death_date work_institution birth_place citizenship doctoral_students field birth_date residence article_title name alma_mater
12 december 2009 stanford university zeeland , michigan united states k. barry sharpless organic chemistry 20 july 1925 united states eugene van tamelen
 eugene earle van tamelen harvard university
eugene van tamelen

eugene earle van tamelen -lrb- july 20 , 1925 -- december 12 , 2009 -rrb- was an organic chemist who is especially recognized for his contributions to bioorganic chemistry .
van tamelen published five papers while an undergraduate at hope college .
he conducted graduate work at harvard university , receiving his doctorate in 1950 with gilbert stork as his advisor .
he began his academic career at the university of wisconsin , later joining the faculty of stanford university , where he spent the majority of his career .
among his many students was nobelist k. barry sharpless .
he pioneered in what is today called biomimetic synthesis .
he was the first to identify squalene oxide as a precursor in the biosynthesis of cholesterol .
van tamelen was also the first to synthesise dewar benzene .
he developed a system for nitrogen fixation using titanocene .
van tamelen was also the owner of the first marshall erdman-built frank lloyd wright-designed pre-fabricated house , commonly known as the `` eugene van tamelen house '' .
eugene van tamelen died of cancer in 2009 .
