Contributions of Professor Reed M. Izatt to molecular recognition technology: From laboratory to commercial application

Professor Reed M. Izatt has been a scientific pioneer in the discovery and development of molecular recognition technology (MRT). From early involveme nt in the field of macrocyclic chemistry to recent commercialization, Profe ssor Izatt has made significant contributions to the field. Initial work fo cused on understanding factors important to selectivity, including cation g eometry requirements, iconic radius, ligand cavity dimensions, ligand donor atom type and placement, ring number, and ring substituents. Subsequently, ligands were incorporated Into useful formats including beads, membranes, and columns. Important applications-were found in analytical and process in dustries. MRT enables the separation, recovery, and purification of specifi c species often from complex and difficult matrixes. Professor Izatt's scie ntific work has led to commercial separations including among others chlori de ion, mercury, copper, lead, cesium, strontium, radium, palladium, rhodiu m, antimony, bismuth, gold, iron, and aluminum.