Barton, Sir Derek Harold Richard

▪ 1999

      British chemist (b. Sept. 8, 1918, Gravesend, Kent, Eng.—d. March 16, 1998, College Station, Texas), altered the landscape of modern chemistry by originating the fields of conformational analysis and stereochemistry. He showed how differences in the spatial structure, or conformation, of molecules relate to differences in their reactivity and how the differences can be calculated by analyzing the conformation of the molecules. In 1950 Barton presented a theory that described organic molecules as having preferred three-dimensional forms that determine their chemical properties, a revolutionary concept that soon became a basic principle of modern chemistry. For this he was awarded the 1969 Nobel Prize for Chemistry, along with Odd Hassel of Norway, who had earlier shown how chemically identical molecules can have different conformations. Barton left the family carpentry business to study chemistry at Imperial College of Science and Technology, University of London (B.S., 1940; Ph.D., 1942). After wartime service in military intelligence, he returned to Imperial College to teach physical chemistry, publishing calculations of the preferred three-dimensional shape of organic molecules. While a visiting professor (1949-50) at Harvard University, he presented a landmark four-page paper on conformational analysis, The Conformation of the Steroid Nucleus (1950), which explained the unusual reaction rates of steroids and related isomers. His findings won quick acceptance and were soon incorporated into basic science curricula. He returned to London as a reader at Birkbeck College (1950-55), where he uncovered the properties of phenol oxidative coupling and investigated how poppies produce morphine. During his career he also examined new chemical reactions and syntheses, experimenting with santonin, aldosterone, sulfur, photochemistry, fluorination, penicillin, and free radicals. After a brief stint at the University of Glasgow, Scot. (1955-57), he returned (1957) to Imperial College as chemistry chairman and remained there until 1978, when he became director of the Institute for the Chemistry of Natural Substances, Gil-sur-Yvette, France. In 1986 he joined the faculty at Texas A&M University, and at the time of his death, he was working on the oxidation of saturated hydrocarbons. Barton, who was knighted in 1972, was the author of more than 1,000 scientific papers, owner of many patents, mentor to hundreds of students, and a valued scientific consultant.

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