Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung

To mark the 100th birthday of Prof. Günther Wilke (1925–2016), former Director of the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung and pioneer of organonickel chemistry, a new study by Rakan Saeb and Dr. Josep Cornellà pays tribute to his groundbreaking work — and shows just how relevant it remains today. In a paper just published in Angewandte Chemie, the team introduces a ligand-free Suzuki–Miyaura coupling using air-stable Ni(0) complexes — a rare and elegant solution to a long-standing challenge in cross-coupling chemistry. Their method enables the efficient formation of heteroaryl–heteroaryl bonds without the need for costly palladium catalysts or elaborate ligand systems. The key? A “naked nickel” catalyst. This concept, coined by Wilke over 60 years ago, remains foundational. His isolation of Ni(COD)₂ in 1962 laid the groundwork for generations of Ni-catalysed processes — in both academia and industry. Today, Ni(COD)₂ is still the go-to Ni(0) source worldwide. The new work from the Kohlenforschung not only advances sustainable catalysis — it also serves as a vivid reminder that Wilke’s ideas continue to shape the field. His legacy is alive in every molecule forged through modern Ni chemistry. Read the full article on Wilke and his influence on present chemistry here: https://lnkd.in/esEcUbST #NickelCatalysis #GüntherWilke #SuzukiMiyaura #SustainableChemistry #Organometallics #kohlenforschung

🚀 High-Performance Materials Production: From Lab to Pilot Scale—at Room Temperature and Pressure and Without a Drop of Solvent 🔬✨ A success story from the MechSyn team! We're thrilled to share a behind-the-scenes look at one of our recent achievements: the pilot-scale mechanochemical synthesis of a high-performance material—completely solvent-free, at room temperature, and ambient pressure. In the video below, you’ll see the full journey: ➡️ Solid-state raw materials and the milling balls in ➡️ High-energy ball milling ➡️ Final product out—no toxic solvents, no 1500°C, and no corrosive gas atmospheres needed. Not only does this replace an energy-intensive and hazardous process, but the material we synthesized also outperforms the conventionally produced one in key properties. ✨ 📈 💡 Even more exciting: this opens the door for a new application of an already existing product in the market—potentially reshaping the way we think about batteries, fuel cells, electrolyzers, power electronics and many more. If you have a product or process that suffers from high temperature/pressure or relies on massive amounts of solvents, reach out. We might have a better, more cost-effective, and sustainable alternative for you. 📹 And yes—at the very end of the video, you’ll see one happy female founder (Özgül) holding a small sample of our very first kilogram-scale product. A big step for MechSyn. And just the beginning. Let’s celebrate and innovate together. 🎉🌍💡 Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung | EXIST - Existenzgründungen aus der Wissenschaft | MAX!mize Incubator for Max Planck Start-ups | chemstars | KOALA Startup Network | HIGH-TECH.NRW | INAM - Innovation Network for Advanced Materials | ZEBRA STARTUPS by Startup Village Jülich | NRW.BANK | NRW.Global Business | ZENIT GmbH | CHEManager | WOMEN IN TECH ® Global | Women Entrepreneurs in Science | garage33

We are delighted to announce that Dr. Josep Cornellà has received the OMCOS 22 Award – one of the most prestigious honours for early-career researchers in organometallic chemistry. 🎉 The International Advisory Board of the OMCOS recognised his innovative work on catalytic strategies that are not only fast and efficient, but also sustainable. His team at the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung is exploring novel bismuth-based catalysts – showing that this main-group element can match or even outperform traditional transition metals in redox #chemistry. Cornellà will present his research at the upcoming OMCOS XXII symposium in Japan this September. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition! Read more here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eMr8A5Nx #OMCOS22 #OrganometallicChemistry #Catalysis #SustainableChemistry 📸 Peter Gwiazda

🔬 Celebrating 100 Years of Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis – A Key Process for a Sustainable Future From May 5–7, 2025, an international conference in Mülheim an der Ruhr will spotlight one of the most versatile catalytic processes in chemistry: the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. Patented in 1925 by Franz Fischer and Hans Tropsch at the former Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institut für Kohlenforschung, the reaction enabled the conversion of coal and natural gas into liquid fuels. Today, it plays a crucial role in the transition to sustainable energy systems, especially in Power-to-X strategies using renewable hydrogen and carbon from biomass or CO₂. The event is organized by the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung and the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, in collaboration with DECHEMA and the SynGas Convention Conference Cape Town. Welcome adress by Professor Walter Leitner, introductory lecture by Professor Ferdi Schüth. 📍 Venue: Stadthalle Mülheim 👥 Participants: ~200 international researchers and industry experts 🗓️ Program: Scientific talks, poster sessions, and a high-level panel on the future of synthetic fuels and carbon-based energy solutions. Join us in exploring how a century-old discovery is shaping the path toward decarbonization. 🔗 More info & registration: [https://lnkd.in/epYUy9ia] #FischerTropsch100 #SustainableChemistry #Catalysis #EnergyTransition #PowerToX #ChemicalInnovation #MaxPlanckSociety #GreenFuels #FTS2025 #DECHEMA #SynGasConference Photos: DECHEMA and Historical Archive of the MPI KOFO

