Ernest L. Eliel: a life of purpose, determination, and integrity

A concise biography of Ernest L. Eliel is presented. The highlights of Eliel's scientific achievements are described, beginning with his Ph.D. thesis research performed under the supervision of Professor Harold Snyder (University of Illinois) and continuing as a faculty member at Notre Dame (synthesis of nonracemic C(6)H(5)CHDCH(3); kinetic method of conformational analysis; equilibrium and NMR methods of conformational analysis); and at the University of North Carolina (conformational analysis of heterocyclic compounds; enantioselective synthesis). Eliel's professional career as a teacher, textbook author, and major figure in the American Chemical Society are discussed. His philosophies of life, science, and chemistry are described by a series of poignant quotations.