Stephen DiMagno

Mechanistic, synthetic and physical aspects of organic, bioorganic and bioinorganic chemistry; physical organic chemistry; molecular recognition; fluorine chemistry and the design of fluorinated drugs; medicinal chemistry; radiochemistry, PET diagnostics, targeted radiotherapy.

(57) A Trifunctional Theranostic Ligand Targeting Fibroblast Activation Protein-α (FAPα), Kelly, James; Ponnala, Shashikanth; Amor-Coarasa, Alejandro; Zia, Nicholas; Nikolopoulou, Anastasia; Williams, Clarence; Schlyer, David; DiMagno, Stephen; Donnelly, Paul; Babich, John, Molecular Imaging and Biology, 2021, published online 3/15/2021, DOI: 10.1007/s11307-021-01593-1. PMID: 33721173

(56) Preclinical evaluation of a high affinity sarcophagine-containing PSMA ligand for 64Cu/67Cu-based theranostics in prostate cancer, Kelly, James; Ponnala, Shashikanth; Amor-Coarasa, Alejandro; Zia, Nicholas; Nikolopoulou, Anastasia; Williams, Clarence; Schlyer, David; DiMagno, Stephen; Donnelly, Paul; Babich, John, Molecular Pharmaceutics, 2020, 17, 1954–1962, DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.0c00060.

(55) Albumin-Binding PSMA Ligands: Implications for Expanding the Therapeutic Window, James M. Kelly, Alejandro Amor-Coarasa, Shashikanth Ponnala, Anastasia Nikolopoulou, Clarence Williams Jr., Stephen G. DiMagno, John W. Babich, Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 2019, 60, 656-663. DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.118.221150.

(54) A Single Dose of 225Ac-RPS-074 Induces a Complete Tumor Response in a LNCaP Xenograft Model James M. Kelly, Alejandro Amor-Coarasa1, Shashikanth Ponnala, Anastasia Nikolopoulou, Clarence Williams Jr., Nikki A. Thiele, David Schlyer, Justin J. Wilson, Stephen G. DiMagno, John W. Babich, Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 2019, 60, 649-655 published online November 9, 2018. DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.118.219592.

(53) Improved, One-pot Synthesis of 6-[18F]Fluorodopamine and Quality Control Testing for Use in Patients with Neuroblastoma, Amy L. Vāvere, Kiel D. Neumann, Elizabeth R. Butch, Stephen G. DiMagno, and Scott E. Snyder, Journal of Labelled Compounds and Radiopharmaceuticals, 2018, 61, 1069-1080. DOI: 10.1002/jlcr.3685

(52) Thermolysis and Radiofluorination of Diaryliodonium Salts Derived from Anilines, Ethan J. Linstad, Amy L. Vāvere, Bao Hu, Jayson J. Kempinger, Scott E. Snyder, and Stephen G. DiMagno, Org. & Biomol. Chem. 2017, 15, 2246 – 2252. Published on line 2/17/17; DOI: 10.1039/C7OB00253J; PubMed PMID: 28230886

(51) Dual-Target Binding Ligands with Modulated Pharmacokinetics for Endoradiotherapy of Prostate Cancer, James M. Kelly, Alejandro Amor-Coarasa, Anastasia Nikolopoulou, Till Wustemann, Peter Barelli, Dohyun Kim, Clarence Williams Jr., Xiwei Zheng, Cong Bi, Bao Hu, J. David Warren, David S. Hage, Stephen G. DiMagno, and John W. Babich, J. Nucl. Med. 2017, 58, 1442-1449. Published on line 4/27/17; DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.116.188722.

(50) Radioiodinated Adeno-Associated Virus Capsids Facilitate In Vivo Non-Invasive Tracking of Gene Transfer, Kothari P, De B, He B, Chen A, Chiuchiolo M, Kim D, Nikolopoulou A, Amor-Coarasa A, Dyke JP, Voss HU, Kaminsky SM, Foley CP, Vallabhajosula S, Hu B, DiMagno SG, Sondhi D, Crystal RG, Babich JW, Ballon D. Scientific Reports, 2017, 7, 39594. Published on line 1/6/17; https://doi.org/10.1038/srep39594.

