Walter Hieber
Encyclopedia
Walter Hieber was an inorganic chemist
, known as the father of metal carbonyl
chemistry. He was born 18 December, 1895 and died 29 November, 1976. Hieber's father was Johannes Hieber, an influential evangelical minister and politician.
Hieber was educated at Tübingen, Würzburg, and Heidelberg. In 1935 he was appointed Director of the Inorganic Chemical Institute at the Technical University in Münich.
Among his numerous research findings, Hieber prepared the first metal carbonyl hydride
s such as H2Fe(CO)4 and HMn(CO)5. He discovered that metal carbonyls undergo nucleophilic attack by hydroxide
, the “Hieber base reaction.” He and his students discovered several metal carbonyl compounds such as Re2(CO)10
and Os3(CO)12
He pioneered the development of metal carbonyl sulfides.
Hieber was highly decorated for his work, including in 1951 the Alfred Stock
Prize. One of his most famous students was Nobel prize winner Ernst Otto Fischer
. His first foreign student was John Anderson, FRS
, in 1931.
Inorganic chemistry
Inorganic chemistry is the branch of chemistry concerned with the properties and behavior of inorganic compounds. This field covers all chemical compounds except the myriad organic compounds , which are the subjects of organic chemistry...
, known as the father of metal carbonyl
Metal carbonyl
Metal carbonyls are coordination complexes of transition metals with carbon monoxide ligands. These complexes may be homoleptic, that is containing only CO ligands, such as nickel carbonyl , but more commonly metal carbonyls contain a mix of ligands, such as Re3Cl...
chemistry. He was born 18 December, 1895 and died 29 November, 1976. Hieber's father was Johannes Hieber, an influential evangelical minister and politician.
Hieber was educated at Tübingen, Würzburg, and Heidelberg. In 1935 he was appointed Director of the Inorganic Chemical Institute at the Technical University in Münich.
Among his numerous research findings, Hieber prepared the first metal carbonyl hydride
Hydride
In chemistry, a hydride is the anion of hydrogen, H−, or, more commonly, a compound in which one or more hydrogen centres have nucleophilic, reducing, or basic properties. In compounds that are regarded as hydrides, hydrogen is bonded to a more electropositive element or group...
s such as H2Fe(CO)4 and HMn(CO)5. He discovered that metal carbonyls undergo nucleophilic attack by hydroxide
Hydroxide
Hydroxide is a diatomic anion with chemical formula OH−. It consists of an oxygen and a hydrogen atom held together by a covalent bond, and carrying a negative electric charge. It is an important but usually minor constituent of water. It functions as a base, as a ligand, a nucleophile, and a...
, the “Hieber base reaction.” He and his students discovered several metal carbonyl compounds such as Re2(CO)10
Dirhenium decacarbonyl
Dirhenium decacarbonyl is an inorganic compound with the formula Re210. Commercially available, it is used as a starting point for the synthesis of many rhenium carbonyl complexes. It was first reported in 1941 by Walter Hieber who prepared it by carbonylation of Re2O7. The compound consists of a...
and Os3(CO)12
Triosmium dodecacarbonyl
Triosmium dodecacarbonyl is a chemical compound with the formula Os312. This yellow-colored metal carbonyl cluster is an important precursor to organo-osmium compounds...
He pioneered the development of metal carbonyl sulfides.
Hieber was highly decorated for his work, including in 1951 the Alfred Stock
Alfred Stock
Alfred Stock was a German inorganic chemist. He did pioneering research on the hydrides of boron and silicon, coordination chemistry, mercury, and mercury poisoning...
Prize. One of his most famous students was Nobel prize winner Ernst Otto Fischer
Ernst Otto Fischer
Ernst Otto Fischer was a German chemist who won the Nobel Prize for pioneering work in the area of organometallic chemistry.-Early life:...
. His first foreign student was John Anderson, FRS
John Stuart Anderson
John Stuart Anderson FRS, FAA, was a British and Australian scientist who was Professor of Chemistry at the University of Melbourne and Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Oxford....
, in 1931.