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==Education==
==Education==
Knowles attended [[Berkshire School]] in [[Sheffield, Massachusetts]], [[Massachusetts]]. He led his class academically.<ref name=nobelbio>{{cite web|title=William S. Knowles - Autobiography|url=http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/2001/knowles.html|publisher=The Nobel Foundation|accessdate=2011-04-07}}</ref> Upon graduating high school, he was admitted to [[Harvard University]] after passing the [[College Board]] exams. Feeling that he was too young to go to college, Knowles spent a year at [[Phillips Academy]] in [[Andover, Massacusetts]]. At the end of the year, he captured his first award in chemistry, the school's $50 Boylston prize.<ref name=nobelbio />
Knowles attended [[Berkshire School]] in [[Sheffield, Massachusetts]].<ref name=boardingschoolreview>{{cite web|title=Famous Alumni|url=http://www.boardingschoolreview.com/listing-alumni.php|publisher=BoardingSchoolReview|accessdate=2012-04-14}}</ref> He led his class academically.<ref name=nobelbio>{{cite web|title=William S. Knowles - Autobiography|url=http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/2001/knowles.html|publisher=The Nobel Foundation|accessdate=2011-04-07}}</ref> Upon graduating high school, he was admitted to [[Harvard University]] after passing the [[College Board]] exams. Feeling that he was too young to go to college, Knowles spent a year at [[Phillips Academy]] in [[Andover, Massacusetts]]. At the end of the year, he captured his first award in chemistry, the school's $50 Boylston prize.<ref name=nobelbio />


After his year in prep school, Knowles attended Harvard, where he majored in [[chemistry]], focusing on [[organic chemistry]]. He received his undergraduate degree in 1939, and attended [[Columbia University]] for graduate school.<ref name=nobelbio />
After his year in prep school, Knowles attended Harvard, where he majored in [[chemistry]], focusing on [[organic chemistry]]. He received his undergraduate degree in 1939, and attended [[Columbia University]] for graduate school.<ref name=nobelbio />

Revision as of 22:41, 14 April 2012

William Standish Knowles
Born (1917-06-01) June 1, 1917 (age 107)
NationalityUnited States
Alma materColumbia University
Known forChiral phosphine ligands that proved effective in the enantioselective synthesis of L-DOPA
AwardsNobel Prize in Chemistry (2001)
Scientific career
FieldsChemistry
InstitutionsThomas and Hochwalt Laboratories
Monsanto Company
Doctoral advisorRobert Elderfield

William S. Knowles (born June 1, 1917) is an American chemist. He was born in Taunton, Massachusetts. Knowles was one of the recipients of the 2001 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He shared half the prize with Ryōji Noyori for their work in asymmetric synthesis, specifically for his work in hydrogenation reactions. The other half was awarded to K. Barry Sharpless for his work in oxidation reactions.[1]

Education

Knowles attended Berkshire School in Sheffield, Massachusetts.[2] He led his class academically.[3] Upon graduating high school, he was admitted to Harvard University after passing the College Board exams. Feeling that he was too young to go to college, Knowles spent a year at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massacusetts. At the end of the year, he captured his first award in chemistry, the school's $50 Boylston prize.[3]

After his year in prep school, Knowles attended Harvard, where he majored in chemistry, focusing on organic chemistry. He received his undergraduate degree in 1939, and attended Columbia University for graduate school.[3]

Awards and honors

Nobel Prize

He shared half of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2001 with Ryōji Noyori; the other half of the Prize was awarded to K. Barry Sharpless for the development of catalytic asymmetric synthesis, which is a technology relevant to the preparation of many pharmaceuticals. Knowles led a team of researchers that developed chiral phosphine ligands that proved effective in the enantioselective synthesis of L-DOPA.[6][7] Knowles conducted this prize-winning research at Monsanto Company.

Personal life

He currently resides in St. Louis, Missouri.

References

  1. ^ Attention: This template ({{cite pmid}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by PMID 16286647, please use {{cite journal}} with |pmid=16286647 instead.
  2. ^ "Famous Alumni". BoardingSchoolReview. Retrieved 2012-04-14.
  3. ^ a b c "William S. Knowles - Autobiography". The Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2011-04-07.
  4. ^ http://academyofsciencestl.org/initiatives/outstanding_scientists.php
  5. ^ http://www.academyofsciencestl.org/initiatives/outstanding_scientists/pdfs/AOS%20%20INVITE%202008.pdf
  6. ^ Vineyard, B. D.; Knowles, W. S.; Sabacky, M. J.; Bachman, G. L.; Weinkauff, D. J. (1977). "Asymmetric Hydrogenation. Rhodium Chiral Bisphosphine Catalyst". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 99 (18): 5946–5952. doi:10.1021/ja00460a018.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Knowles, W. S. (2002). "Asymmetric Hydrogenations (Nobel Lecture)". Angewandte Chemie International Edition. 41 (12): 1998–2007. doi:10.1002/1521-3773(20020617)41:12<1998::AID-ANIE1998>3.0.CO;2-8.

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