Infographic: Koji Nakanishi
Exploring some of the key events in the life of this spectroscopy pioneer
Born in Hong Kong on May 11th 1925, Nakanishi gained his PhD in Chemistry from Nagoya University in Japan, and in 1969 joined Columbia University in the US where he would later become chairman of the chemistry department
His research covered everything from structural and bioorganic studies of bioactive compounds, to the development of spectroscopic methods like circular dichroic spectroscopy, the NMR nuclear Overhauser effect, second derivative FTIR and UV difference spectroscopy
Overall, his research group determined the structure of over 200 biologically active natural products, including ginkgolides (from the ancient ginkgo tree), insect hormones, antibiotics, and the human eye pigment involved in macular degeneration
His group also synthesized more than 100 analogs of retinoids and his research in this area helped us better understand animal vision and phototaxis
He received a number of awards throughout his career, and in 1996, ACS and the Chemical Society of Japan established the Nakanishi prize in his honor
He was also an amateur magician who frequently entertained his audiences and fellow chemists at various events