(49) Efficient Automated Syntheses of High Specific Activity 6-[18F]Fluorodopamine Using a Diaryliodonium Salt Precursor, Kiel D. Neumann, Linlin Qin, Amy L. Vāvere, Bin Shen, Zheng Miao, Frederick T. Chin, Scott E. Snyder, and Stephen G. DiMagno Journal of Labelled Compounds and Radiopharmaceuticals. 2016, 59, 30–34. DOI: 10.1002/jlcr.3367

(48) Preparation and Transport of Gaseous 18F-Synthons: 18F-Acyl Fluorides, Huailei Jiang, Stephen G. DiMagno, and Timothy R. DeGrado, J. Fluorine Chem. 2015, 180, 181-185. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfluchem.2015.09.012.

(47) A Mild and General One-Pot Synthesis of Densely Functionalized Diaryliodonium Salts, Linlin Qin, Bao Hu, Kiel D. Neumann, Ethan J. Linstad, Katelyenn McCauley, Jordan Veness, Jayson J. Kempinger, and Stephen G. DiMagno, Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2015, 5919-5924. Published on line 8/14/2015; DOI: 10.1002/ejoc.201500986.

(46) A Practical Automated Synthesis of meta-[18F]Fluorobenzylguanidine for Clinical Use, Bao Hu, Amy L. Vāvere, Kiel D. Neumann, Stephen G. DiMagno, and Scott E. Snyder, ACS Chemical Neuroscience 2015, 6, 1870–1879. DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.5b00202.

(45) Reactivities of vinyl azides and their recent applications in nitrogen heterocycle synthesis, Bao Hu and Stephen G. DiMagno Org. Biomol. Chem. 2015, 13, 3844 - 3855, DOI: 10.1039/C5OB00099H. PMID: 25757054.

(44) An Alternative to the Sandmeyer Approach to Aryl Iodides, Bao Hu, William H. Miller, Kiel D. Neumann, Ethan J. Linstad, and Stephen G. DiMagno Chem. Eur. J. 2015, 21, 6394–6398, Published April 20, 2015. DOI:10.1002/chem.201500151, PMID: 25757054.

(43) In Vivo Biodistribution of No-Carrier-Added 6-18F-Fluoro-3,4-Dihydroxy-L-Phenylalanine (18F-DOPA), Produced by a New Nucleophilic Substitution Approach, Compared with Carrier-Added 18F-DOPA, Prepared by Conventional Electrophilic Substitution, Willem-Jan Kuik, Ido P. Kema, Adrienne H. Brouwers, Rolf Zijlma, Kiel D. Neumann, Rudi A.J.O. Dierckx, Stephen G. DiMagno, and Philip H. Elsinga J. Nucl. Med. 2015, 56, 106-112. (DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.114.145730) PMID: 25500826.

(42) Fluorinated Porphyrins and Corroles: Synthesis, Electrochemistry, and Applications, J. C. Biffinger, H. Sun, S. G. DiMagno, Fluorine in Heterocyclic Chemistry. V. Nenajdenko, Ed., 2013, Springer.

(41) Replacement of BF4- by PF6- makes Selectfluor greener, Z. Jina, Xua, S. G. DiMagno, G. B. Hammond, J. Fluor. Chem. 2012, 143, 226–230 (DOI: 10.1016/j.jfluchem.2012.05.010)

(41) Unprecedented Directing Group Ability of Cyclophanes in Arene Fluorinations with Diaryliodonium Salts, J. W. Graskemper, B. Wang, L. Qin, K. D. Neumann, S. G. DiMagno, Org. Lett. 2011, 13, 3158-3161 (DOI: 10.1021/ol201080c).

