Reynold C. Fuson
Encyclopedia
Reynold Clayton Fuson was an American chemist.
Born in Wakefield, Illinois
, Fuson attended Central Normal College
in Danville, Indiana, where after one year in 1914 he was certified as a teacher. He received a Bachelor's degree
in chemistry from the University of Montana, a Master's degree
from the University of California, Berkeley
, and a Ph.D.
from the University of Minnesota
. He accepted a postdoctoral appointment at Harvard University
with E. P. Kohler and remained there to serve briefly as an instructor. He joined the Department of Chemistry at the University of Illinois in 1927. He retired in 1963 after thirty-five years as a distinguished teacher and researcher. After retirement from the University of Illinois, Fuson spent fourteen years at the University of Nevada
as a distinguished visiting professor and then as a professor emeritus.
Fuson published 285 scientific articles and wrote or co-wrote five textbooks, including The Systematic Identification of Organic Compounds with R. L. Shriner and later including David Curtin and remains in print today with additional authors. Fuson’s research interests were wide-ranging. He enunciated the principle of vinylogy which is now taught in terms of resonance in valence bond theory
, elucidated the mechanism of the conjugate addition of Grignard reagents
to unsaturated carbonyls compounds, and discovered stable enols and enediols of sterically hindered molecules. Fuson’s accomplishments were recognized by membership in the National Academy of Sciences
. He received the Nichols Medal , the Manufacturing Chemists' Association Award for College Teaching, and the John R. Kuebler Award of Alpha Chi Sigma
. He was a member of the editorial boards of Organic Syntheses and the Journal of the American Chemical Society
.
Born in Wakefield, Illinois
Wakefield, Illinois
Wakefield is an unincorporated community in Richland County, Illinois, United States. Wakefield is northwest of Olney. Chemist Reynold C. Fuson was born near Wakefield....
, Fuson attended Central Normal College
Canterbury College (Indiana)
Canterbury College, formerly Central Normal College, was a private institution founded in the state of Indiana, United States, in 1876 as part of the larger state-wide university system. The school was located in Ladoga, Indiana, but was moved to Danville, Indiana in 1878 after purchasing the...
in Danville, Indiana, where after one year in 1914 he was certified as a teacher. He received a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in chemistry from the University of Montana, a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, and a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
. He accepted a postdoctoral appointment at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
with E. P. Kohler and remained there to serve briefly as an instructor. He joined the Department of Chemistry at the University of Illinois in 1927. He retired in 1963 after thirty-five years as a distinguished teacher and researcher. After retirement from the University of Illinois, Fuson spent fourteen years at the University of Nevada
University of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno , is a teaching and research university established in 1874 and located in Reno, Nevada, USA...
as a distinguished visiting professor and then as a professor emeritus.
Fuson published 285 scientific articles and wrote or co-wrote five textbooks, including The Systematic Identification of Organic Compounds with R. L. Shriner and later including David Curtin and remains in print today with additional authors. Fuson’s research interests were wide-ranging. He enunciated the principle of vinylogy which is now taught in terms of resonance in valence bond theory
Valence bond theory
In chemistry, valence bond theory is one of two basic theories, along with molecular orbital theory, that were developed to use the methods of quantum mechanics to explain chemical bonding. It focuses on how the atomic orbitals of the dissociated atoms combine to give individual chemical bonds...
, elucidated the mechanism of the conjugate addition of Grignard reagents
Grignard reaction
The Grignard reaction is an organometallic chemical reaction in which alkyl- or aryl-magnesium halides add to a carbonyl group in an aldehyde or ketone. This reaction is an important tool for the formation of carbon–carbon bonds...
to unsaturated carbonyls compounds, and discovered stable enols and enediols of sterically hindered molecules. Fuson’s accomplishments were recognized by membership in the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
. He received the Nichols Medal , the Manufacturing Chemists' Association Award for College Teaching, and the John R. Kuebler Award of Alpha Chi Sigma
Alpha Chi Sigma
Alpha Chi Sigma is a professional fraternity specializing in the field of chemistry. It has both collegiate and professional chapters throughout the United States consisting of both men and women and numbering more than 63,400 members...
. He was a member of the editorial boards of Organic Syntheses and the Journal of the American Chemical Society
Journal of the American Chemical Society
The Journal of the American Chemical Society is a weekly peer-reviewed scientific journal that was established in 1879 by the American Chemical Society. The journal has absorbed two other publications in its history, the Journal of Analytical and Applied Chemistry and the American Chemical Journal...
.