Elias James Corey, a specialist in the synthesis of organic chemicals, developed many of the theories and methods that now define his field. Since his research career began in the 1950s, one of his goals has been to make the synthesis of chemicals more systematic, and he is best known for his logical approach to the creation of new substances, which he has named "retrosynthetic analysis." Corey's achievements in research, which resulted in far-reaching benefits for medicine and human health, were recognized in 1990 when he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry.

Corey was born July 12, 1928, to Fatina (Hasham) and Elias Corey in Methuen, Massachusetts. His father died 18 months later. Corey graduated from high school in 1945 and entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at 16. He intended to study engineering but quickly developed an interest in chemistry. It was here that Corey began his research on organic synthesis, the...