Samuel Marion McElvain (December 9, 1897 – April 11, 1973) was an American organic and synthetic chemist who spent his research career on the faculty of the University of Wisconsin.
Samuel M. McElvain | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 9, 1897 |
| Died | April 11, 1973 (aged 75) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Washington University in St. Louis University of Illinois |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | University of Wisconsin–Madison |
| Doctoral advisor | Roger Adams |
| Doctoral students | Arthur C. Cope, C. Frederick Koelsch, Gilbert J. Stork |
Academic career
editMcElvain studied first at Washington University in St. Louis and received his MS and Ph.D from the University of Illinois in 1923. In 1923 he became professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, from which he retired and became professor emeritus in 1961.[1][2]
Research
editMcElvain was known for his research on the mechanism of the Claisen condensation and on the chemistry of ketene acetals. He also had an interest in the pharmacology of cocaine and other compounds of interest as local anesthetics, prompting basic research in the chemistry of piperidines and pyridines as well as a long-term pharmaceutical industry collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company.[2]
McElvain chaired the organic division of the American Chemical Society in 1945-6 and served on the editorial board of the Journal of the American Chemical Society for ten years, from 1946-56. He was elected to the United States National Academy of Sciences in 1949.[2]
References
edit- ^ "The 1961 Madison Organic Chemistry Symposium In Honor of Professor S. M. McElvain". Archived from the original on 2008-07-19.
- ^ a b c Gilbert J. Stork (1983). "Samuel Marion McElvain". Biographical Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences. 54: 220–249.
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