Gilbert Stork

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For the president of Cuesta College, see Gilbert H. Stork.
Gilbert Stork
Born(1921-12-31)31 December 1921
Clayton Heathcock (1963‑64)
  • Steven M. Weinreb (1966‑67)
  • Andreas Pfaltz (1978‑79)
  • Eiichi Nakamura (1978‑80)
  • Varinder Aggarwal
    • (1986‑88)

    Gilbert Stork (December 31, 1921 – October 21, 2017)

    Emeritus at Columbia University.[3] He is known for making significant contributions to the total synthesis of natural products, including a lifelong fascination with the synthesis of quinine. In so doing he also made a number of contributions to mechanistic understanding of reactions, and performed pioneering work on enamine chemistry, leading to development of the Stork enamine alkylation.[3]: 111 [4]
    It is believed he was responsible for the first planned stereocontrolled synthesis as well as the first natural product to be synthesised with high stereoselectivity.[5]

    Stork was also an accomplished mentor of young chemists and many of his students have gone on to make significant contributions in their own right.

    Early years

    Gilbert Stork was born in the

    lycée studies, distinguishing himself in French literature and writing. Characterizing himself during those years as "not terribly self-confident," and uncertain whether he could find employment in a profession he enjoyed, Gilbert considered applying for a colonial civil service job in French Indochina.[5]
    However, the outbreak of World War II that year led the family to flee to New York, where his father's older brother, Sylvain, had already emigrated.

    Education

    Gilbert studied for a Bachelor of Science at the University of Florida, from 1940 to 1942. He then moved to the University of Wisconsin–Madison for this PhD, which he obtained in 1945 under the supervision of Samuel M. McElvain.[8] While at Wisconsin he met Carl Djerassi, with whom he would go on to form a lasting friendship.

    Career

    • 1946 Harvard University: Instructor; 1948 Assistant Professor
    • 1953 Columbia University: Associate Professor; 1955 Professor; 1967–1993 Eugene Higgins Professor; *1993 Professor Emeritus[9]

    Elected to

    Incidents

    The explosive steak

    During his time at the University of Wisconsin, Stork kept a steak on his windowsill in the winter in order to keep it refrigerated. The steak began to degrade and to dispose of it Stork put it in a hot acid bath used to clean glassware which contained nitric and sulphuric acids. He was then concerned he would produce nitroglycerine due to the glycerine in the steak and the presence of nitric and sulphuric acids. However, due to the high temperature of the bath, the oxidation of glycerol was much faster than the nitration of glycerin thus preventing the formation of explosives.[5]

    Awarded Honorary Fellowship or membership

    Awards

    Professor Stork received a number of awards and honors including the following:[11]

    Stork also held

    honorary doctorates from Lawrence University, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, the University of Paris, the University of Rochester, and Columbia University.[14][15]

    The inaugural Gilbert Stork Lecture was held in his honor in 2014 at his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-Madison.[3][16] Gilbert Stork named lecture series are also held at other institutions, including Columbia University[17] and the University of Pennsylvania, as a result of his endowments.[18]

    He was fêted for his sense of humor and colorful personality by historian of chemistry Jeffrey I. Seeman who published a collection of "Storkisms".[19]

    References

    1. PMID 29189811
      .
    2. S2CID 1109751
      .
    3. ^
      ISBN 978-1-86094-336-2
      . Retrieved December 1, 2016.
    4. doi:10.1021/ja01636a103
      .
    5. ^
      S2CID 42348686
      .
    6. ^
      doi:10.1016/j.tet.2011.10.007. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 1, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.Open access icon
    7. ^ "C&EN's Top 75". Chemical and Engineering News. January 12, 1998. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
    8. ^ "UW Madison Chemistry Newsletter for February 17, 2014 Mon". University of Wisconsin. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
    9. ^ Hoffman, Frances (1982). "Gilbert Stork: A Celebration of 35 Years in Research & Teaching". Aldrichimica Acta. 15: 1–10.
    10. ^ "Faculty Named to Learned Society". Columbia University Record. 20 (29). May 17, 1995. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
    11. ^ a b c d e "Emeritus Professor Gilbert Stork (Columbia University) was awarded an honorary member from the Chemical Society of Japan". Chemical Society of Japan. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
    12. ^ "Gilbert Stork". The Royal Society. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
    13. ^ "Ira Remsen Award". Maryland Section. November 14, 2018. Archived from the original on November 14, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
    14. ^ a b Morris, Colin (January 10, 2005). "Chemistry Department Continues Award-Winning Legacy". Columbia News. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
    15. ^ Richardson, Lynda (May 20, 1993). "COMMENCEMENTS; Columbia Chief Stresses Role of Teacher". The New York Times. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
    16. ^ "Seminars". UW Madison Chemistry Newsletter. October 27, 2014. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
    17. ^ "Named Lecture The Gilbert Stork Lecture". Columbia University. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
    18. ^ "Gilbert Stork Lecture". University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
    19. ^ Halford, Bethany (March 6, 2012). "Gilbert Stork on How Not to Dispose of a Steak". The Safety Zone. Retrieved March 6, 2012.

    External links

    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gilbert_Stork&oldid=1170113976"