Yoshimasa Hirata

Yoshimasa Hirata (平田 義正 Hirata Yoshimasa, 1915 – 5 March 2000) was a Japanese organic chemist.

Yoshimasa Hirata
Born1915
Yamaguchi, Japan
Died5 March 2000 (age 84)
NationalityJapanese
CitizenshipJapanese
Alma materTokyo Imperial University
Nagoya University
AwardsJapan Academy Prize
Order of the Sacred Treasure, 2nd Class
Person of Cultural Merit
Scientific career
FieldsOrganic chemistry
InstitutionsNagoya University
Meijo University
Doctoral studentsKoji Nakanishi
Yoshito Kishi
Other notable studentsOsamu Shimomura

Biography

Hirata was born in Yamaguchi, Japan in 1915.[1] He received a Bachelor of Science from the Tokyo Imperial University (now the University of Tokyo) in 1941, and then joined the faculty there as a Lecturer of Chemistry.[1][2] In 1944, he moved to Nagoya University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry. In that same year, he was promoted Associate Professor. He received his Ph.D. from Nagoya University in 1949, and was promoted to Full Professor in 1954.[1]

In 1955, Hirata met a recent graduate from Nagasaki Pharmacy School, a young Osamu Shimomura.[3] He invited Shimomura to work in his lab, which he did, in April 1955. Hirata tasked him with purifying crystallizing Cypridina luciferin for the purpose of determining its structure.[3] He completed the difficult task after three months, and Hirata awarded him with a doctorate, despite him not being a doctoral student.[3]

In 1979, Hirata moved to Meijo University, staying there for ten years before retiring.[1]

Research

Hirata's best known research was that involving toxic compounds, including tetrodotoxinpandalytoxin, his research of the bioluminescent compound Cypridina luciferin from the vargula hilgendorfii, also known as the sea firefly, and his work on bioactive compounds of plant origin, including anisatin, dendrobine, and daphniphylline.[1]

Awards and honors
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References
  1. "YOSHIMASA HIRATA MEMORIAL LECTURE". www.itbm.nagoya-u.ac.jp. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
  2. "Yoshimasa Hirata". 名古屋大学　大学院理学研究科物質理学専攻（化学系）, 理学部化学科 - Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
  3. Nordén, Bengt (2014-12-26). Nobel Lectures in Chemistry (2006–2010). World Scientific. ISBN 9789814635677.
  4. "Nakanishi Prize". American Chemical Society. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
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