Professor

Arthur Birch

AC FAA FRS

Arthur Birch
Image Description
Known for his work on the structure of metal-ammonia solutions and their reducing activities. He has introduced a method, now known as the "Birch reduction", which permits the easy preparation of dihydrobenzene derivatives and which has been applied in particular to the first total synthesis of a compound with androgenic activity. He is also known for his work on the structures and biogeneses of natural products, including terpenoids and phenols.

Expertise type

  • Organic Chemistry
  • Chemistry

Please contact fellowship@science.org.au to request any updates to the data.

Related

Memoir

Arthur John Birch 1915–1995

Arthur John Birch AC CMG FRS FAA was one of the great organic chemists of the twentieth century. He held chairs at the Universities of Sydney and Manchester and at the Australian National University in Canberra, and was President of the Australian Academy of Science from 1982 to 1986. His outstanding research contributions include the Birch reduction of aromatic compounds by sodium and ethanol in liquid ammonia, his polyketide theory of the biosynthesis of natural products, and his studies of synthetic applications of diene iron tricarbonyl complexes.
Image Description