Between 1964 and 2020, the Robert Robinson Award was awarded for contributions to organic chemistry from a researcher over the age of 55. In 2020, as part of a series of changes following an independent review of the Royal Society of Chemistry's recognition programmes, this award evolved to one of our Organic Division's new Horizon Prizes, the Robert Robinson Award in Synthetic Organic Chemistry, for a team or collaboration opening up new directions and possibilities in the field of synthetic organic chemistry.
The prize is named after the British organic chemist Robert Robinson, who received the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1947 for his investigations on plant products of biological importance.
The prize was established in 1964 following an endowment from the Sir Robert Robinson Foundation. In 2021, the purposes of this Trust were amended, and remaining monies were combined with other generous bequests and donations to become part of the RSC Recognition Fund.
Robert Robinson Award Winners
- 2020 - Professor Anthony Davis
- 2019 - Professor Bernard Golding
- 2018 - Professor Tom Simpson
- 2017 - Professor Dale Boger
- 2016 - Professor Thomas Hoye
- 2015 - Professor Chi-Huey Wong
- 2014 - Professor Robert G. Bergman
- 2013 - Professor John Brown
- 2012 - Professor Kendall Houk
- 2011 - Lewis N Mander
- 2010 - Dieter Enders
- 2009 - Alan Katritzky
- 2008 - Scott Denmark
- 2007 - Professor Gerry Pattenden
- 2006 - Professor Steve V Ley
- 2004 - Professor Ian Paterson
- 2002 - Professor Jim Staunton
- 2000 - D A Evans
- 1998 - J E Baldwin
- 1996 - P D Magnus
- 1994 - L Crombie
- 1992 - G Stork
- 1990 - J-M P Lehn
- 1988 - E J Corey
- 1986 - A R Battersby
- 1984 - A Arigoni
- 1981 - A J Birch
- 1980 - A W Johnson
- 1978 - Sir Ewart Jones
- 1976 - A Eschenmoser
- 1974 - M J S Dewar
- 1970 - D H R Barton
- 1968 - V Prelog
- 1966 - Lord Todd
- 1964 - R B Woodward
Browse all prizes
Explore our full range of prizes. Our prizes cover a diverse spread of topics, from specialist research to advances in industry and inspirational teaching.