Günther Wilke

Günther Wilke is 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.

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]

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

Honours and awards

• Seven honorary doctorates
• corresponding member of the math and science class abroad
• Wilhelm Exner Medal in 1980.^[1]
• Former Vice President of the Max Planck Society (1978-1990)
• Member of the North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Science (President 1994-1997)
• Member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Halle
• Member of the Academia Europaea
• Foreign member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (1977)^[4]
• Austrian Decoration for Science and Art
• President of the German Chemical Society (Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker)
• Chairman of the Society of German Scientists and Physicians
• Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1987)

References

See also: http://www.mpi-muelheim.mpg.de/kofo/english/institut/geschichte_e.html