| 1 | Name: | Dr. John D. Roberts | |
| Institution: | California Institute of Technology | ||
| Year Elected: | 1974 | ||
| Class: | 1. Mathematical and Physical Sciences | ||
| Subdivision: | 102. Chemistry and Chemical Biochemistry | ||
| Residency: | Resident | ||
| Living? : | Deceased | ||
| Birth Date: | 1918 | ||
| Death Date: | October 29, 2016 | ||
An organic chemist of great distinction, John D. Roberts was Institute Professor of Chemistry, Emeritus at the California Institute of Technology at the time of his death October 29, 2016, at age 98. He had served on the faculty since 1953. After earning his Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1944, he taught at Harvard University (1945-46) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1946-53). The recipient of the American Chemical Society's Pure Science Award (1954) and the Roger Adams Award in organic chemistry (1967), Dr. Roberts was well known for his original discoveries regarding organic compounds, including structure and uses of the Grignard reagent, and his pioneering use of techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance. He served as editor-in-chief of Organic Syntheses (vol. 41) and had written numerous articles in scientific journals and books including Molecular Orbital Calculations (1961), Modern Organic Chemistry (1967) and (with R. Stewart and M.C. Caserio) Organic Chemistry Methane to Macromolecules (1971). He is the recipient of the American Chemical Society's top prize, the Priestley Medal in 1987, the National Medal of Science in 1990, and in 2013 American Institute of Chemists Gold Medal. | |||