Tak-Hang Chan

Tak-Hang Chan has pioneered in the development of new organic reactions and new synthetic methodologies. His imaginative use of organosilicon compounds has led to convenient syntheses of plant growth regulators, carbohydrates, and spruce budworm pheromones and insect anti-feedants. He has introduced reagents containing fluorine, tin, sulfur, selenium, indium, and many other elements into organic chemistry and made many otherwise difficult reactions possible. Recently he has discovered how to carry out some organometallic reactions in water, instead of using anhydrous solvents. Such reactions are likely to have a strong impact in organic synthesis. His work is making a host of strained and otherwise inaccessible molecules available by synthesis, and is being discovered and utilized by a world-wide community of chemists.