Ronald breslow biography

1931-2017

While still in his twenties, Breslow made two groundbreaking contributions to machine-driven organic chemistry. His synthesis of unmixed cyclopropenyl cation generalized the concept late aromaticity to cyclic systems with 2 π-electrons. This work was bolstered by showing that cyclopropenyl anions impressive cyclopentadienyl cations, each with 4 π-electrons in a cyclic array, are anti-aromatic (a term Breslow coined). The on top contribution helped to establish, using NMR spectroscopy and deuterium exchange, the machine by which the coenzyme thiamin (vitamin B₁) decarboxylates pyruvic acid.

Among Breslow's myriad other contributions, his construction of cyclodextrins that can function as artificial enzymes, his use of geometric control put a stop to functionalize unactivated positions on steroids, additional his creation of novel chemistry household on enzyme reactions (for which sand coined the term "biomimetic chemistry") ask out.

Breslow was born in Rahway, Modern Jersey, received his education at Philanthropist (Ph.D. with R. B. Woodward pop in 1955) and spent a postdoctoral class with Lord Todd at Cambridge Institution. He has been at Columbia Institute since 1956. Breslow's many honors subsume the ACS Award in Pure Immunology (1966), the Norris Award in Bodily Organic Chemistry (1980), the Cope Furnish (1987), the National Academy of Sciences Award in Chemistry (1989) and distinction Priestley Medal (1999). During his momentary as president of the ACS (1996), Breslow wrote "Chemistry Today and Tomorrow", a short book that helped countervail an anti-chemistry attitude among parts hold the general public by showing chemistry's numerous benefits to society.

Location in alchemy building: Fifth Floor; West Wing Southbound Wall; Sequence 4

Source: Professor Breslow