(40) Ligand Fluorination to Optimize Preferential Oxidation (PROX) of Carbon Monoxide by Water-Soluble Rhodium Porphyrins, J. C. Biffinger, S. Uppaluri, H. Sun, and S. G. DiMagno, ACS Catalysis, 2011, 1, 764–771. (DOI: 10.1021/cs2001187.)

(39) Fluoride-promoted ligand exchange reactions of iodonium salts, B. Wang, R. L. Cerny, S. Uppaluri, J. J. Kempinger, and S. G. DiMagno, J. Fluorine Chem. 2010, 131, 1113-1121. (DOI: 10.1016/j.jfluchem.2010.04.004).

(38) Regiospecific reductive elimination from diaryliodonium salts, B. Wang, J. W. Graskemper L. Qin, and S. G. DiMagno, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010, 49, 4079-4083. (DOI: 10.1002/anie.201000695); also published as Angew. Chem. 2010, 122, 4173-4177.

(37) Improved Arene Fluorination with I(III) Salts, B. Wang, H. Sun, L. Qin, K. D. Neumann, S. Uppaluri, R. L. Cerny, and S. G. DiMagno, Org. Lett. 2010, 12¸3352-3355.

(36) Rapid Preparation of Fluorinated Aromatic Heterocycles, H. Sun, A.S Koch, and S. G. DiMagno, ACS Symposium Series 2009, 1003(Fluorinated Heterocycles), 85-104.

(35) A Method for Detecting Water in Organic Solvents, H. Sun, B. Wang, S. G. DiMagno, Organic Letters, 2008, 10, 4413-4416. (Highlight: ACS Noteworthy Chemistry, November 10, 2008)

(34) Ion pairing of “weakly-coordinated” fluoride salts H. Sun, B. Wang, and S. G. DiMagno, Chemistry Today, 2008, 26, 4-6.

(33) Competitive Demethylation and Substitution in Trimethylanilinium Fluorides, H. Sun and S. G. DiMagno, J. Fluorine Chem. 2007, 128, 806-812. 

(32) Fluoride relay: a new concept for the rapid preparation of anhydrous nucleophilic fluoride salts from KF, H. Sun, S. G. DiMagno, Chem. Comm. 2007, 528-529.

(31) Tetra-n-butylammonium Fluoride, Electronic Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis, 2007, DOI:10.1002/9780470842898.rt015.pub2. Article Online Posting Date: March 15, 2007

(30) Single Enantiomer, Chiral Donor-Acceptor Metal Complexes from Bisoxazoline Pseudoracemates, J. M. Atkins, S. A. Moteki, S. G. DiMagno, and J. M. Takacs, Org. Lett., 2006, 8¸ 2759-2762.

(29) The Strength of Weak Interactions: Aromatic Fluorine in Drug Design, S. G. DiMagno and H. Sun, Curr. Top. Med. Chem., 2006, 6, 1473-1482.

(28) Room-Temperature Nucleophilic Aromatic Fluorination: Experimental and Theoretical Studies, H. Sun and S. G. DiMagno, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2006, 45, 2720-2725. (Hot Paper, Web publication 3/20/06). Also Angew. Chem. 2006, 118, 2786-2791.

(27) Anhydrous Tetrabutylammonium Fluoride, H. Sun and S. G. DiMagno, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 250-251.

(26) Ion-pairing in Tetraphenylporphyrin Oxidation: A Semiquantitative Study, Haoran Sun , Justin C. Biffinger and Stephen G. DiMagno, Dalton Trans., 2005, 3148-3154.

(25) The Polar Hydrophobicity of Fluorinated Compounds, J. C. Biffinger, H. W. Kim, S. G. DiMagno, ChemBiochem 2004, 5, 622-627.

