Alexander McKenzie FRS (6 December 1869, Dundee – 11 June 1951) was a Scottish chemist, specializing in stereochemistry.
[3] After education at the High School of Dundee from 1882 to 1885, McKenzie matriculated in 1885 at the University of St Andrews, where he studied Chemistry under Prof Thomas Purdie[4] FRS and graduated in 1889 with M.A.
At Birbeck College, London, McKenzie was from 1902 to 1905 an assistant lecturer and demonstrator and from 1905 to 1914 head of the chemistry department.
His isolation (with Wren in 1908) of optically active benzoin may be cited as a particularly delicate stereochemical achievement, typical of his work in general.
McKenzie is also known as a master in the application of the Grignard reagent and a pioneer in the vast field which was opened up by the addition of this invaluable new weapon to the armoury of organic chemistry.