Edwin Vedejs | |
|---|---|
Edvīns Vedējs | |
 | |
| Born | January 31, 1941 Riga, Latvia |
| Died | December 2, 2017(2017-12-02) (aged 76) |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan (B.S.)University of Wisconsin (Ph.D.) |
| Known for | mechanistic study of theWittig reaction,MoOPH, sulfur mediated ring expansions, chiral Lewis bases |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Organic Chemistry |
| Institutions | University of Wisconsin,University of Michigan |
| Doctoral advisor | Hans Muxfeldt [de] |
| Doctoral students | Olafs Daugulis |
| Other notable students | Anthony Czarnik |
Edwin Vedejs (/vɛˈdeɪz/) (Latvian:Edvīns Vedējs; January 31, 1941 – December 2, 2017) was a Latvian-American professor of chemistry. In 1967, he joined the organic chemistry faculty atUniversity of Wisconsin. He rose through the ranks during his 32 years at Wisconsin being named Helfaer Professor (1991–1996) and Robert M. Bock Professor (1997–1998). In 1999, he moved to theUniversity of Michigan and served as theMoses Gomberg Collegiate Professor of Chemistry for the final 13 years of his tenure.[1] He was elected a fellow of theAmerican Chemical Society in 2011.[2] After his retirement in 2011, the University of Michigan established the Edwin Vedejs Collegiate Professor of Chemistry Chair. Vedejs died on December 2, 2017, inMadison, Wisconsin.[1]
Edwin "Ed" Vedejs was born inRiga, Latvia to Velta (nee Robežnieks) and Nikolajs Vedējs. Not long after his birth, theGerman occupation of Latvia during World War II occurred followed by theSoviet re-occupation of Latvia in 1944. These events forced his family to settle in the Fischbach Displaced Persons camp[3] in Germany for six years. In 1950, they emigrated to the United States and first settled inFort Atkinson, WI. They eventually moved toGrand Rapids, MI.[4]
He attendedGrand Rapids Junior College for a few years before transferring to the University of Michigan where he received a BS degree in 1962.[5] He moved to the University of Wisconsin and joined the group of ProfessorHans Muxfeldt [de] for his Ph.D. studies (Progress toward the total synthesis ofterramycin),[6] which he completed in 1966. From 1966–67, he did post-doctoral research on thetotal synthesis ofprostaglandins[7] atHarvard University in the laboratory ofNobel Laureate ProfessorE. J. Corey.[8]
Vedejs' main areas of research focus includedorganic synthesis methodologies and reaction mechanisms. His group targeted the synthesis of several natural products, such asretronecine,mitomycin, andcytochalasin, but the completion of a total synthesis was always secondary to the main goal of exploring new methodologies.[4][8] His mechanistic research of theWittig reaction revealed the importance of theoxaphosphetane.[8] The application of heteroatoms such as nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, boron, silicon and tin were often prominently featured,[4] which has been summarized in his self-penned account of his work.[9] Vedejs also tackled a wide range of methodologies aimed at stereoselective synthesis including protonation of carbanions, acylation and alkylation of achiral and prochiral nucleophiles, parallel kinetic resolution,[10] and control of configuration by crystallization-induced asymmetric transformation.
Over the course of his career, Vedejs published over 230 peer-reviewed articles.[8] He served as an associate editor of theJournal of the American Chemical Society from 1994 to 1999, as chair of theNIH Medicinal Chemistry Study Section from 1990 to 1991, as chair of theOrganic Division of the American Chemical Society in 2003, and as a member of theOrganic Syntheses Board of Editors from 1980 to 1988.[1] He served as editor (along withScott E. Denmark) of the three volume seriesLewis Base Catalysis in Organic Synthesis.[4][11] Over the course of his 45 years in academia, he mentored over 80 doctoral students, and numerous post-doctoral fellows and undergraduates.[1]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| People | |
| Other | |
