Robert Burns Woodward
Pioneering organic chemist, renowned for complex natural product synthesis.
Chronology: 1917-04-10 – 1979-07-08
Origins & Early Life
Robert Burns Woodward (April 10, 1917 – July 8, 1979) was an American organic chemist, who is considered by many to be the preeminent synthetic organic chemist of the twentieth century. Through his career, he made many key contributions to the subject, especially in the synthesis of complex natural products and the determination of their molecular structure. He worked closely with Roald Hoffmann on theoretical studies of chemical reactions, and also with Albert Eschenmoser. He received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1965 “for his outstanding achievements in the art of organic synthesis.” == Early life and education == Woodward was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 10, 1917.
Pivotal Works & Achievements
He was the son of Margaret Burns (an immigrant from Scotland who claimed to be a descendant of the poet, Robert Burns) and her husband, Arthur Chester Woodward, himself the son of Roxbury apothecary, Harlow Elliot Woodward. His father was one of the many victims of the 1918 influenza pandemic. From a very early age, Woodward was attracted to and engaged in private study of chemistry while he attended a public primary school, and then Quincy High School, in Quincy, Massachusetts. By the time he entered high...
Enduring Legacy & Impact
The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.
Source: Wikipedia