(24) Reversible Electrochemical Generation of Rh(II) Porphyrins: Thwarting Disproportionation with Weakly Coordinating Anions, H. Sun, R. Xue, A. P. Nelson, J. Redepenning and S. G. DiMagno, Inorg. Chem. 2003, 42, 4507-4509.

(23) Slow Electron Transfer Rates for Fluorinated Cobalt Porphyrins: Electronic and Conformational Factors Modulating Metalloporphyrin ET, H. Sun, V. V. Smirnov and S. G. DiMagno, Inorg. Chem. 2003, 42, 6032-6040.

(22) Differential Substituent Effects of -Halogens in Water-Soluble Porphyrins J. C. Biffinger, H. Sun, A. P. Nelson and S. G. DiMagno, Org. Biomol. Chem., 2003, 1, 733-736.

(21) Dipyrryl and Porphyrinic Precursors to Supramolecular Conjugated (Porphinato)metal Arrays. Syntheses of Dipyrrylmethane and (5,15-Diphenylporphinato)zinc(II)., V. S.-Y. Lin, P. M. Iovine, S. G. DiMagno, and M. J. Therien, Inorg. Syntheses 2002, 33, 55-61. 

(20) On the Negligible Impact of Ruffling on the Electronic Spectra of Porphine, Tetramethylporphyrin, Perfluoroalkylporphyrins, A. K. Wertsching, A. S. Koch and S. G. DiMagno J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 3932-3937.

(19) Structure and Photophysics of -Octafluoro-meso-tetraarylporphyrins V. V. Smirnov, E. K. Woller, D. Tatman, and S. G. DiMagno Inorg. Chem., 2001, 40, 2614-2619.

(18) Umpolung of a Metal-Carbon Bond: A Potential Route to Porphyrin-Based Methane Functionalization Catalysts, A. P. Nelson and S. G. DiMagno J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 8569-8570.

(17) Polymerization of 3,4-Difluoropyrrole and Electrochemical Behaviour of Poly(difluoropyrrole), P. Audebert, F. Miomandre, S. G. DiMagno, V. V. Smirnov, and P. Hapiot, Chem. Mat. 2000, 12, 2025-2030.

(16) 19F NMR and Structural Evidence for Spin State Modulation of Co(II) in a Weak Field Porphyrin Ligand, V. V. Smirnov, E. K. Woller and S. G. DiMagno Inorg. Chem., 1998, 37, 4971-4978.

(15) Structure and Transport Properties of a Heavily-Fluorinated Carbohydrate Analogue, H. Kim, P. Rossi, R. Shoemaker, and S. G. DiMagno J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998, 120, 9082-9083.

(14) A Straightforward Synthesis of 3,4-Difluoropyrrole, E. K. Woller, V. V. Smirnov, and S. G. DiMagno J. Org. Chem. 1998, 63, 5706-5707.

(13) 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-Octafluoro-5,10,15,20-tetraarylporphyrins and their Zinc Complexes: First Spectroscopic, Electrochemical, and Structural Characterization of a Perfluorinated Tetraarylmetalloporphyrin, E. K. Woller and S. G. DiMagno, J. Org. Chem. 1997, 62, 1583-1588.

(12) Fluorous Biphasic Singlet Oxygenation with a Perfluoroalkylated Photosensitizer, S. G. DiMagno, P. H. Dussault, and J. A. Schultz, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996, 118, 5312-5313.

(11) Electronic Consequences of Nonplanar Core Conformations in Electron-Deficient Porphyrins: The Structure and Spectroscopic Properties of [5,10,15,20-Tetrakis(heptafluoropropyl)porphyrinato]cobalt(II), S. G. DiMagno, A. K. Wertsching, and C. R. Ross II, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1995, 117, 8279-80.

(10) Facile Synthesis of meso-Tetrakis(perfluoroalkyl)porphyrins: Spectroscopic Properties and X-Ray Crystal Structure of Highly Electron-Deficient 5,10,15,20-Tetrakis(heptafluoropropyl)porphyrin, S. G. DiMagno, R. A. Williams and M. J. Therien, J. Org. Chem. 1994, 59, 6943-6948.

