Derek H. R. Barton is among the most noted organic chemists of the twentieth century. He is known most for his brilliant understanding of the importance of geometry in the behavior of organic compounds. He shared the Nobel Prize in 1969 with Odd Hassel, a Norwegian physical chemist, for "developing and applying the principles of conformation in chemistry." Barton has been active in structure determination, synthesis, and biosynthesis of a number of complex molecules, and had a special interest in the invention of new and useful chemical reactions. He has had a long and distinguished career in several universities in different countries in the field of natural products chemistry.

Derek Harold Richard Barton was born in Gravesend, Kent, England, on September 8, 1918. His grandfather and father were carpenters, and his father, William Thomas Barton, owned a successful lumberyard. Derek was able to attend a good private school, but was forced...