A Lead User of Instruments in Science
John D. Roberts and the Adaptation of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance to Organic Chemistry, 1955-1975
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 3551262 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Carsten Reinhardt (0000-0003-2905-1920, University of Regensburg, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2006 |
| Volume | 97 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 205-236 |
| Publication date | 2006-06-01 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Isis (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0021-1753 • E-ISSN: 1545-6994 |
| Publisher | University of Chicago Press (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1086/504732 |
| PMID | 16892943 |
| OpenAlex | W2051397782 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 24 |
During the 1960s organic chemistry underwent a spectacular transformation as a result of the introduction of high-tech instruments. In this process, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) became an important analytical technique in organic chemistry. The theme of this essay is the relationship of Varian Associates of Palo Alto, California, the major manufacturer of NMR spectrometers up to the 1970s, with one early and crucial user, the organic chemist John D. Roberts, who was based at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. Roberts's research and teaching contributed to the fast and smooth acceptance of NMR in organic chemistry. He embraced the role of mediator between the instrument manufacturer, which had expertise mainly in physics and electrical engineering, and the customers, who were mostly organic chemists. This essay focuses on the tactics used by Roberts and James N. Shoolery at Varian Associates to implement novel types of instrumentation and on the modes of cooperation between instrument manufacturer and academic scientist
Analytical Chemistry (journal · Chemist · Engineering physics · Instrumentation (computer programming · Library science · Physics · Scientific instrument · Theme (computing · World Wide Web · Chemistry · Computer Science · Engineering · History and advancements in chemistry · Molecular spectroscopy and chirality · Organic Chemistry · Various Chemistry Research Topics
| Highly cited | No |
|---|