In 1994, two Boston College chemists with neighbouring offices discussed their respective scientific frustrations. Amir Hoveyda was having trouble identifying cleaner, more efficient catalysts in a timely manner, and Marc Snapper was seeking uses for the peptides he had been studying. They soon agreed to draw on Snapper's synthesis background and Hoveyda's catalysis experience. The relationship quickly evolved. “Now, it's a pure collaboration in which two synthetic chemists go after complex problems together,” says Hoveyda.

Most recently, they found a more environmentally friendly way to synthesize small molecules for therapeutic use by skipping several waste-producing steps (see page 67).

Hoveyda says the synthetic organic chemistry field has traditionally been wary of two principal investigators sharing credit on single papers. “The culture almost discourages it,” he says. Early on, colleagues warned Snapper that working with a more senior researcher could hurt his career.

But their partnership has been fruitful; the two have received joint grants from the National Institutes of Health since 1997 and have published about 20 papers together. “The reason this collaboration has been so successful is that neither of us cares who gets the credit,” Hoveyda adds.