| Citation | E. J. Corey is distinguished for his many seminal contributions to organic chemistry which have had enormous impact on the development of the logic of organic synthesis and on the strategy of retrosynthetic analysis, using high level computer programming. The candidate has invented many new reagents and reactions including sulfur ylides, organometallic reagents for C-C bond formation, asymmetric synthesis, catalytic enantioselective carbonyl addition and Diels-Alder reactions. Corey has pioneered elegant synthses of more than 100 complex natural products including prostaglandims, leukotrienes, terpenoids, steroids, macrolides, and antibiotics. He has contributed to the theory of stereoelectoronic effects, to the mechanisms of several enantio-selective reactions and to the mechanisms of cholesterol biosynthesis. His many honors include The National Medal of Science from the President of the United States (1988), the Japan Prize in Science (1989), and the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1990). Professor Corey has published over 800 papers and continues to illuminate the science and art of organic synthesis at the highest level of endeavour. |