AWARDEE OF CHEMISTRY PRIZE

YUAN CHENGYE

Abstract

Professor Yuan  Chengye was born in Shangyu, Zhejiang Province in 1924. Graduated from National College of Pharmacy in 1948 and received Degree for Candidate for D.Sc from All-Union Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Moscow in 1955. Research Professor at Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences since 1956. Starting from 1958, in order to meet the demands of the country, he established and led research group for nuclear fuel extractants. Their efforts contributed very positively to the country.
In 1970s, Professor Yuan and his colleagues introduced several effective extractants for the extractive separation of rare earth and other non-ferrous metals, particularly for cobalt, nickel as well as precious metals.
Based on numerous experimental data, Yuan's group investigated extensively the structure-reactivity relationship of various extraction systems. They introduced quantum chemical calculation, mole-cular mechanics, pattern recognization and factor analysis for such study.
Under the financial support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, as a Ph.D. supervisor, Yuan and his students achieved significant progress in the design and synthesis of biologically active organophosphorus compounds. Very recently, they introduced successfully biocatalytic method for the synthesis of chiral phosphorus derivatives. Prof. Yuan serves as member of Editorial Board of HETEROATOM CHEMISTRY, PHOSPHORUS, SULFUR & SILICON as well as SOLVENT EXTRACTION AND ION EXCHANGE.
Professor Yuan was elected Member of Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1997.
Professor Yuan is the author of more than 300 scientific papers and chief contributor of two US Patents. He is also the recipient of six National Scientific Awards including Natural Science Award (second class), Award for Progress and Technology (second and third class) as well as National Invention Award (third class).