Kana Yamamoto, Ph.D.
Curriculum Vitae
Waseda University, Global Center for Scienceand Engineering
4-1 Okubo 3-chome, Shinjuku-ku
Tokyo, 169-9555, Japan

Phone (mobile): 419-930-7802
E-Mail: kana.yamamoto1@gmail.com
Citizenship: US Citizen

Professional Appointments
March 2018 – Present

Waseda University, Global Center for Science and Engineering, Tokyo, Japan,and School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Department of Chemistry
and Biochemistry
Associate Professor of Chemistry

November 2016 – 2018

Rapafusyn Pharmaceutical Research & Development, Inc., Baltimore, MD
Senior Scientist

May 2015 – October 2016

College of Engineering, Department of Chemical and Environmental
Engineering, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH
Research Associate Professor

August 2008 – May 2015

College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Department of Chemistry andBiochemistry, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH
Assistant Professor of Chemistry

June 2007 – August 2008

Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Institute, New Brunswick, NJ
Senior Research Investigator

June 2003 – July 2007

Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Institute, New Brunswick, NJ
Research Investigator II

August 2000 – May 2003

Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY
Helen-Hay Whitney Postdoctoral Fellow
Advisor: Samuel J. Danishefsky

Professional Preparation and Training
PhD Synthetic Organic Chemistry(Advisor: Clayton H. Heathcock)
MS Bioorganic Chemistry(Advisor: Toshiya Endo)
BS Chemistry(Advisor: Toshiya Endo)

2000

University of California, Berkeley, CA1995

Nagoya University, Nagoya Japan

1993

Nagoya University, Nagoya Japan

Other Experiences and Professional Memberships
2000 –2001 –2004 – 2008
2008

Member, Organic Division, American Chemical Society
Member, Society of Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Japan
Member, Selection Committee for BMS New Investigator Award
Member, Selection Committee for BMS Graduate Fellowship

Professional Activities

Curriculum Vitae – Kana Yamamoto, Ph.D.

Summary of Research Interest
Medicinal Chemistry; Bioorganic chemistry; Biomimetic reactions; Catalytic, asymmetric synthesis;
Development of short and concise syntheses of molecules of interests; Efficient and environmentallyfriendly reactions.
Publications:
Independent Research at University of Toledo and Bristol-Myers Squibb
15. Ajith Yapa Mudiyanselage, Sridhar Viamajala, Sasidhar Varanasi, Kana Yamamoto*“Tandem Olefin Metathesis/Isomerization approach to a, w-Bifunctional Compounds from methyloleate” submitted.
14. Yuefan Wang, Hanjing Peng, Zufeng Guo, Brett R. Ullman, Kana Yamamoto, Sam Y. Hong, Jun O.
Liu* “Influence of stereochemistry on the activity of the rapadocin, an isoform-specific inhibitor ofnucleoside transporter ENT1” Chem. Sci., 2021, 12, 11484–11489.
13. Godwin Ameh Abel, Sridhar Viamajala, Sasidhar Varanasi, Kana Yamamoto*“Toward Sustainable Synthesis of PA12 (Nylon 12) Precursor from Oleic Acid Using Ring-Closing
Metathesis” Oleic Acid Using Ring-Closing Metathesis” ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng., 2016, 4(10), 5703–5710.
12. Pramod Prasad Poudel, Kenji Arimitsu, and Kana Yamamoto* “Self-assembled Ion-Pair
Organocatalysis – Asymmetric Baeyer-Villiger Oxidation Mediated by Flavinium-Cinchona
Alkaloid Dimer” Chem. Commun., 2016, 52, 4163–4166.
11. Ajith Yapa Mudiyanselage, Haoyi Yao, Sridhar Viamajala, Sasidhar Varanasi and KanaYamamoto* “Efficient Production of Alkanolamides from Microalgae.”Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 2015, 54 (16), 4060–4065
10. Godwin Ameh Abel, Kim Nguyen, Sridhar Viamajala, Sasidhar Varanasi and Kana Yamamoto*“Cross-metathesis approach to produce precursors of nylon 12 and nylon 13 from microalgae.”
RSC Adv., 2014, 4 (98), 55622–55628.
9.

Ajith Yapa Mudiyanselage, Sridhar Viamajala, Sasidhar Varanasi and Kana Yamamoto*“A simple ring-closing metathesis approach for synthesis of PA 11, 12, and 13 precursors fromoleic acid.” ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng., 2014, 2 (12), 2831–2836.
Highlighted in SynFact of the Month

8.

