Derek HR Barton

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Obituary reactions on hydrocarbons. Derek H. R. Barton (1918–98) Once again in 1985 the black hole of retirement loomed, and once again Barton Polymath of organic was not prepared to retire. This brought him to Texas A&M. Why? Quite simply, chemistry because we offered him what he wanted: TEXAS A&M With the death of Sir Derek Barton, on 16 not a name chair, not a big office, not the March, we will miss not only a great role of being a brilliant but non-functional chemical intellect but a fascinating and adornment. We offered a regular full 8 delightful human being. He was always professorship, a decent office and all the full of plans and receptive to ideas, and he lab space he needed — which turned out to took pleasure in the company of his be a lot. Barton was thus able to continue colleagues. Like his long-time colleague his unflagging study of Gif chemistry and Geoffrey Wilkinson, he passed away the invention of new reactions. suddenly and unexpectedly of a heart His time in College Station was both attack. In both cases this was the best way, sad and happy. Not long after his arrival as neither would have tolerated a state of Christiane developed cancer, and after forced inactivity. several very painful years for both, she Derek Barton was born in Gravesend, died. Barton threw himself more than ever England, on 8 September 1918. His family into his work, but he soon had the great were in what he referred to as “the wood good fortune to remarry (to Judith Cobb, a business”. The young Barton followed in neighbour) and again enjoy a very well- this for several years, but became acutely rounded life. bored, and decided to seek a university One of Barton’s best friends, until his degree, entering Imperial College, London, own untimely death in 1981, was at 20. The late start was compensated by R. B. Woodward. I was often struck by the his securing a bachelor’s degree in only two similarities and differences between years and then a PhD in only two more. He Barton and Woodward, probably the two spent the next two years on war-related problems, photochemistry (discovering most charismatic organic chemists of the research and then another two in industry, the Barton reaction) and many other postwar period. Each was both a quick where he did not “find the work very topics. He built up a stunning list of study and a deep thinker. Each had an challenging in its intellectual content”. students and postdoctoral co-workers extraordinary memory, and each was a However, he was able to return to from all over the world who went on to be masterly lecturer, although in different academia, first at Imperial College and leaders in organic chemistry. He was also a styles. Each had the judgement to focus on then at Birkbeck, where he was appointed tireless attender of meetings and giver of big problems. Both enjoyed, until their reader in 1950. lectures, and so became personally known respective ends, robust health whereby But the academic year before that was and admired by virtually every important they could work extraordinarily hard. The the crucial one of his career. He spent it at organic chemist in the world. main difference was that Barton led a well- Harvard as a visiting lecturer, filling in for Along the way, his first marriage (from managed life. In his love of fine wine, good R. B. Woodward who was on sabbatical. which there came his only child, a son) food and, until his last few years, dry Barton had already been thinking about failed. At the same time his interest in and Martinis, Barton was second to none, but the small barrier to rotation about the C–C fondness for France grew, and led him to he was always in control. I offer this bond in ethane, and about the work of undertake earnest study of the language, comparison because there was deep Hassel on the shape (conformation, to use which he did with the help of a charming mutual respect between these two the technical term) of the cyclohexane ring. French lady. Soon they were married, and superstars, but also a spirit of friendly yet In a seminar given by the Harvard expert he and Christiane made a very happy serious competition. on steroid chemistry, L. F. Fieser, Barton couple. Barton’s ability to organize and proposed explanations for chemical facts Nevertheless, a great black hole was concentrate his efforts was not the least of that had not been explicable before, based inexorably approaching: retirement. The his talents. Although he was always on his developing ideas of ‘conformational whole idea was abhorrent to him, and he generous with his time, he never wasted it. analysis’. Fieser urged him to publish a averted it in a timely way. At the age of 59, He was unfailingly collegial in entering short article expounding his explanation, in 1977, he became director of research at into discussion of questions on which and this article was the spark that lit the Gif-sur-Yvette, not far from Paris. With a others sought advice, but it was never powder keg. Soon all organic chemists French wife, a good position in France and difficult to read the signs when he thought recognized that Barton’s conformational an easy commute to Paris, Barton could that enough had been said. analysis held the key to understanding a indulge his Francophilia to the full. He also Barton’s death only a few months short multitude of problems (and in 1969 he was did more brilliant organic chemistry, and of his eightieth birthday was a shock to all to receive the Nobel prize for this work, returned to what had always been a keen who knew and admired him. All that can sharing it with Hassel). interest — radical chemistry — and to an be said is that it was a privilege to have had His career moved rapidly thereafter. In activity he considered paramount — the him with us for as long as we did. 1957, after professorships at Birkbeck and invention of new reactions. The result of F. Albert Cotton Glasgow (where he received his FRS), he this was what he called ‘Gif chemistry’. F. Albert Cotton is in the Department of became professor of organic chemistry at Succinctly, this was a scheme to Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Imperial College. There, Barton’s interests employ reagents based on iron to Station, Texas 77843-3255, USA. broadened into a great range of synthetic carry out selective oxidation e-mail: [email protected]