David Richardson

Organic Chemist

Nature is a superb organic chemist.  While taking care of the day-to-day business of being alive, living systems deftly assemble organic molecules of incredible complexity and subtle beauty.  Among other topics, my research involves synthesis, isolation and characterization of naturally-occurring substances, particularly those with interesting biological activity.  Current areas of study involve antibiotic agents from Southeast Asian plants, allelopathic agents from local plants, the analysis of PCB contamination in the Hoosic River watershed, synthesis of selectively deuterated, low molecular weight fluorocarbons, and the analysis of heterocylic organic molecules by ¹⁵N-NMR spectroscopy.