Haoyi Yao, Yun Tang,† and Kana Yamamoto*“Metal-free Oxidative Amide Formation with N-Hydroxysuccinimide and Hypervalent Iodine
Reagents”. Tetrahedron Lett. 2012, 53, 5094 – 5098.

7.

Haoyi Yao and Kana Yamamoto*“Aerobic Oxidative Amide Bond Formation”. Chem. Asian J. 2012, 7, 1542 – 1545.

6.

Lindsay A Hobson, Otute Akiti, Subodh S. Deshmukh, Shannon Harper, Kishta Katipally, Chiajen
J. Lai, Robert C. Livingston, Ehrlic Lo, Michael M. Miller, Srividya Ramakrishnan, Lifen Shen, JanSpink, Srinivas Tummala, Chenkou Wei, Kana Yamamoto, John Young, Rodney L. Parsons, Jr.
“A development of scalable synthesis of an HMG-CoA Inhibitor”. Org. Proc. Res. Dev. 2010, 14,441 – 458.
Highlighted in SynFact of the Month

5.

Kana Yamamoto,* Ye Grace Chen† and Frédéric Buono“Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Dihydropyrimidinones and Dihydropyrimidines”. Org. Lett. 2005, 7,4673 – 4676.

Curriculum Vitae – Kana Yamamoto, Ph.D.

Pre- and Postdoctoral Research
4.

Kana Yamamoto,* Kaustav Biswas, Christoph Gaul and Samuel J. Danishefsky“Effect of Temperature and Concentration in some Ring Closing Olefin Metathesis Reactions.
Tetrahedron Lett. 2003, 44, 3297 – 3299.

3.

Kana Yamamoto, Martin F. Hentemann, John G. Allen and Samuel J. Danishefsky“On the Total Synthesis and Determination of the Absolute Configuration of Rishirilide B.
Exploitation of Subtle Effects to Control the Sense of Cycloaddition of o-Quinonebismethides”.
Chemistry, Eur. J. Chem, 2003, 9, 3242 – 3252.

2.

Kana Yamamoto, Robert M. Garbaccio, Shawn J. Stachel, David B. Solit, Gabriela Chiosis, Neal
Rosen and Samuel J. Danishefsky*“Total Synthesis as a Resource in the Discovery of Potentially Valuable Agents in Oncology:
Cycloproparadicicol”. Angew. Chemie. Int. Ed. 2003, 42, 1280 – 1284.

1.

Kana Yamamoto and Clayton H. Heathcock*“a, b -Epoxy Vinyl Triflates in Pd-Catalyzed Reactions”. Org. Lett. 2000, 2, 1709 – 1712.

Publications (Books):
1.

Kana Yamamoto (solicited, contributing author)
e-EROS (Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis) (invited contribution):“2-Amino-6-hydroxy-4(3H)-pyrimidinone” (56-09-7, 125037-36-7, 4425-667-6)
Accepted, August 2013

2.

Kana Yamamoto (solicited, contributing author)
e-EROS (Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis) (invited contribution):“5-tert-Butyl-2-hydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone” (4857-70-9)
Accepted, August 2013

Patents:
5. “Rapafusyn derivative compounds and methods of use thereof “United States Patent Application Serial no.62/909,008 Issued Oct 1, 2019.
Sam Hong, Brett R. Ullman, Joseph E. Semple, Kana Yamamoto, Puneet Kumar, Magesh
Sadagopan and Jennifer C. Schmitt
4. “Process for the preparation of
4-(8-(2-chlorophenoxy)-[1,2,4]-trizolo[4,3-A]pyridin-3-yl)bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-1-ol and novel
intermediates thereof”
United States, Patent Application: 2015-14817352 August 4, 2015
Xinhua Qian, Keming Zhu, Joerg Deerberg, Wendy Yang, Kana Yamamoto, Mathew R. Hickey
3. “Production of alkanolamides from microalgal biomass”
United States, Utility Patent: U.S. Pat. No. 9,562,210 B1, Issued February 7, 2017.
Kana Yamamoto, Sridhar Viamakala, Sasidhar Varanasi, Ajith Yapa Mudiyanselage, Pramod
Prasad Poudel
2. “Ring-closing metathesis approach to produce precursors of nylon 11, 12, and 13 from oleic acid.”
United States, Utility Patent: U.S. No. 9,845,294 B2, Issued December 19, 2017.
Kana Yamamoto, Sridhar Viamajala, Sasidhar Varnasi, Ajith Yapa Mudiyanselage, Godwin AmehAbel
1. “Cross metathesis approach to C11–13 fatty-chain amino esters from oleic acid derivatives.”
United States, Utility Patent: U. S. No. 10,087,137 B2, Issued October 2, 2018.

