Raymond Lemieux facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Raymond Urgel Lemieux
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| Born | June 16, 1920 |
| Died | July 22, 2000 (aged 80) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Alma mater | University of Alberta (B.Sc., Honor) McGill University (Ph.D.) Ohio State University (Postdoctoral) |
| Known for | carbohydrate chemistry, the first synthesis of sucrose, anomeric effect, Lemieux-Johnson oxidation |
| Awards | Officer of the Order of Canada (1968), Tishler Award (Harvard University, 1983), NSERC Gold Medal in Science (1991), Albert Einstein World Award of Science (1992), Companion of the Order of Canada (1994), Wolf Prize in Chemistry (1999) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Chemist |
| Institutions | University of Alberta University of Ottawa University of Saskatchewan National Research Council |
Raymond Urgel Lemieux (June 16, 1920 – July 22, 2000) was a famous Canadian organic chemist. He made many important discoveries in chemistry. His most famous achievement was being the first to create sucrose (table sugar) in a lab.
Dr. Lemieux also discovered something called the anomeric effect. He developed new ways to make saccharides (sugar molecules). These methods are still used today in the study of carbohydrate chemistry. He was a member of important science groups like the Royal Society of Canada and the Royal Society (England). He also won major awards, including the Albert Einstein World Award of Science and the Wolf Prize in Chemistry.
Contents
The Life and Discoveries of Raymond Lemieux
Early Life and Education
Raymond U. Lemieux was born in Lac La Biche, Alberta, Canada. His family moved to Edmonton, Alberta in 1926. He loved chemistry and studied it at the University of Alberta. He earned his first degree in Chemistry in 1943.
He then went to McGill University to continue his studies. In 1946, he earned his PhD in Organic Chemistry. After that, he received a special scholarship. This allowed him to do more research at Ohio State University. There, he studied the structure of a medicine called streptomycin. He met his future wife, who was also a student, at Ohio State. They got married in 1948.
Making Sugar and New Medicines
After his studies, Dr. Lemieux returned to Canada. He taught for two years at the University of Saskatchewan. Then, he worked as a senior researcher at the National Research Council of Canada. This lab was in Saskatoon.
In 1953, Dr. Lemieux and his friend George Huber made history. They were the first scientists to successfully create sucrose in a lab. This was a huge breakthrough in chemistry!
In 1954, he became the Dean of Science at the University of Ottawa. He started their Department of Chemistry there. In 1961, he went back to the University of Alberta. He became a professor and led the Organic Chemistry Division.
While at the University of Alberta, he created a way to make artificial versions of oligosaccharides. These are complex sugar molecules. This discovery led to better treatments for diseases like leukemia and hemophilia. It also helped create new antibiotics, special blood reagents, and drugs to prevent organ rejection after transplants.
Later Years and Legacy
Dr. Lemieux also started several companies. These included R&L Molecular Research Ltd. and Raylo Chemicals Ltd. He even wrote a book about his life and work called "Explorations with Sugars: How Sweet It Was" in 1990.
Dr. Raymond Lemieux passed away in 2000. He left behind an amazing legacy. In 1999, a special research position was created in his honor. It is called the Strathcona County/R.U. Lemieux Chair in Carbohydrate Chemistry. In 2001, the Chemistry Department building at the University of Alberta was renamed. It is now the Gunning/Lemieux Chemistry Centre, honoring his great contributions.
Awards and Honors
Dr. R.U. Lemieux received many important awards for his work in chemistry. These awards show how much his discoveries helped science:
- Induction into the Royal Society of Canada (1954)
- C.S. Hudson Award of the American Chemical Society (1966)
- Became the first person from western Canada to be chosen as a member of the Royal Society (England) (1967)
- Appointed Officer of the Order of Canada (1968)
- Haworth Award and Medal (1983)
- The Tishler Award, Harvard University (1983)
- Gairdner Foundation International Award (1985)
- Made Honorary Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Stockholm (1988)
- Induction into the Alberta Order of Excellence (1990)
- King Faisal International Prize for Science (he was the first Canadian to win this) (1990)
- NSERC Gold Medal in Science (1991)
- Albert Einstein World Award of Science (1992)
- Made Companion of the Order of Canada (1994)
- Wolf Prize in Chemistry (1999)
Personal Life
Raymond Lemieux's daughter, Janet Lemieux, was a Canadian champion soccer player. She was honored by being inducted into the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame in 2021.
See also
- Lemieux-Johnson oxidation
- Anomeric effect
- Carbohydrate chemistry
