William Boon


William Robert Boon FRS FRSC was a British chemist, known for developing the herbicide paraquat.

Early life

He was educated at St Dunstan's College and King's College London.

Career

ICI

He developed Bipyridine compounds in 1954 at ICI's Jealott's Hill Experimental Station at Jealott's Hill in Berkshire. These compounds are known as Paraquat-Gramoxone and Diquat, being released onto the market in 1958.

Awards

He was awarded the Mullard Award of the Royal Society in 1972 and was made a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1974. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and a Fellow of King's College London.