(9) Exceptional Electronic Modulation of Porphyrins through meso-Arylethynyl Groups. Electronic Spectroscopy, Electronic Structure, and Electrochemistry of [5,15-Bis[(aryl)ethynyl]-10,20-diphenylporphinato]zinc(II) Complexes; X-ray Crystal Structures of [5,15-Bis[(4'-fluorophenyl)ethynyl]-10,20-diphenylporphinato]zinc(II) and 5,15-Bis[(4'-methoxyphenyl)ethynyl]-10,20-diphenylporphyrin, S. M. LeCours, S. G. DiMagno, and M. J. Therien, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996, 118, 11854-11864.

(8) Push-Pull Arylethynyl Porphyrins: New Chromophores That Exhibit Large Molecular First-Order Hyperpolarizabilities, S. M. LeCours, H.-W. Guan, S. G. DiMagno, C. H. Wang, and M. J. Therien, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996, 118, 1497-1503.

(7) Novel Acetylenyl Porphyrins: Key Structural Elements for Porphyrin-Based Polymers and Light-Harvesting Antenna, V. S.-Y. Lin, S. G. DiMagno and M. J. Therien, Science (Washington, D. C.) 1994, 264, 1105-1111.

(6) Facile Elaboration of Porphyrins via Metal-Mediated Cross-Coupling, S.G. DiMagno, V. S.-Y. Lin, and M. J. Therien, J. Org. Chem. 1993, 58, 5983-5993

(5) Catalytic Conversion of Simple Bromoporphyrins into Alkyl-, Aryl-, Pyridyl- and Vinyl-Substituted Porphyrins, S. G. DiMagno, V. S.-Y. Lin, and M. J. Therien, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1993, 115, 2513-2515.

(4) Pi-Stacking and Aggregation of Pyridinium-Substituted Indolizines, P. W. Carter, S. G. DiMagno, J. D. Porter, and A. Streitwieser, J. Phys. Chem. 1993, 97, 1085-1096.

(3) Reactivity of 1,2,3,3-Tetrakis[4-(dimethylamino)pyridinium-1-yl]cyclopropene, A. S. Feng, D. V. Speer, S. G. DiMagno, M. S. Konigs, and A. Streitwieser, J. Org. Chem. 1992, 57, 2902-2909.

(2) The Structure and Remarkable Stability of a Perpyridinium-Substituted Allyl Radical, S. G. DiMagno, K. C. Waterman, D. V. Speer, and A. Streitwieser, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1991, 113, 4679-81.

(1) EPR Spectroscopy of Mn+2:CaO An Advanced Physical Chemistry Laboratory Experiment, R. Moore, S. G. DiMagno, and H. W. Yoon, J. Chem. Ed., 1986, 63(9) 818-20.

Service Publications:

Book Review, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1997, 119, 5079-5080. 9

US Patents:

(23) Guanidinium Compounds, Stephen DiMagno and Bao Hu, US Pat. #10,112,893; 10/30/18.

(22) Radioiodinated Compounds, Stephen DiMagno and Bao Hu, US Pat. #10,053,423; 08/21/18.

(21) Processes and reagents for making diaryliodonium salts, Stephen DiMagno, US Pat. #9,278,959; 03/08/16.

(20) Fluorination of Aromatic Ring Systems, Stephen DiMagno, US Pat. #9,302,990; 04/05/16.

(19) Fluorination of Aromatic Ring Systems, Stephen DiMagno, US Pat. #8,604,213; 12/10/13.

(18) Iodonium Cyclophanes for Secure Arene Functionalization, Stephen DiMagno, US Pat. #8,546,578; 10/1/13.

(17) Detection and Quantitation of Anions, Stephen DiMagno and Ronald Cerny, US Pat. #8,377,704, 2/19/13.

