William R. Dolbier, Jr.

Professor Emeritus

Biographical Sketch

Professor Dolbier is currently Professor Emeritus in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Florida. He received his B.S. in Chemistry from Stetson University in 1961 and obtained his Ph. D. in organic chemistry from Cornell University in 1965, working with Mel Goldstein. After one and a half years of postdoctoral work with Bill Doering at Yale, he joined the faculty at UF in 1966, where he has been ever since, serving as Chairman from 1983 to 1988 and from 2012 to 2018. Bill’s research interests are focused mainly on the study of molecules containing fluorine. Although retaining a strong interest in structure-reactivity relationships, in recent years, his efforts have expanded significantly to the development of new synthetic methods in organofluorine chemistry, particularly involving the use of photoredox chemistry. Bill received the ACS award for Creative Work in Fluorine Chemistry in 2000.  Although retired from teaching in 2019, Bill continues to enjoy research with his small, but dynamic research group, funded largely by Oakwood Chemical.