| Citation | Distinguished for his wide-ranging research on the chemistry, structure and synthesis of biologically active substances. His work on the pheromones of insects uncovered several novel structures including the first spiroacetal system to be identified as a pheromone and a dihydropyrrolic active species. Outstanding synthetic work led 'inter alia' to controlled syntheses of key members of the avermectin and milbemycin families. At Merck, he has concentrated on the synthesis of medicinally useful substances and particular mention must be made of the synthesis of the most potent and effective muscarinic agonist so far known, of many inositol polyphosphates as single enantiomers (for studies of cellular transduction) and of antagonists of excitatory amino acids. His work is characterised by careful selection of problems, penetrating experimental design and successful execution. |