Günther Wilke was born on February 23, 1925, and died on December 9, 2016.
He was a German chemist.
He was most influential in organometallic chemistry.
Wilke 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.
During his era, the MPI made several discoveries and achieved some financial independence from patents and a gift from the Ziegler family.
The institute went on as a center of excellence in organometallic chemistry.
His own area of interest focused on homogeneous catalysis by nickel complexes.
Wilke’s 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.
Günther Wilke passed away at 91 years old.