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Matteson |
Grubbs |
Although his research has been broadly based, he is best known for his seminal developments in the fields of boronic ester chemistry and asymmetric synthesis. His chemistry is providing the key part of “Velcade,” a new anticancer drug in clinical use for treating multiple myeloma.
Grubbs is the Victor and Elizabeth Atkins Professor of Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology. He is an organic chemist whose work on catalysis has led to a wide variety of applications in medicine and industry.
In 2005, Grubbs and two others won the Nobel Prize in chemistry. They were cited specifically “for the development of the metathesis method in organic synthesis.”
Metathesis is an organic reaction in which certain atoms in a compound are selectively stripped out and replaced with atoms from another compound. The result is a custom-built molecule with specialized properties. This can lead to better drugs for the treatment of disease or better electrical conducting properties for specialized plastics, for example.
Other speakers at the symposium will include:
