Günther Wilke

Günther Wilke (23 February 1925 – 9 December 2016) was a German chemist who was influential in organometallic chemistry. He was the director of the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research (Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung) from 1967–1992, succeeding Karl Ziegler in that post.[2] During Wilke's era, the MPI made several discoveries and achieved some financial independence from patents and a gift from the Ziegler family. The institute continued as a center of excellence in organometallic chemistry.

Günther Wilke
Born(1925-02-23)23 February 1925
Heidelberg, Germany
Died9 December 2016(2016-12-09) (aged 91)
NationalityGerman
Known forOrgano-Nickel Chemistry
AwardsWillard Gibbs Award (1991)
Wilhelm Exner Medal (1980).[1]
Scientific career
Fieldsinorganic chemistry
InstitutionsMax Planck Institute for Coal Research

Wilke's own area of interest focused on homogeneous catalysis by nickel complexes. His group discovered or developed several compounds including Ni(1,5-cyclooctadiene)2, Ni(allyl)2, Ni(C2H4)3. Some of these complexes are useful catalysts for the oligomerization of dienes.[3] He died in 2016 at the age of 91.[4]

Wilke is credited with the discovery of bis(cyclooctadiene)nickel(0), a useful homogeneous catalyst.

Honours and awards
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References
  1. Editor, ÖGV. (2015). Wilhelm Exner Medal. Austrian Trade Association. ÖGV. Austria.
  2. History of the Max-Planck-Institute (German)
  3. Wilke, G. (1988). "Contributions to Organo-Nickel Chemistry". Angewandte Chemie International Edition in English. 27: 185–206. doi:10.1002/anie.198801851.
  4. "Günther Wilke (1925 – 2016)". ChemistryViews.org. 13 December 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  5. "Professor Dr. rer. nat., Dr. Eh., Dr. h.c. mult. Günther Wilke". Nordrhein-Westfälischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016.
  6. "G.W. Wilke". Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on 14 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.

See also: https://web.archive.org/web/20080529173702/http://www.mpi-muelheim.mpg.de/kofo/english/institut/geschichte_e.html


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