Niftali Yusubov was born on 3 August 1949. In 1966, he entered  Baku State University, Faculty of Chemistry, graduating in 1971. The same year he embarked on postgraduate studies in organic chemistry at the Institute of Admixtures, Academy of Sciences, and was then transferred to the Institute of Chemical Physics, USSR Academy of Sciences. He defended a PhD thesis in 1976, obtaining a ScD degree in 2005 and professorship in 2010. In 1981, he started his research and teaching activity at BSU, serving as a senior teacher and associate professor at the Department of Organic Chemistry. In 1977, he became secretary of BSU Komsomol Committee. From 1981 to 1993, he served as BSU vice-rector for international relations.

His major research field includes phosphorylation of carbonyl compounds. He has published 190 papers. Niftali Yusubov has supervised more than 10 master and three PhD students to completion.