1917-1979

American biochemist who was awarded the 1965 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for synthesizing many organic and biologically important chemicals. Woodward was the first person to successfully synthesize chlorophyll, cholesterol, and vitamin B₁₂. He later synthesized tranquilizers, the antibiotic tetracycline, and steroids, including cortisone, widely used to control inflammation. Vitamin B₁₂ is an essential nutrient that is added to many vitamin-enriched foods.