Kurt Alder: Aus sehr persönlicher Sicht

The reaction principle of the „Dien Synthesis”︁ developed and perfected by Diels and Alder has given rise to publications now numbered in their thousands. Every Chemist or chemistry student has learnt about the „Dien Synthesis”︁ through lectures and text books. Less known by the public are the Characteristics of the two great Researchers. Some of the typical qualities of Kurt Alder as a person are discribed and examinated     

Polariton-Induced Color Tuning of Thin Dye Layers

A surprisingly broad variation of absorption wavelengths within almost the whole visible region was obtained in highly oriented, thin dye layers by variation of the molecule inclination relative to the layer plane (see sketch on the right). For the first time this phenomenon caused by polaritons was demonstrated for layers of a simple streptopolymethine dye.     

Hydroformylation of Internal Olefins to Linear Aldehydes with Novel Rhodium Catalysts

Unprecedented high activities and selectivities were observed in the hydroformylation of internal octenes to linear products using rhodium catalysts with rigid diphosphane ligands. Dibenzophosphole 1 and a phenoxaphosphane analogue with bite angles of 120 and 119°, respectively, are suited for this.