Alan Davison made significant contributions in the field of organometallic and coordinated chemistry and was distinguished for the discovery of 99mTc-labelled myocardial imaging agents. His early work was concerned with important developments in organometallic and coordination chemistry, especially in the areas of dithiolate complexes of the transition metals. From the late 1970s, he worked in the area of coordination compounds and technetium and rhenium, and developed new technetium chemistry which led to the key discovery of several technetium compounds, including cationic hexakisisonitrile derivatives, which have medical applications as radiodiagnostic reagents. These reagents are now in widespread routine use throughout the world for diagnosis of diseases of the heart. His 99Tc compounds were approved for use as an improved method for the diagnosis of breast tumours.
Professor Alan Davison FRS died on 14 November 2015.
Biographical Memoir
