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NEWS RELEASE
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Iowa State University
www.las.iastate.edu

11-3-09

Contacts:
Richard Larock, Chemistry, (515) 294-4660 (larock@iastate.edu)
Laura Engelson, Liberal Arts & Sciences Communications, (515) 294-7742 (lge@iastate.edu)

ISU Chemistry professor receives 2009 ACS Midwest Award

AMES, Iowa – Richard Larock, University and Distinguished Professor of chemistry at Iowa State University, received the American Chemical Society (ACS) Midwest Award during the Midwest Regional ACS meeting October 21 – 24, 2009 in Iowa City, Iowa.

The award recognizes outstanding achievements in chemistry in the Midwest region. The award is conferred annually to a scientist who has made meritorious contributions to the advancement of pure or applied chemistry, chemical education, and the profession of chemistry.

“It is always nice to have members of your profession recognize your efforts with a major award,” said Larock, “especially when it covers the entire Midwest region of the American Chemical Society.”

Larock has given over 420 research presentations and published about 350 articles and 32 patents. He is the author of four books on organomercurials and synthetic organic methodology, two of which are considered best selling classics in organic chemistry. The ACS has called him “a pioneer in the use of palladium catalysts in organic synthesis.”

Larock joined the ISU faculty in 1972 after completing his BS degree in 1967 from the University of California at Davis and his Ph.D. in 1972 from Purdue University. Larock was named a University Professor in 1999 and Distinguished Professor in 2007. His research areas include organometallic chemistry, synthetic methodology, heterocycles, and bioplastics from soybean/corn oils.

Larock’s other awards and honors include being a fellow of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, a DuPont Young Faculty Award, a winner of two Merck Academic Development Awards, an Iowa Regent's Award for Faculty Excellence, the 2003 ACS Edward Leete Award, the 2004 Paul Rylander Award of the Organic Reactions Catalysis Society, and the 2004 ACS Arthur C. Cope Senior Scholar Award.

The ACS Midwest Award dates back to 1944. ISU chemists have received nine out of 65 awards.

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