"This research is on the interface between inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry," Evans says. It makes use of transitional elements of the periodic table such as nickel, samarium, boron, rhodium and iridium.

Evans labels this research as "bioinspirational."

"We are inspired by the elegance of nature's chemical transformations," he says. "There are catalytic activities and fundamental steps which occur in nature which we try to simulate."

Evans says that the synthetic organic chemist has an advantage over nature, in that reaction conditions can be regulated in the laboratory. While in nature, these reactions occur in an "ocean of chemicals," the contents of the test tubes can be controlled in the lab.

To get ideas for new techniques, Evans says, his group first works out a theoretical model or design based on fundamental principles of organic chemistry.

"If the technique works, we build on it," he says. "It is a very iterative process."

Evans says that he also has a great deal of support from his Harvard colleagues, among them 1990 Nobel laureate and Emory Professor of Organic Chemistry Elias J. Corey, Loeb Professor of Chemistry Yoshito Kishi and Professor of Chemistry Stuart L. Schreiber.