Curriculum Vitae – Kana Yamamoto, Ph.D.

Kana Yamamoto, Sridhar Viamajala, Sasidhar Varnasi, Kim Oliver Nguyen, Godwin Ameh Abel,
Ajith Yapa Mudiyanselage
Published Abstracts:
Independent Research >30 poster/oral presentations
Invited Lectures:Waseda University9.
Kana Yamamoto “Reactions Promoted by Flavin co-Factor Derivatives” (invited lecture)
The 2nd Nagoya Seminar on Green Synthesis & Catalysis (NSGSC-2), Nagoya, Japan 12/12, 2019
University of Toledo
8.
Kana Yamamoto “New Approaches for the syntheses of Nylon-11, 12, and 13 from Algal Lipid”
Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan, 1/16, 2014.
7.
Kana Yamamoto “I. A new method of conversion of omega-9 fatty acids to polymer units; II.
Progress in concise synthesis of Entecavir: from recycled newspaper to HCV drug”
University of Toledo, Department of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry, Toledo, OH, 12/8,
2013.
6.
Kana Yamamoto “Progress toward a catalytic amide bond formation”
Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, MI, 4/20, 2012.
5.
Kana Yamamoto “Progress toward a catalytic amide bond formation”
John-Caroll University, University Heights, OH, 2/1, 2012.
4.
Kana Yamamoto “Development of oxidative amide bond formation“
University of Toledo, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Toledo, OH, 11/3, 2011.
3.
Haoyi Yao and Kana Yamamoto “Oxidative Amide Bond Formation”
University of Akron, Department of Chemistry, Akron, OH, 3/9, 2011.
2.
Kana Yamamoto “The Organocatalytic Asymmetric Oxidation with Aminoxyl-Radical Catalyst– From Alcohol Oxidation to C-H Functionalization“ University of Toledo, Department ofMedicinal and Biological Chemistry, Toledo, OH, 12/11, 2008.
Bristol-Myers Squibb
1. Kana Yamamoto “From bench to plant: Process Development for multi-kg Synthesis of HMG CoA
Reductase Inhibitor” Mitsubishi Pharmaceutical Institute, Tokyo, August 2007
Honors and Award
2015
2009
2007
2007
2004
2000 – 2003
1995 – 1997
1993 – 1995

Best Poster Award – 80th Ei-ichi Negishi Symposium
Thieme Velag Journal Award
Bristol-Myers Squibb ChemStar Award – Dedication and Commitment to Excellence ina Thorough Evaluation of Candidates for the BMS Unrestricted Grants in Synthetic
Organic Chemistry
Bristol-Myers Squibb ChemStar Award – Contributions to FIH Campaign of the 11-b
HSD-1 Project (BMS-770767-02)
Bristol-Myers Squibb ChemStar Award – Contribution to FIH Campaign of the Statin
Project
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Helen-Hay Whitney Foundation
Graduate Fellowship, Ishizaka Foundation
JSPS (Japan Society of Promotion in Science) Fellowship for Graduate Program

Collaborators and Other Affiliations
Past Collaborators
Sridhar Viamajala, Assistant Professor,
Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH

Curriculum Vitae – Kana Yamamoto, Ph.D.

Sasidhar Varanasi, Professor,
Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH“Alkaliphlic microalgae-based sustainable and scalable processes for renewable fuels and products.”
Graduate Advisors and Postdoctoral Sponsors
Clayton H. Heathcock, Chief Scientist, QB3 Berkeley; Emeritus Faculty, University of California,
BerkeleySamuel J. Danishefsky, Professor, Columbia University;
Principal Investigator, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research.
Continuation of Grant Support (*designates student/postdoctoral fellowships)
Recent Grants: (* designates Student Fellowships)
Grant Received:
Project/Proposal Title: Asymmetric Construction of Phosphorous Stereocenters
Source of Support: Sumitomo Foundation
Total Award Amount: ¥ 1500,000
Location of the Project: Waseda University.
Total Award Period Covered: 11/01/2021 – 10/31/2022 (extendable)
Investigators: Kana Yamamoto (PI)Project/Proposal Title: Oxidation reactions promoted by self-assembled catalyst based on flavincofactor.
Source of Support: Grants in aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI).
Total Award Amount: ¥4,290,000 (direct: ¥3,300,000; indirect: ¥990,000)
Location of the Project: Waseda University.
Total Award Period Covered: 04/01/2019 – 03/31/2023 (extended 1 year)
Investigators: Kana Yamamoto (PI)Completed Research Grant Support:
Project/Proposal Title: Toward asymmetric synthesis of phosphorous stereocenters: Phosphorous
atom oxygenation involving dynamic kinetic resolution
Source of Support: Tokyo Ohka Foundation for The Promotion of Science and Technology
Total Award Amount: ¥ 900,000
Location of the Project: Waseda University.
Total Award Period Covered: 04/01/2021 – 03/31/2022
Investigators: Kana Yamamoto (PI)Project/Proposal Title: Development of Environmentally Benign catalysts with Flavin cofactor
derivativesSource of Support: The Uehara Memorial Foundation
Total Award Amount: ¥5,000,000
Location of the Project: Waseda University.
Total Award Period Covered: 04/01/2019 – 03/31/2020
Investigators: Kana Yamamoto (PI)Project/Proposal Title: Mechanistic investigations and application of the Baeyer-Villiger reaction
promoted by flavinium-cinchona alkaloid dimer ion-pair catalyst.
Source of Support: National Institute of Health
Total Award Amount: $442,500 (direct: $300,000; indirect: $142,500) – withdrew forCurriculum Vitae – Kana Yamamoto, Ph.D.

