Herbert C Brown Ph.D.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1979
The President's National Medel of Sciences - Physical Sciences, 1969
Nobel co-recipient Georg Wittig

Organic Chemist. Development of use of boron into important reagents in organic synthesis. School, advanced several times, graduating at 12; refused further advancement, avoiding being sister's classmate.

Graduating, Depression years, future wife Sarah gave him gift, Stock's 'Hydrides of Boron and Silicon' because cheapest chemistry book! Led to Nobel Prize!

Prediction

Herbert Brown attended Crane Junior College. An instructor, Dr. Nicholas Cheronis, accepted students in his laboratory, enabling them to continue their studies on their own. He met a fellow student, Sarah Baylen. Until the arrival of Herbert, Sarah had been the brightest student in chemistry at Craig. Later in her writing, 'Remembering HCB', she describes initially hating his guts. Upon realizing that she could not out beat him, she decided to join him. This turned out to be everlastingly delightful to Herbert for he fell in love with Sarah.

Wright Junior College opened in 1934. Herbert was one of nine students in the first graduating class. In his year book, Sarah predicted that he would be a Nobel Laureate!

Later Herbert Brown and Sarah Baylen were married.