Basil Lythgoe was distinguished as an organic chemist. He began his career at the University of Manchester, where he had studied for his undergraduate and PhD degrees, before moving to University of Cambridge. During this period he collaborated with Alexander Todd on the structural elucidation and total synthesis of the natural nucleosides, and was also noted for his investigation of the structure of the natural substance macrozamin. In 1953 he moved to the chair of organic chemistry at the University of Leeds, running a research group from which several graduate students went on to academic careers of the highest distinction. At Leeds he worked on the structure of the alkaloid taxine 1 and calciferol, among other natural substances. Lythgoe's work was characterized by a combination of insight and high experimental skill.
Basil Lythgoe. 18 August 1913—18 April 2009
