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John W. Cornforth

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description John W. Cornforth Overview

John W. Cornforth (1929-2015) was a prominent British chemist specializing in organic stereochemistry and biosynthesis. His significant contributions centered on understanding how molecules are built during biological processes, notably in the area of plant hormones like abscisic acid. He developed innovative methods for analyzing complex organic compounds, particularly those involving silicon chemistry, impacting fields from polymer science to pharmaceutical research.

Cornforth’s work is primarily relevant to researchers and scientists engaged in areas of biochemistry, organic synthesis, and materials science.

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What did John W. Cornforth win the Nobel Prize for?

Sir John Warcup Cornforth won the 1975 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for work on the stereochemistry of enzyme-catalysed reactions. He shared the prize with Vladimir Prelog.

Was John Cornforth British or Australian?

Cornforth was born in Sydney, Australia, on 7 September 1917 and later worked for many years in Britain. He is often described as Australian-British.

Was John Cornforth known for organosilicon chemistry?

No, that is not his main scientific legacy. Cornforth is best known for organic chemistry, stereochemistry, cholesterol synthesis work, the Cornforth reagent, and the Cornforth rearrangement.

How did deafness affect John Cornforth's career?

Cornforth became profoundly deaf as a young man, but he continued in laboratory chemistry and research. His wife, Rita Harradence, was also a chemist and an important collaborator in his scientific life.