | Course on heterocyclic chemistry, SwedishAcademy of Pharmacutical Sciences, Åre. Sweden |
| 1999 | Course on heterocyclic chemistry, CNT, NOVUM Research Park, Sweden |
| 1998 - date | Member Royal Society of Chemistry, Perkin Editorial Board |
| 1997 | Course on heterocyclic chemistry, CNT, NOVUM Research Park, Sweden |
| 1995 - 1996 | Member — EU Network studying polyaniline. |
| 1995 -1999 | Member — Committee of Heterocyclic Group of the Royal Society of Chemistry. |
| 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999 | Courses — Aspects of Heterocyclic Chemistry |
| 2000, 2001 | Glaxo/Glaxo-Wellcome/GlaxoSmithKline, UK. |
| 1995 | Course on synthesis of heterocyclic natural products, University of Barcelona, Spain. |
| 1993 - date | Member — Refereeing Panel for Chemical Communications. |
| 1991 - date | Member — Refereeing Panel for Synthesis. |
| 1991 - date | Scientific Editor — Royal Society of Chemistry Annual Reports, Section B. |
| 1985 - date | Member — Refereeing Panels for Tetrahedron, Tetrahedron Letters. |
| 1993 | Refresher course — Heterocyclic Chemistry,Zeneca Specialties, Manchester, UK. |
| 1991 and 1992 | Refresher courses — Heterocyclic Chemistry,ICI Pharmaceuticals, Alderly Edge, UK. |
| 1989 | One-semester postgraduate-level course on Heterocyclic Chemistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Campus. |
| various years — date | External Examiner for PhD at sundry University Chemistry Departments (alphabetical): Barcelona (Spain), Bath, Belfast, Birmingham, Cambridge, Cardiff, CNRS (Gif-sur-Yvette, France), Dublin, Durham, Leeds, Liverpool, London Imperial, Newcastle, Nottingham, Portsmouth, Reading, Salford, Sheffield, Stockholm (Sweden), Strathclyde, Swansea. |
| various years - date | Occasional referee for Journal of the American Chemical Society, Journal of Chemical Research, Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1, Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 2, Journal of Natural Products, Journal of Organic Chemistry, Organic Letters, Synlett, CanadianJournal of Chemistry, New Journal of Chemistry |
| 1989 - 1992 | External Examiner — MSc in "Organic Synthesis", Manchester Metropolitan University. |
| 1986 - 1990 | External Examiner — Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA), BSc in Chemistry, Stockport College, Stockport, UK. |
| 1969 - 1991 | Inspector — Joint Matriculation Board (JMB) 'A' level Chemistry and Physics, secondary school practical examinations. |
MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL BODIES
Fellow - Royal Society of Chemistry.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
Leisure interests: Gardening, music, photography.