Jeffrey M. Manthorpe
Professor
Synthetic Organic Chemistry
Email
Carleton University
Steacie Building
Room 418
1125 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa, ON
K1S 5B6
Canada
Phone: (613) 520-2600 ext. 1711
BSc (Hons.): University of Guelph
PhD: McGill University
(supported by an FQRNT fellowship) with Prof. James Gleason
Postdoctoral Fellow:
Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich
(supported by an FQRNT fellowship) with Prof. Erick Carreira
About Professor Manthorpe
Jeff Manthorpe was born in Belleville, Ontario in 1976. In September of 1994 he started a BSc in biomedical science at the University of Guelph but transferred to the chemistry program in his second year. After carrying out his honours thesis with Professor Gordon Lange, where he investigated an asymmetric [2+2] photocycloaddition, he graduated on the dean’s list in the spring of 1998.
Upon completion of his BSc, Jeff moved to McGill University in Montréal, Québec to carry out postgraduate studies with Professor James Gleason. His doctoral research involved the development of a powerful new general method for the stereocontrolled formation of α,α-disubstituted enolates. Subsequent asymmetric alkylation of these enolates led to the formation of quaternary carbons with high levels of stereopurity. An extremely efficient second-generation system followed and several other students in the Gleason group further elaborated this chemistry.
After completing his doctoral studies, he moved to the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich) where he was an FQRNT postdoctoral fellow with Professor Erick M. Carreira. Whilst at the ETH he worked on the asymmetric synthesis of an analogue of the clinical antifungal agent amphotericin B and developed a robust new directing group for the synthesis of β-glycosides.
In the summer of 2006 he took up an academic position at Carleton University, where his research focuses on the development of new asymmetric methodology and applications to biologically relevant molecules, both natural and unnatural.
Since 2008, Jeff has also been heavily involved in promoting science to the public through Carleton’s chemistry magic shows, public lectures, and media interviews.
Aside from science he enjoys running, playing hockey, and tormenting those around him with frequent dad jokes.