| William Standish Knowles | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 1, 1917 Taunton, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Nationality | United States |
| Fields | Chemistry |
| Institutions | Thomas and Hochwalt Laboratories Monsanto Company |
| Alma mater | Columbia University |
| Doctoral advisor | Robert Elderfield |
| Known for | Chiral phosphine ligands that proved effective in the enantioselective synthesis of L-DOPA |
| Notable awards | Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2001) |
William S. Knowles (born June 1, 1917) is an American chemist. He was born in Taunton, Massachusetts. Knowles was one of the recipients of the 2001 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He shared half the prize with Ryōji Noyori for their work in asymmetric synthesis, specifically for his work in hydrogenation reactions. The other half was awarded to K. Barry Sharpless for his work in oxidation reactions.[1]
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Knowles attended boarding school in Berkshire, Massachusetts. He led his class academically.[2] Upon graduating high school, he was admitted to Harvard University after passing the College Board exams. Feeling that he was too young to go to college, Knowles spent a year at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massacusetts. At the end of the year, he captured his first award in chemistry, the school's $50 Boylston prize.[2]
After his year in prep school, Knowles attended Harvard, where he majored in chemistry, focusing on organic chemistry. He received his undergraduate degree in 1939, and attended Columbia University for graduate school.[2]
He shared half of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2001 with Ryōji Noyori; the other half of the Prize was awarded to K. Barry Sharpless for the development of catalytic asymmetric synthesis, which is a technology relevant to the preparation of many pharmaceuticals. Knowles led a team of researchers that developed chiral phosphine ligands that proved effective in the enantioselective synthesis of L-DOPA.[5][6] Knowles conducted this prize-winning research at Monsanto Company.
He currently resides in St. Louis, Missouri.
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