Ted Corbett (chemist) explained

Ted Corbett
Birth Name:Robert Edward Corbett
Birth Date:13 June 1923
Death Place:Tauranga, New Zealand
Fields:Organic and natural product chemistry
Workplaces:University of Otago
Alma Mater:University of Otago (MSc)
University of Cambridge (PhD)
Thesis Title:The structure of certain antibiotics
Thesis Url:http://explore.bl.uk/BLVU1:LSCOP-ALL:BLL01016703963
Thesis Year:1950
Doctoral Advisor:Alexander Todd
Children:2

Robert Edward Corbett (13 June 1923 – 3 February 2018) was a New Zealand organic chemist. He is noted for his contribution to natural product chemistry through the isolation and structural elucidation of compounds from New Zealand native plants.

Early life and education

Born on 13 June 1923,[1] Corbett was the son of Walter Corbett and Margaret Whitehead Corbett (née Robertson). He studied at the University of Otago, graduating Master of Science with first-class honours in chemistry in 1945.[2] Corbett later undertook doctoral studies at the University of Cambridge under Alexander Todd on the structures of some of the metabolites—puberulic acid, puberulonic acid, and stipitatic acid—of Penicillium species.[3] He showed that they contain the tropolone skeleton,[3] and his PhD thesis, titled The structure of certain antibiotics was completed in 1950.[4]

In 1949, Corbett married Enid Mary Carter in Cambridge, England,[5] and they went on to have two children.[6] [7]

Academic and research career

In 1945, Corbett was appointed as a lecturer in chemistry at Otago.[8] After returning from Cambridge in 1950,[3] Corbett rose to become a professor in 1966, and the Mellor Professor of Chemistry in 1972.[8] [9] When he retired in 1983, he was accorded the title of professor emeritus.[8]

Corbett's research at Otago was primarily concerned with the study and structural elucidation of essential oils isolated from New Zealand native plants by steam distillation. Under his supervision in 1970, doctoral student Denis Lauren first isolated the diterpene compound from the rimu tree (Dacrydium cupressinum) that came to be known as laurenene.[10] [11] [12] Corbett also investigated extractives from barks, leaves, heartwoods and lichens, and determined the structures of many new, and derivatives of known, di-, tri- and sesquiterpenoids.[3] He also studied the synthesis and rearrangement of some of the compounds that his team isolated.[3]

Later life and death

In retirement, the Corbetts lived in Tauranga. Enid Corbett died there in 2012,[7] and Ted Corbett died on 3 February 2018, also in Tauranga.[6]

Honours and awards

In 1972, Corbett was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand.[13] He was also a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry.[8]

Selected publications

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Death search: registration number 2018/3699 . Births, deaths & marriages online . Department of Internal Affairs . 13 February 2018.
  2. Web site: NZ university graduates 1870–1961: Co–Cu . Shadows of Time . 13 February 2018.
  3. Web site: Professor Edward Corbett . Royal Society of New Zealand . 13 February 2018.
  4. Web site: Catalogue search . British Library . 13 February 2018.
  5. Web site: England & Wales, civil registration marriage index, 1916–2005 . 2010 . Ancestry.com Operations . 13 February 2018 . subscription .
  6. News: Professor Robert Edward (Ted) Corbett death notice . 6 February 2018 . New Zealand Herald . 13 February 2018.
  7. News: Corbett, Enid Mary . 16 August 2012 . SunLive . 13 February 2018.
  8. Book: Emeritus professors . University of Otago Calendar . 13 February 2018 . 2017 . University of Otago . Dunedin . 121.
  9. Web site: Robert E. Corbett . Otago University Research Heritage . University of Otago . 13 February 2018.
  10. Web site: Rimu leaves . Nigel . Perry . 24 September 2007 . Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand . Ministry for Culture and Heritage . 13 February 2018.
  11. Web site: History of chemistry adorns site hoardings . 1 December 2015 . University of Otago . 13 February 2018.
  12. News: Chemical bling shows the way . Otago Daily Times . 15 February 2018 . John . Gibb . 15 February 2018.
  13. Web site: List of all Fellows with surnames A–C . Royal Society of New Zealand . 13 February 2018.