Contents
Georg Wittig
Developing the Wittig reaction for building carbon–carbon double bonds.
Wittig reaction · Nobel Prize
- Born
- 16 June 1897
- Birthplace
- Berlin
- Died
- 26 August 1987
More people
Georg Wittig
German organic chemist whose work on phosphorus compounds gave chemists a practical route to alkenes. He shared the 1979 chemistry Nobel Prize with Herbert C. Brown.
Early life
Interrupted studies
Grew up in Kassel and began chemistry at Tübingen in 1916. Military service and imprisonment interrupted his education before he resumed at Marburg.
Career
- 1926
Academic qualification
Completed his habilitation at Marburg.
- 1944
Tübingen chair
Took charge of organic chemistry, where he developed his best-known reaction.
- 1956
Heidelberg
Moved to the university and continued publishing after retirement.
Contributions
Wittig reaction
Used phosphorus ylides to convert aldehydes and ketones into alkenes.
Nobel Prize
Shared the chemistry award for work advancing organic synthesis.
Beyond work
Scientific household
Married fellow researcher Waltraud Ernst in 1931. His friendship with Karl Ziegler began during their Marburg years.
Sources & photo credit
Biography and career ↗Biographical references ↗Additional biographical or achievement source ↗Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
Photo: Creator not stated; see image source. Source credit retained; reuse licence not established · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.