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==Scientific discoveries==
==Scientific discoveries==
Weedon, in collaboration with L. M. Jackman, was the first to use [[NMR spectroscopy|magnetic resonance spectroscopy]] to study the structures of [[carotenoid]]s. He also worked on the synthesis of carotenoids and in 1953 described the synthesis of [[methylbixin]] which was produced by exposing [[bixin]] from ''[[Bixa orellana]]'' to [[iodine]], later he successfully synthesised bixin using the [[Wittig reaction]]. During the 1960s and 1970s, Weedon's research group elucidated the structures of and synthesised a wide range of naturally occurring carotenoids. These included, [[canthaxanthin]] (responsible for the pink colour of [[flamingo]]s), [[astaxanthin]] (responsible for the colour of [[lobster]]s), [[capsanthin]] and [[capsorubin]] (found in [[Capsicum|red pepper]]s), [[renieratene]] (from Japenese [[sea sponge]]s) and [[fucoxanthin]] (the most abundant carotenoid found in [[seaweed]]). Other compounds whose structures where discovered include [[alloxanthin]], [[mytiloxanthin]], [[decaprenoxanthin]] and [[violerythrin]].<ref name="rsbio" />
Weedon, in collaboration with L. M. Jackman, was the first to use [[NMR spectroscopy|magnetic resonance spectroscopy]] to study the structures of [[carotenoid]]s. He also worked on the synthesis of carotenoids and in 1953 described the synthesis of [[methylbixin]] which was produced by exposing [[bixin]] from ''[[Bixa orellana]]'' to [[iodine]], later he successfully synthesised bixin using the [[Wittig reaction]]. During the 1960s and 1970s, Weedon's research group elucidated the structures of and synthesised a wide range of naturally occurring carotenoids. These included, [[canthaxanthin]] (responsible for the pink colour of [[flamingo]]s), [[astaxanthin]] (responsible for the colour of [[lobster]]s), [[capsanthin]] and [[capsorubin]] (found in [[Capsicum|red pepper]]s), [[renieratene]] (from Japanese [[sea sponge]]s) and [[fucoxanthin]] (the most abundant carotenoid found in [[seaweed]]). Other compounds whose structures where discovered include [[alloxanthin]], [[mytiloxanthin]], [[decaprenoxanthin]] and [[violerythrin]].<ref name="rsbio" />


==Honours and awards==
==Honours and awards==

Revision as of 15:07, 5 December 2011

Professor Basil Charles Leicester Weedon CBE, FRS (18 July 1923 - 10 October 2003) was an organic chemist and university administrator. Using magnetic resonance spectroscopy, he was the first to map the structures of carotenoid pigments, including astaxanthin, rubixanthin and canthaxanthin.[1]

Personal life

Weedon was born in Wimbledon, his father was a dentist and his mother came from a family of prosperous jewellers. His parents separated when he was nine years old and he remained living with his father, within a few years he had lost all contact with his mother and his younger sister. During World War II, he was evacuated to a farm near Guildford. His wife, Barbara Dawe, served in the Women's Royal Navy Service during World War 2, whilst working there she met Basil's cousin and later Basil. They married in 1959 and had two children, Sarah and Matthew. Weedon was known as 'Jimmy' by his friends. In his later years he suffered from Parkinson's disease.[1]

Hobbies

Weedon enjoyed listening to classical music, crossword puzzles, studying antique clocks and reading classic novels, particularly those by Charles Dickens and Anthony Trollope. When he was younger he was a keen Latin American dancer.

Academic life

He studied at a school in Guildford prior to studying chemistry at Imperial College, London in 1940, he was awarded his degree just two years later, aged 19. He remained at Imperial College, studying for a PhD before taking a job with ICI working on dyes in Blackley, Manchester. He returned to Imperial College in 1947 as a lecturer in organic chemistry and became a reader in 1955. In 1960 he was appointed the Chair of organic chemistry at Queen Mary College. In 1976 he became the 4th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nottingham, he held the position until his retirement in 1988. He was a consultant to Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland between 1955 and 1978.[1]

Scientific discoveries

Weedon, in collaboration with L. M. Jackman, was the first to use magnetic resonance spectroscopy to study the structures of carotenoids. He also worked on the synthesis of carotenoids and in 1953 described the synthesis of methylbixin which was produced by exposing bixin from Bixa orellana to iodine, later he successfully synthesised bixin using the Wittig reaction. During the 1960s and 1970s, Weedon's research group elucidated the structures of and synthesised a wide range of naturally occurring carotenoids. These included, canthaxanthin (responsible for the pink colour of flamingos), astaxanthin (responsible for the colour of lobsters), capsanthin and capsorubin (found in red peppers), renieratene (from Japanese sea sponges) and fucoxanthin (the most abundant carotenoid found in seaweed). Other compounds whose structures where discovered include alloxanthin, mytiloxanthin, decaprenoxanthin and violerythrin.[1]

Honours and awards

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Attention: This template ({{cite doi}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by doi:10.1098/rsbm.2005.0029, please use {{cite journal}} (if it was published in a bona fide academic journal, otherwise {{cite report}} with |doi=10.1098/rsbm.2005.0029 instead.

External links

Academic offices
Preceded by Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nottingham
1976– 1988
Succeeded by

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