Günther Wilke, German chemist, Died at 91

  Reseacher

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.