(16) Methods and agents for preparing 18F-radiolabeled fluorinating agents, H. Sun and S. G. DiMagno, US Pat. #7,744,851, 6/29/2010.

(15) Anhydrous fluoride salts and methods for their production, H. Sun and S. G. DiMagno, US Pat. #7592,486, 9/22/2009

(14) 1H-Pyrrolo [2,3-D] Pyrimidine Derivatives and Methods of Use Thereof, M. Tanaka, Masahiro, C. Zhang, K. M. Shokat, A. L. Burlingame, K. Hansen, R. L. Bateman, S. G. DiMagno, US Pat. #7,429,596, 9/30/08.

(13) Heavily Fluorinated Sugar Analogs, S. G. DiMagno, US Pat. #6,392,032, 05/21/02.

(12) Octafluoro-meso-tetraarylporphyrins and Methods for Making These Compounds, S. G. DiMagno, US Pat. #6,124,452, 9/26/00.

(11) Electron-Deficient Porphyrins and Processes and Intermediates for Preparing Same, M. J. Therien and S. G. DiMagno US Pat. #6,100,392, 8/8/00.

(10) Heavily Fluorinated Sugar Analogs, S. G. DiMagno, US Pat. #6,013,790, 01/11/00. 

(9) Metal-Mediated Cross-Coupling with Ring-Metalated Porphyrins, M. J. Therien and S. G. DiMagno, US Pat. #5,986,090, 11/16/99.

(8) Porphyrins and Porphyrin Synthesis Techniques, M. J. Therien and G. DiMagno US Pat. #5,955,603, 9/21/99.

(7) Electron-Deficient Porphyrins and Processes and Intermediates for Preparing Same, M. J. Therien and S. G. DiMagno US Pat. #5,856,515, 1/5/99.

(6) Pyrrolic Compounds, M. J. Therien and S. G. DiMagno, US Pat. #5,817,830, 10/6/98.

(5) Hyperpolarizable Compounds and Devices Fabricated Therefrom, M. J. Therien and S. G. DiMagno, US Pat. #5,783,306, 7/21/98.

(4) Metal-Mediated Cross-Coupling with Ring-Metalated Porphyrins, M. J. Therien and S. G. DiMagno, US Pat. #5,756,723, 5/26/98.

(3) Electron-Deficient Porphyrins and Processes and Intermediates for Preparing Same, M. J. Therien and S. DiMagno US Pat. #5,599,924, 2/4/97.

(2) Metal-Mediated Cross-Coupling with Ring-Metalated Porphyrins, M. J. Therien and S. G. DiMagno, US Pat. #5,493,017, 2/20/96.

(1) Substituted Porphyrins, Porphyrin-Containing Polymers, and Synthetic Methods Therefor, M. J. Therien and S. G. DiMagno, US Pat. #5,371,199, 12/6/94.

employment History

Department Head, Pharmaceutical Sciences (2020-)
Interim Head, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (2019-2020)
Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences, UIC (2019-)
Interim Head, Medicinal Chemistry & Pharmacognosy (2019)
Associate Head for Research, MCP, (2018-2019)
Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, UIC (2016-2019)
Professor of Chemistry, UIC (2016-)
Co-Founder, Ikaria, Inc. (2016-)
Chemistry and Manufacturing Consultant (2013-)
Co-Founder, Ground Fluor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (2012-)
Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2008-2016)
Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1999-2008)
Visiting Professor, UCSF (Mol. Pharm.) 2004
Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1993-1999)

other appointments

American Chemical Society (Organic, Inorganic, and Fluorine Divisions)
Past Chair, ACS Fluorine Division
Society for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

UNL Arts and Sciences Outstanding Research & Creative Achievement Award (2012)
Beta Thea Pi Outstanding Educator Award (2012)
UNL Parents Association Recognition for Outstanding Contributions (2012)
Willa Cather Professorship (2015)