1919-

American physical chemist who determined the structures of compounds containing boron and hydrogen, called boranes, using x-ray crystallographic and electron diffraction techniques and developed the bonding theory to explain their structures. He and his research associates also determined the molecular structure of the protein enzyme carboxypeptidase A and a number of other complex molecules, including the anti-cancer agent vincristine. He won the Nobel Prize for chemistry in 1976 for his work with the boranes.