Abstract
Halogen bonding is a flourishing field of research, but has for long been little recognized. The same goes for its scientific hero, Odd Hassel, who laid the foundations for all current developments. The crystallographic observation of halogen-oxygen interatomic distances shorter than the sum of the van der Waals radii of the involved atoms, and the interpretation of this phenomenon as a charge-transfer interaction, have been ground-breaking. Today, charge-transfer to a polarized halogen is not any longer seen as "odd", but is commonly referred to as halogen bonding, and is widely exploited in chemistry. Despite the recognition of Hassel's work with a Nobel prize in 1969, surprisingly little appreciation is given to date to the devoted scientist, who established a world-leading laboratory during one of the darkest eras of history. Herein, we wish to revive the legacy and highlight the impact of Odd Hassel's ground-breaking discoveries.
Highlights
Halogen bonding is a flourishing field of research, but has for long been little recognized
The Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1969 was awarded to Sir Derek Barton and Odd Hassel “for their contributions to the development of the concept of conformation and its application in chemistry.”[1]. Whereas Barton remains widely remembered,[2] Hassel is rather overlooked and is, for instance, barely mentioned in textbooks. He was recognized by the Nobel committee for his early experimental work on the chair-like conformation of cyclohexane, which he published in a Norwegian journal in 1943 during World War II.[3]
We intend to revive the legacy of Odd Hassel and emphasize the importance of his discoveries, for the field of halogen bonding
Summary
Conformation of cyclohexane, which he published in a Norwegian journal in 1943 during World War II.[3]. Hassel became the first professor of physical chemistry in Norway in 1934.[4] He led the newly formed Department of Chemistry at the University of Oslo, a small university at the periphery of Europe, where he initiated his studies and received a B.Sc. in chemistry in 1920 He spent a year in France and Italy studying theoretical physics, but returned to chemistry to work with organic dyes in the laboratory of Kasimir Fajans in Munich for 6 months. Supported by a Rockefeller Scholarship, he achieved his doctoral degree at the Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität in Berlin in 1924, with the famous Fritz Haber (1918 Nobel Prize) as one of his PhD-opponents He returned to Oslo in 1925 and became affiliated with the university as a docent, initially focusing his work on inorganic chemistry. We highlight its importance in more detail
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
