Professor Dexter French (1918–1981) was an American chemist and biochemist at Iowa State College (University in 1959). He devoted his career to advance knowledge of polysaccharides and oligosaccharides, in particular starch, cyclodextrins, and enzymes. Since the 1960s, he has been recognized as an outstanding authority in the field of starches and cyclodextrins and has inspired researchers in laboratories around the world. This review, on the fortieth anniversary of his death, commemorates his remarkable contribution to starch and cyclodextrin chemistry.
- In 1942, Professor French introduced the cycloamylose nomenclature.
- In the 1950s, Professor French made outstanding contributions on cyclodextrin chemistry.
- In 1957 he published on potential toxicity of cyclodextrin, which was refuted later.
- Professor French predicted large ring cyclodextrins.
Crini, G., French, A.D., Kainuma, K., Jane, J.-L., Szente, L. 2021 Contributions of Dexter French (1918–1981) to cycloamylose/cyclodextrin and starch science. Carbohydrate Polymers 257,117620.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.117620