National Fresenius Award: Thomas J. Maimone Sponsor: Phi Lambda Upsilon, the National Chemistry Honor Society Citation: For accomplishments in the field of synthetic organic chemistry, especially in the development of streamlined synthetic routes to complex natural products. Current position: assistant professor of chemistry, University of California, Berkeley Education: B.S., chemistry, University of California, Berkeley; Ph.D., chemistry, Scripps Research Institute
Maimone on what gets his creative juices flowing: “Being presented with a new target molecule. It’s like meeting a new person. You might at first think you have met someone similar and have preconceived notions about them, but as you converse further you realize their uniqueness. If you find that you really like this new molecule (for either biological or structural reasons), you want to get to know it better—and ideally synthesize and study it.” What his colleagues say: “Total synthesis is a barometer for how the field of chemical synthesis is advancing, and the Maimone lab is leading the way in showing that it is possible to make even the most complex terpenes in a practical and innovative way. For anyone that thinks this field is stale, boring, or mature, please just look at the schemes of any one of his papers.”— Phil S. Baran, Scripps Research Institute
Kathryn C. Hach Award for Entrepreneurial Success: Javier García-Martínez Sponsor: Kathryn C. Hach Award Fund Citation: For his visionary leadership creating a successful, dynamic company bringing mesostructured zeolites to the refining industry.
Current position: professor of inorganic chemistry, University of Alicante Education: B.Sc., M.S., and Ph.D., chemistry, University of Alicante
García-Martínez on his biggest re-
search challenge: “I am very interested in the mechanism that allows zeolites to rearrange to incorporate mesoporosity into their structure. We have a lot of data that prove that the zeolite crystals reorganize themselves without dissolving, but the actual mechanism behind this new and puzzling phenomenon is still unclear. I am collaborating with some of the best scientists to solve this problem, but it is a major and exciting challenge that will keep us busy for several years.” What his colleagues say: “I have been impressed by Javier’s ability to build an excellent team of business and technical employees and advisers.”—Hong-Xin Li, Zeolyst International
ACS Award in Inorganic Chemistry: James M. Mayer Sponsor: Aldrich Chemical Citation: For explaining and applying the principles of proton-coupled electron-transfer reactions in catalysis and bioinorganic chemistry.
Current position: Charlotte Fitch Roberts Professor of Chemistry, Yale University Education: A.B., chemistry, Harvard University; Ph.D., chemistry, California Institute of Technology
Mayer on what he hopes to accomplish in the next decade: “The most important thing that I do is to mentor students and postdocs, to stimulate, challenge, and support them from the large freshman classroom to the one-on-one interactions in my research lab. The growth and success of the students is tremendously rewarding. Scientifically, I would like to expand the reach and influence of the concepts of proton-coupled electron transfer. The newest direction in my group is to explore the impact of these ideas in the chemistry of materials and interfaces.” What his colleagues say: “Jim’s research, which focuses on the chemistry and mechanism of atom and group transfer reactions, has been creatively conceived, thoughtfully analyzed, and beautifully executed. His early work aimed to understand the nature and opportunities for metal complexes with multiple bonds to O and N. As is typical of Jim and his scholarship, he did not just discover new reactions, he provided broad conceptual models in his book with Bill Nugent, “Metal-Ligand Multiple
Bonds,” and in insightful analyses in Accounts of Chemical Research. This work still stands as a landmark in the field.”—Richard Eisenberg, University of Rochester
ACS NEWS
ACS Award in Separations Science & Technology: Massimo Morbidelli Sponsor: Waters Corp. Citation: For outstanding sustained contributions in fundamental understanding of preparative chromatography and development of innovative processes for the application of continuous countercurrent chromatography in biomanufacturing.
Current position: professor of chemical reaction engineering and separation technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich Education: dottore in ingegneria chimica (equivalent to an M.S.), Politecnico di Milano; Ph.D., chemical engineering, University of Notre Dame
Morbidelli on what gets his creative juices flowing: “In my everyday life, I often end up discussing with my students some set of data that they produced or found in the literature. We always try to understand and explain at a fundamental level each detail behind these, and this inevitably generates a number of exciting questions and new ideas.” As good engineers, we then select a few based on their impact on industry and society.” What his colleagues say: “Morbidelli’s work has been instrumental in transforming the art of biochromatography into its science and engineering. Because of his contributions, more efficient, more robust, and more rapidly developed processes are possible today in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, improving the ability to bring drugs to the patient faster and with reduced cost.”—Giorgio Carta, University of Virginia
George A. Olah Award in Hydrocarbon or Petroleum Chemistry: Oliver C. Mullins Sponsor: George A. Olah Award Endowment Citation: For fundamental contributions codified in the Yen-Mullins model of JANUARY 8, 2018 | CEN.ACS.ORG | C&EN
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