 |
|
TURRO, NICHOLAS J
(1938- )
PhD, CALTECH, 1963 |
| Turro is a cutting-edge researcher who is leading
advances in the use of photochemistry and spectroscopy to reveal
the structure and dynamics of supramolecular systems. He is
the William P. Schweitzer professor of chemistry at Columbia
University. He is a member of National Academy of Science and
is the author of the standard textbook in the field of photochemisty,
Modern Molecular Photochemistry and over 700 scientific papers.
Turro has recently received the NSF’s Director’s
Award for Distinguished Teaching Scholars. |
 |
|
HAMMOND, GEORGE SIMMS
(1921- )
PhD, HARVARD, 1947 |
| George S. Hammond is widely
and rightly considered as one of the “father s of modern
mechanistic organic photochemistry”. In the late 1950’s
he initiated as series of investigations of photochemical
reactions in solution the exposed the rich information that
was available about excited states through the judicious integration
of spectroscopy and physical organic chemistry. Hammond was
also a leader in many other areas of organic chemistry such
as carbonium ion chemistry and free radical chemistry. The
“Hammond Postulate” is a key concept in reaction
mechanisms. His photochemical research group at Caltech spawned
many leaders in the field of organic photochemistry. For more
on George Hammond see: http://chem.pdx.edu/~wamserc/Hammond/
For a tribute to Professor Hammond on the occasion of his
80th birthday, click here.
|
 |
|
BARTLETT, PAUL DOUGHTY
(1907-1999)
PhD, HARVARD, 1931 |
Paul D. Bartlett is widely and
rightly recognized as one of the “the fathers of modern
physical organic chemistry.”
His investigations of reaction intermediates, kinetics and
reaction mechanisms set the style for future generations
of
physical organic chemists. Many of his investigations of
carbonium ions, free radicals, biradicals peroxide decomposition
and
cycloaddition reactions remain classic exemplars of systematic
correlations of molecular structure and chemical reactivity. |
 |
|
CONANT, JAMES BRYANT
(1893-1978)
PhD, HARVARD, 1916 |
He investigated the mechanism of mustard gas synthesis and
SN2 reactions; discovered the presence of copper in hemocyanin
and showed that the prosthetic group was non-porphyrinic and
contains sulfur. He also studied high pressure polymerization
of olefins and was first to clearly distinguish kinetic and
thermodynamic controls. |
 |
|
KOHLER, ELMER PETER
(1865-1938)
PhD, JOHNS HOPKINS, 1892 |
Kohler discovered 1,4 addition to alpha, beta
unsaturated ketones; carried out comprehensive studies of tautomerism,
isomerism, and configuration of unsaturated compounds. He also
discovered alpha disulfones, alpha-ketosulfones, and isoxazoline
oxides. Additionally, the first to resolve allene into optical
isomers and prepared the first darylmethyl free radical. |
 |
|
REMSEN, IRA
(1846-1927)
PhD, GOTTINGEN, 1870 |
Remsen is known for defining rules governing
the oxidation of aromatic sidechains and the protective effect
of ortho substituents. He also was the first to synthesize saccharin
and attemped the first reaction that tried to prove the existence
of a reactive intermediate by a trapping experiment. He also
wrote several influential organic chemistry textbooks. |
 |
|
FITTIG, WILHELM RUDOLPH
(1835-1910)
PhD, GOTTINGEN, 1858 |
In addition to jointly discovering the Wurtz-Fittig
reaction for synthesis of alkylbenzenes, Fittig discovered a
large number of organic compounds such as pinacol and biphenyl.
He identified and synthesized the first lactones, isolated phenanthrene
from tar and did in depth investigations into the structures
of napthalene and fluorene. |
 |
|
LIMPRICHT, HEINRICH FRANZ PETER
(1827-1909)
PhD, GOTTINGEN, 1850 |
Limprict was one of the early organic chemists who studied
a wide range of organic compounds ranging from amino acids
to chlorine substituted aromatics to pyrrole. He developed
many new syntheses for aliphatic acids, alcohols, and aldehydes.
