Eric Jacobsen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eric Niels Jacobsen
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| Born | February 22, 1960 New York City, New York
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| Alma mater | New York University University of California, Berkeley |
| Known for | Jacobsen epoxidation Hydrogen-bond catalysis |
| Awards | Bristol-DTC-Syngenta Award, Remsen Award, Fannie–Cox Teaching Award, Harvard University |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Chemistry |
| Institutions | Harvard University |
| Thesis | Synthesis and Reactions of Dinuclear Transition Metal Complexes Containing Bridging Ligands Relevant to Heterogeneous Catalysis (1986) |
| Doctoral advisor | Robert G. Bergman |
| Other academic advisors | Karl Barry Sharpless Yorke E. Rhodes |
| Doctoral students | Emily Balskus Abigail Doyle Matthew B. Francis |
| Other notable students | Sarah E Reisman Tehshik Yoon Timothy F. Jamison James L. Leighton Matthew Sigman M. Christina White |
Eric N. Jacobsen, born on February 22, 1960, in New York City, New York, is a famous chemistry professor at Harvard University. He is a leader in organic chemistry, a field that studies chemicals made mostly of carbon. He is well-known for creating new ways to make special chemicals. His discoveries help make medicines and other useful things.
Contents
Meet Eric N. Jacobsen
Eric Jacobsen is a very important scientist who has spent his life studying chemistry. He works as a professor at Harvard University. He used to be the head of the Chemistry and Chemical Biology Department there.
What Does a Chemist Do?
Chemists study how different substances are made and how they react with each other. Eric Jacobsen is an organic chemist. This means he focuses on chemicals that contain carbon. Carbon is a basic building block for all living things and many materials we use every day.
His Big Discoveries
Professor Jacobsen is famous for two main areas of research:
Jacobsen Epoxidation
One of his biggest achievements is developing the Jacobsen epoxidation. This is a special chemical reaction that helps scientists create specific types of molecules. Imagine you have a puzzle piece, and you need to add a tiny, exact part to it. This reaction allows chemists to add an oxygen atom to a molecule in a very precise way. This is super important for making many different kinds of medicines and other useful products.
Hydrogen-Bond Catalysis
He also did important work on something called hydrogen-bond catalysis. A catalyst is like a helper that speeds up a chemical reaction without being used up itself. Hydrogen-bond catalysts are special helpers that use weak bonds (called hydrogen bonds) to guide chemical reactions. This method allows chemists to make new molecules more efficiently and with less waste. It's like having a tiny, invisible hand guiding the molecules to connect in just the right way.
Awards and Achievements
Over the years, Eric Jacobsen has received many awards for his amazing work in chemistry. These awards show how much his discoveries have helped the scientific world. Some of his awards include:
- The Bristol-DTC-Syngenta Award
- The Remsen Award
- The Fannie–Cox Teaching Award from Harvard University
His work continues to inspire new chemists and helps in the development of new materials and medicines that benefit everyone.
