Thomas J. Katz

Thomas J. Katz is an American chemist and professor emeritus of organic chemistry. In 2009, he was professor emeritus at Columbia University, New York City.

Life and work

Katz studied chemistry at the University of Wisconsin and Harvard University, where he also gained his doctorate in 1959. His academic career began in the same year at Columbia University as an instructor. With the appointment to Assistant Professor in 1961 and to Associate Professor in 1964 he put this on. After a visiting professorship at the University of California in 1968, he returned to Columbia University as a professor back. In 1988 he was a visiting professor at the University of Konstanz.

Research priorities

His research activities included a wide field. Thus he became the first total synthesis of prismane. He delivered early contributions to the olefin, examined isotope effects on the mechanism of cycloaddition and the use of aromatic anion in the organic synthesis.

Awards

Katz has received numerous honors and awards, including the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Teaching. He was from 1962 to 1966 a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and from 1967 to 1968, a Guggenheim Fellowship. He was appointed a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1993 and received the American Chemical Society in 1995, the Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award.