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complex natural products and organic methodology. Current position: professor of chemistry, Yale University Education: B.S., chemistry, Temple University; Ph.D., chemistry, Harvard University
Herzon on what gets his creative juices flowing: “Talking chemistry with my students. Nearly every success we’ve recorded has come directly from a student or from conversations with them.” What his colleagues say: “Seth’s research program is simply stunning in terms of demonstrated creativity, capacity to solve truly difficult problems in synthesis, and sheer innovation.”—Phil S. Baran, Scripps Research Institute
Frederic Stanley Kipping Award in Silicon Chemistry: Tamejiro Hiyama Sponsor: Dow Corning Citation: For the invention of silicon-based cross-coupling reaction and related synthetic reactions. Current position: professor emeritus, Kyoto University, and RDI Professor, Chuo University
Education: B.Eng., Kyoto University; M.Eng., Kyoto University; D.Eng., Kyoto University
Hiyama on his biggest research challenge: “Because C–Si bonds are quite stable in general, nucleophilic activation is essential for transmetalation from silicon to transition metals. This is the key of the silicon-based palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction and is applied to rhodium-catalyzed conjugate addition of organosilicon reagents to enones and enamides. Naturally, activation of more stable C–H or C–C bonds using transition-metal catalysts is the next challenge for making new C–C bonds.” What his colleagues say: “Although the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2010 was given for contributions to palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions, Tamejiro’s contributions to expand the approach to silicon-based cross-couplings are similarly remarkable. This was indeed a dream for
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many organosilicon chemists. Since this discovery in 1988, he has devoted himself to exploring the potential of silicon-based cross-couplings, inventing new reactions that have raised the synthetic value of silicon chemistry in organic syntheses. Needless to say, the reaction is now called Hiyama coupling.”—Ei-ichi Negishi, Purdue University
ACS Award for Encouraging Disadvantaged Students into Careers in the Chemical Sciences: Jani C. Ingram Sponsor: Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation
Citation: For her outstanding accomplishments in recruiting and mentoring students from underrepresented groups, especially American Indians and Alaskan Natives, into professional careers in chemistry.
Current position: professor of chemistry and biochemistry, Northern Arizona University Education: B.S., chemistry, New Mexico State University; Ph.D., chemistry, University of Arizona
Ingram on what she hopes to accomplish in the next decade: “I hope to see the number of Native Americans with Ph.D.s in chemistry increase by a factor of 100. There are not many of us now, so I believe that such a large increase is possible with the opportunities that exist as well as the issues that need to be addressed by people within Native American communities.” What her colleagues say: “American Indian and Alaskan Native (AIAN) professionals are the most severely underrepresented U.S. racial or ethnic group in STEM disciplines, and successful degree completion for even a few individuals can impact national totals. Over her time at NAU, Dr. Ingram has directly or indirectly recruited and mentored more than 200 AIAN students in chemistry and related STEM disciplines, at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Her identity as one of a handful of our native faculty in the sciences has been a magnet for minority students, and her insights into academic and cultural barriers have shaped her highly effective approach to mentoring.”— Laura Foster Huenneke, Northern Arizona University
ACS Award for Creative Invention: Robert S. Kania Sponsor: ACS Corporation Associates Citation: For work leading to the invention of axitinib (Inlyta), a novel VEGFR kinase inhibitor, as a treatment for renal cell carcinoma.
Current position: senior director of oncology drug design chemistry, Pfizer Education: B.S., chemistry, University of California, Berkeley; Ph.D., chemistry, Harvard University
Kania on what he hopes to accomplish in the next decade: “My goal over the next decade is to contribute to the discovery of a new cohort of small-molecule medicines to treat cancer. Each new breakthrough area in cancer gives me, and the colleagues I work with, opportunities to learn about breaking science and discover small-molecule drugs. Just like the rewarding experience of our drug discovery efforts directed toward finding antiangiogenic drugs and targeted therapies for specific tumor-intrinsic mutations, where we have seen our molecules reach patients, my hope is that our ongoing efforts will lead to the discovery of small-molecule drugs for immuno-oncology and epigenetic targets that will reach patients in the next 10 years.” What his colleagues say: “Rob’s invention of axitinib (Inlyta), a rationally designed inhibitor of VEGFR that is effective against a range of solid tumors, is one of the most significant of recent years in cancer chemotherapeutics. Inhibiting VEGFR with a small molecule had long been an unmet challenge. The invention of axitinib will not only benefit countless cancer sufferers but also stimulate further advances in other areas of medicine. Rob has continued to invent and achieve at an extraordinary level and will surely go on to other remarkable feats of discovery.”—E. J. Corey, Harvard University
ACS Award for Creative Work in Fluorine Chemistry: Erhard Kemnitz Sponsor: ACS Division of Fluorine Chemistry
Citation: For his studies on nanoscopic fluorinated materials that provided the foundation for a novel research field,
