Contents
Otto Diels
The Diels–Alder reaction for building carbon rings.
Diels–Alder reaction
- Born
- 23 January 1876
- Birthplace
- Hamburg
- Died
- 7 March 1954
More people
Otto Diels
German chemist who shared the 1950 Nobel Prize with Kurt Alder for a widely used method of organic synthesis.
Early life
Berlin education
Born in Hamburg and raised in Berlin. Studied chemistry under Emil Fischer, completing his degree in 1899.
Career
- 1899
University laboratory
Stayed at Berlin’s Institute of Chemistry after graduating.
- 1913
Department leadership
Became a department head.
- Kiel appointment
Research partnership
Moved to Kiel and developed the reaction with Alder.
- 1945
Retirement
Ended his university career.
Contributions
Diels–Alder reaction
Described a method for assembling unsaturated cyclic compounds.
Beyond work
Family and interests
Married Paula Geyer in 1909 and had five children. Enjoyed reading, music and travel; two sons died during the Second World War.
Sources & photo credit
Biography and career ↗Biographical references ↗Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.