Catalysts are the conductors who choreograph the chemical dance that results in the formation of new structures. Robert H. Grubbs More Quotes by Robert H. Grubbs More Quotes From Robert H. Grubbs As a child, I was always interested in building things. Instead of buying candy, I would purchase nails, which I used to construct things out of scrap wood. My mother always claimed that my spending my money on nails instead of on candy was why I was so skinny as a kid. Robert H. Grubbs child building money mother My interest in science started in junior high school where an outstanding science teacher, Mrs. Baumgardner, introduced me to the joys of science. Robert H. Grubbs me teacher science school I was born at home in rural Kentucky, in 1942, in a house that my father Howard had built. He did most of the construction himself and built it on land that his father had given him when he married my mother Faye. Robert H. Grubbs construction mother home father As I grew older, farms in Kentucky provided me with many jobs in hauling hay and in cutting tobacco. In addition to helping fund my college years, these jobs helped me to meet an array of very interesting and amazing men and women. Robert H. Grubbs amazing me women men Polymer chemistry provides an excellent means of studying metathesis catalysts: miniscule catalyst loadings have the capacity to generate large amounts of polymeric material, the structure of which can provide a historical record of catalyst activity. Robert H. Grubbs studying which chemistry historical One of the most rewarding aspects of my research has been the opportunity to study the potential applications of a new catalyst. Robert H. Grubbs new study research opportunity Most commercial products that contain organic molecules possess at least one carbon-carbon double bond, or if one is not present, it is likely that an olefin was used in its preparation. This being the case, the potential applications of olefin metathesis are endless. Robert H. Grubbs bond potential being preparation Like the Tebbe complex, ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts can be used for the production of living polymers. Robert H. Grubbs complex like living used Catalysts offer the promise of making chemical transformations far less polluting. Robert H. Grubbs offer far making promise