Location of the Project: The University of Toledo.
Total Award Period Covered: 09/30/2017 – 08/31/2020
Investigators: Kana Yamamoto (PI); Xiche Hu (co-PI)
Project/Proposal Title: SEP Collaborative: Alkaliphlic microalgae-based sustainable and scalable
processes for renewable fuels and products.
Source of Support: National Science Foundation
Total Award Amount: $1,685,310 (direct: $950,000; indirect: $735.310)
Location of the Project: The University of Toledo
Total Award Period Covered: 09/15/2012 – 08/31/2016
Investigators: Sridhar Viamajala (PI), Sasidnar Varanasi (co-PI), Kana Yamamoto (co-PI)
Travel Supports:• The University of Toledo ($1000 for attending Fall 2013 ACS National Meeting)2013• The University of Toledo ($500 for attending 2012 Gordon Conference, Stereochemistry) 2012
Project/Proposal Title: Commercial assessment and development of a new technology for bio-sourced
Nylon 11–13 productions.
Source of Support: National Science Foundation (I-Corps Team Program)Total Award Amount: $50,000
Location of the Project: The University of Toledo
Total Award Period Covered: 07/01/2015 – 12/31/2015
Investigators: Kana Yamamoto (PI), Kelvin Okamoto (mentor)
Project/Proposal Title: Fuels and products from alkaliphilic microalgae
Source of Support: University of Toledo, Interdisciplinary Research Initiation Program
Total Award Amount: $100,000 (shared among 4 P.I.s, $16,667 designated for KY)
Location of the Project: The University of Toledo
Total Award Period Covered: 6/2012-12/2013*Project/Proposal Title: Metal-Free, Aerobic Dehydrogenation of 1,3,5-Pyrazolines, 1,4Dihydropyridines, and 3,4-Dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones.
Sponsor: University of Toledo, First Year Student Research (FYSRE).
Amount: $2500, P.I.: Kana Yamamoto, Student: Sierra Parker, Status: Funded.
Period Covered: 6/2013-8/2013*Project/Proposal Title: Development of a Metal-Free, Aerobic Oxidation of Azolines to Azoles
Sponsor: University of Toledo, Undergraduate Summer Research and Creative Activity Program(USRCAP).
Amount: $3000, P.I.: Kana Yamamoto, Student: Joshua Staffeld, Status: Funded.
Period Covered: 6/2013-8/2013
Project/Proposal Title: A New Strategy for Green Amide Bond Formation.
Source of Support: University of Toledo, Summer Research Award and Fellowships Program
Total Award Amount: $11,200
Location of the Project: The University of Toledo
Total Award Period Covered: 6/2010-8/2010
Project/Proposal Title: Aminoxyl radical catalyzed oxidation.
Source of Support: University of Toledo, Summer Research Award and Fellowships ProgramTotal Award Amount: $11,500
Location of the Project: The University of Toledo
Total Award Period Covered: 6/2009-8/2009*Project/Proposal Title: Stereoselective Oxidative Reactions with Bicyclic Aminoxyl Radical

Curriculum Vitae – Kana Yamamoto, Ph.D.

Sponsor: University of Toledo, Undergraduate Summer Research and Creative Activity Program(USRCAP).
Amount: $1750, P.I.: Kana Yamamoto, Student: Evan Bruneau, Status: Funded.
Period Covered: 6/2009-8/2009