Jay Kochi

Who is Jay Kochi?

Jay Kochi was a physical organic chemist. He held positions at Harvard, Case, Case-Western, Berkley, Indiana, and Houston. For the latter he was Welch Professor. He was of Japanese descent and his family suffered internment during World War II.

He received his B. S. at the University of California - Los Angeles in 1949 and his Ph.D. at Iowa State University, 1952. For most of his career, he was located at Indiana University and then at the University of Houston, where he was Welch Professor.

His research examined the interactions of electron donors and acceptors. One topic of his study was the nitration of benzene to give nitrobenzene. Kochi's work showed that this reaction proceeds via a complex between benzene and nitrosonium ion. He also contributed to many aspects of organometallic chemistry.

Kochi received many awards for his research, including election to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.