Included in his accomplishments are the syntheses of anthracene
and diphenylacetylene. |
 |
|
WOHLER, FRIEDRICH
(1800-1882)
PhD, HEIDELBERG, 1823 |
Initially a medical student studying under Gmelin, Wohler
was sent to pursue chemistry in depth with Berzelius at Heidelberg.
He successfully synthesized urea from ammonium cyanate demonstrating
the relationship between organic and inorganic chemistry and
introduced the concept of intramolecular rearrangement of
atoms. In his studies he discovered Al, Be, and Y and formulated
the compound-radical theory. |
 |
|
Von BERZELIUS, JOHNS JACOB
(1779-1848)
PhD, UPPSALA, 1802 |
| Berzelius made contributions of great importance
to the field of chemistry. He was the first person to use the
term “organic chemistry” and began to define the
subject as we know it by writing one of the first Organic Chemistry
textbooks. He discovered Ce, Se, Si, and Th and suggested the
use of one and two letter symbols to represent all elements.
He generated the first accurate list of atomic weights and invented
the mercury cathode. He proposed many explanations and gave
names to phenomena such as electronegativity, catalysis and
polymerization. During the first half of the 19th century Berzelius
was considered the leading chemical authority. |
 |
|
AFZELIUS, JOHANN
(1753-1837)
PhD, UPPSALA, 1776 |
| Following in the footsteps of Bergman,
Afzelius continued to develop methods of quantitative analysis
of inorganic compounds. He also spent time studying oxalic and
formic acid, the latter he isolated from ants. |
 |
|
BERGMAN, TOBERN OLOF
(1735-1784)
PhD, UPPSALA, 1758 |
Bergman made great contributions to the field of inorganic
chemistry. He founded current methods of quantitative inorganic
analysis, specifically for determining Ca, Pb, and sulfuric
acid. He introduced the binomial nomenclature system for salts
and drew up comprehensive tables of chemical affinities. In
addition to his chemistry, Bergman made contributions in the
fields of physics and geology, being the first person to classify
rocks based on their chemical composition. |
| |
|
FERRER, BENGT
UPPSALA UNIV., approx. 1751 |
|
Designed astronomical instruments; in charge of preparing for observation of Halley's comet in 1759 and Venus in 1761; industrial spy for the King of Sweden while in England. |
| |
|
KLINGENSTIERNA, SAMUEL
L.L.B., UPPSALA UNIV., 1717 |
Provided first comprehensive theory for design of lenses that are achromatic and lack spherical aberration. |
| |
|
DUHRE, ANDERS G.
UPPSALA UNIV., approx. 1711 |
Wrote one of the first textbooks on algebra in Swedish. |
| |
|
ELVIUS, PETRUS (THE ELDER)
M.A., UPPSALA UNIV., 1688 |
Wrote textbooks on astronomical observation; designed a planetarium based on Copernican theory; pioneered giving lectures in Swedish rather than Latin. |
| |
|
HOFFVENIUS, PETRUS
M.D., LEIDEN UNIV., 1660 |
Called the father of Swedish medicine; studied the pineal gland and respiration. |
| |
|
VAN DER LINDEN, JOHANNES A.
M.D., UNIV. OF FRANEKER, 1630 |
Professor of medicine, anatomy and botany; philologist and publisher; published books on physiology, milk, and venereal diseases. |
| |
|
WINSEMIUS, MENELAUS
M.D., LEIDEN UNIV., 1613 |
Professor of medicine, anatomy and botany; improved botanical gardens at Univ. of Franeker. |
| |
|
PAUW, PETRUS
M.D., UNIV. ROSTOCK, 1587 |
Wrote a text on skeletal anatomy; described frontal and maxillary sinuses and intestinal valves. |
| |
|
BRUCAESUS, HENRICUS
COLLEGE ROYAL, PARIS, approx. 1550
M.D. (HON.), UNIV. BOLOGNA, approx. 1560 |
Professor of mathematics and medicine; wrote texts on plague, scurvy, and mathematics of spheres and motion. |
| |
|
RAMUS, PETRUS
M.A., PHILOSOPHY, PARIS, 1536 |
Professor of philosophy and mathematics; champion of revival of arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and physics in the educational curriculum (which had fallen into neglect) by emphasizing the practical origins and applications of these subjects. Ramus studied under Jean Le Hennuyer, a Dominican theologian. |
