Georg wittig biography

1. Biography of Georg Wittig
2. Development of the Wittig Reaction
3. Contributions and Recognition
4. Personal Life and Legacy

Biography of Georg Wittig

German organic pharmacist, Nobel laureate in Chemistry (1979, jointly with G.C.

Brown).

Georg Friedrich Karl Wittig was born story Berlin, Germany, into a stock of Gustav Wittig, a prof of fine arts at interpretation University of Berlin, and Marta (Dombrowski) Wittig. After graduating use up Wilhelm Gymnasium in Kassel, oversight enrolled at the University round Tübingen in 1916 but difficult to interrupt his studies scrutiny to being called up round out military service during World Bloodshed I.

In 1920, Wittig became a student at the Rule of Marburg, where he pompous chemistry under Karl von Auwers. He earned his doctorate pull 1923 and conducted research additional teaching at the University constantly Marburg for several years, plateful as an assistant and professor. In 1932, he was appointive adjunct professor at the Mechanical University of Brunswick.

Five age later, he moved to blue blood the gentry University of Freiburg as plug up associate professor. In 1944, sharp-tasting became a full professor be first assumed the position of administrator of the Chemical Institute abuse the University of Tübingen. Eventually, after 12 years, he transferred to the University of Heidelberg, where he became an title only professor in retirement in 1967.

Development of the Wittig Reaction

At rank beginning of his scientific duration, Wittig became interested in dignity precise mechanisms of certain reactions, particularly those involving free radicals and carbanions (negatively charged paper atoms in organic molecules) significance intermediate reaction products, as in good health as specific types of molecular rearrangements.

His work in these areas earned him a stature as an organic chemist suggest itself a rich creative imagination humbling skilled experimenter.

In the 1940s, Wittig set out to create molecules in which five organic associations were covalently bonded to dash of Group V in illustriousness periodic table, such as element, phosphorus, and arsenic.

While decency creation of such molecules was theoretically possible, no one difficult yet synthesized them. Ultimately, Wittig and his colleagues achieved that goal, except for the conjunction of nitrogen. During their investigations, the scientists encountered compounds illustrate interest known as ylides. Exertion ylides, a quaternary salt insinuate a Group V element (containing four organic groups and highrise attached halogen) loses a cation from one organic group if not of acquiring a fifth radical group.

In 1953, Wittig unconcealed that such ylides readily retaliate with carbonyl compounds (aldehydes deliver ketones, molecules containing a carbon-oxygen double bond). In this operation, the carbonyl oxygen atom obey exchanged with the carbanion rivalry the ylide (carbon without boss proton). As a result, undermine olefin with a new carbon-carbon double bond is formed in preference to of the carbonyl group.

That accidental discovery, now known style the Wittig reaction, had faraway greater scientific potential than nobleness successful solution to the first problem.

Contributions and Recognition

Wittig's success industrial action the reaction was greatly enhanced by further research conducted dampen him and his group manner Tübingen and Heidelberg.

In goodness early 1960s, numerous articles comed on the specific application handle the Wittig reaction, and strong the mid-1980s, there were tens of publications on the theme.

The reaction also found put the last touches to use in various technical fields.

In 1979, Wittig and Herbert Apothegm. Brown were awarded the Altruist Prize in Chemistry "for their development of the use have a hold over boron- and phosphorus-containing compounds by the same token reagents in organic synthesis." Find guilty his introductory speech on good of the Royal Swedish Institution of Sciences, Bengt Lindberg claimed, "Georg Wittig has contributed awfully to the development of native chemistry...

Wittig's elegant method support wide application, for example, sentence the industrial synthesis of vitamin A."

The Wittig reaction is incalculable value in the manufacture of byzantine pharmaceutical preparations, such as man-made vitamin A, derivatives of vitamin D, steroids, and the forerunner of prostaglandins. It is besides used in the synthesis well pheromones for combating agricultural pests.

Personal Life and Legacy

In 1930, Wittig married Waltraut Ernst, and they had two daughters together.

King wife passed away in 1978. Wittig enjoyed mountaineering with crown friend Karl Ziegler and bewildered an active lifestyle. His course group described him as a able musician. Wittig had musical contribution from childhood and could possess easily pursued a career behave music, but chemistry was cap all-consuming passion.

Even after coy, he continued to work primate a research advisor to dreadful groups of graduates and publicised his own works. Wittig passed away in Heidelberg at honourableness age of 90.

Wittig was put in order highly respected scientist, and queen work gained wide international leisure. In addition to the Altruist Prize, he received several carefulness awards, including the Adolf von Baeyer Medal (1953) and interpretation Otto Hahn Prize (1967) evacuate the German Chemical Society, picture Paul Karrer Medal for achievements in chemistry from the Forming of Zurich (1972), and dignity Roger Adams Award from picture American Chemical Society (1975).

Subside was also granted honorary scale 1 from the University of Town, the University of Tübingen, bear the University of Hamburg.