Throwback to last Friday – We had the pleasure of welcoming Meyer Architekten GmbH, Düsseldorf for an excursion to our institute! Our collaboration with the architectural office has a long-standing tradition: 🏡 First project in the 1950s, was the private residence of Nobel Laureate and institute director Karl Ziegler. 🏗 In the 1960s, they followed up with the iconic laboratory high-rise on our campus and the administration building. 🔧 Today, their team is once again involved – currently working on modernization projects in our technical facilities and laboratories. During the institute tour, the team was excited to spot areas where their planning and construction work is taking shape. A big thank you to our Head of Facility Management, Dirk Konermann, for sharing the challenges and successes of recent years. We also appreciated the enthusiasm of Jan Hinnerk Meyer, who was glad to meet the scientists enjoying their work environment. Special thanks to Dr. Nils Theyssen for an inspiring deep dive into the pilot plant, and to Dr. Vijay Wakchaure from the List Department for the introduction to our research in Homogeneous Catalysis. It was a pleasure to host the team – and of course, we couldn’t resist gathering everyone in front of our historic main building for a photo! #MaxPlanckInstitute #ArchitectureAndScience #ResearchInfrastructure #LaboratoryDesign#MeyerArchitekten #KarlZiegler #Mülheim 😊

Yesterday, we welcomed 36 young explorers to the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung for Girls’ Day. From bubbling reactions to forensic experiments, from electron microscopes to handmade glass straws – the day offered a glimpse into the many facets of chemistry. After an inspiring welcome by Prof. Ben List, the girls had the chance to roll up their sleeves and dive into research themselves. A huge thank you to everyone who made the day so engaging and interactive! We believe that science benefits from #diversity – and that more girls should see a future for themselves in #chemistry. That’s what Girls’ Day is all about. Red more: https://lnkd.in/gNXvsEpt #GirlsDay #WomenInSTEM #catalysis

Summer, Sun, Spectroscopy ☀️ 🔬 Applications are open for the 2025 Summer School on Spectroscopy and Electronic Structure of Transition Metal Complexes. Our colleagues at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion and we invite you to join the Summer School from September 7-12, 2025, at the Mülheim Chemistry Campus, Germany. The summer school will combine a series of lectures with practical computational sessions and laboratory visits. The lectures address a broad range of topics related to #spectroscopy and computational chemistry. The practical sessions focus both on fundamental pen-and-paper problems and on the use of computational tools for spectroscopic simulations and for #quantum chemical calculations. Significant emphasis will be placed on the use of the ORCA package for quantum chemical calculations of spectroscopic properties. Small groups of students will also be able to visit the spectroscopy laboratories of the participating Max Planck Institutes. The Summer School is tailored for advanced students interested in both spectroscopy and quantum chemistry. Applicants should have a solid foundation in transition metal chemistry, spectroscopy, and quantum chemistry. Register here (deadline April 30th) 👉 https://lnkd.in/d3S_DARe #quantumchemistry #kohlenforschung #catalysis

A Successful Start to ACAMEC 2025 Conference! 🚀 The first day of the “2nd Advanced Catalysis and Materials for Energy Conversion (ACAMEC) Symposium”, organized and hosted by the students of the International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) RECHARGE, set the stage for an interesting exchange of insights focused on the development of new catalytic processes. From cutting-edge research on catalytic processes to insightful discussions on industrial-scale implementations, the synergy between academic and industrial perspectives was proof of a successful first day at the Mülheim Chemistry Campus.🌟 ➡️   Key highlights of the day included:  ✅ Engaging keynote talks from leading researchers  ✅ Thought-provoking discussions on with experts in the field ✅ A dynamic poster session showcasing innovative Ph.D. research    We look forward to the upcoming sessions and continued discussions on advancing sustainable catalytic processes from #ACAMEC2025. 🔬⚡ 🌱 #Catalysis #Sustainibility #GreenChemistry #ClimateChange

📢 Save the Date! 📅 The next Student-Led Conference (StuCon), jointly organized by the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung (KOFO) and the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion (CEC), will take place from 27th to 29th August 2025. As part of the program, we’re also planning an Alumni Get-Together on 29th August. We warmly invite all CEC and KOFO alumni to join us for this great opportunity to reconnect and exchange ideas. 🤝💡 Details on registration and the full program will be available soon. Stay tuned! 🔍📢 #StuCon2025 #ScienceConference #Networking #MaxPlanck #Research #Alumni #Chemistry Max Planck Society

👏🏆Throwback: former Ernst Haage Prize Awardees🔙 We are pleased to introduce Prof. Dr. Max Martin Hansmann, the winner of the Ernst Haage Prize 2021: 🔹2018-2019 independent research group leader at the Georg August University Göttingen 🔹2019-2023 tenure-track junior professor in organic chemistry at the TU Dortmund 🔹since 2023 full professor in organic chemistry His research focuses on the synthesis of new redox-active organic molecules and their application in photo-catalysis and redox-flow batteries. Further research interests are reactive intermediates, unusual molecules such as diazoalkenes, and the synthesis of new radicals and diradicaloids. 🏅 2022 ORCHEM-Prize 🏅 2022 ADUC prize 🏅 2024 Klung Wilhelmy science prize This year, the Ernst Haage Foundation of the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung and the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion is once again inviting tenders for the Ernst Haage Prize to promote excellent chemical research and young talents: For more information 👉 Ernst Haage Prize Announcement: https://lnkd.in/eKtbV-4 📅 Deadline: April 20, 2025 📧 Nominations via mail: ernsthaagepreis@cec.mpg.de Image rights © Bettina Engel-Albustin