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The Woodward Research Institute, Robert Burns Woodward (1917–1979) and Chemistry behind the Glass Door
Author(s) -
Craig G. Wayne
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
helvetica chimica acta
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.74
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1522-2675
pISSN - 0018-019X
DOI - 10.1002/hlca.201100077
Subject(s) - chemistry , nobel laureate , polymer science , library science , art history , classics , history , art , literature , poetry , computer science
Certainly a highlight in the career of Nobel Laureate Professor Robert Burns Woodward (1917–1979) was the foundation of the Woodward Research Institute ( WRI ) at Ciba AG in Basel, Switzerland, in 1963. Woodward 's remarkable accomplishments in the development of organic chemistry altered not only our concepts of molecular structure, but also our comprehension of physico‐chemical properties. In his legacy, Woodward devised innovative strategies for natural product syntheses based on brilliant rationale of their properties and an uncanny sense of Nature. The chemistry community benefited not only at Harvard but especially in Basel and Zürich from Woodward 's inspiring lectures and the opportunity to learn from the chemistry Meister. This article highlights parts of the chemistry and some personalities that contributed to forefront investigations at the Woodward Research Institute which began at the former Novartis legacy company, Ciba AG , Basel.