Hugh Felkin
Encyclopedia
Hugh Felkin was a research chemist
in France
from 1950 to 1990 and a member of the British Royal Society for Chemistry.
In 1967, he proposed a model to predict the stereochemical outcome of the addition of nucleophiles to carbonylic compounds. This model (now known as the Felkin-Anh model) differs slightly from the Cram's rule and it is one of the most accepted rules to predict the outcome of these reactions.
He finished his career as Directeur de Recherche at the Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles
in Gif-sur-Yvette. His laboratory was an outpost of organometallic chemistry there, with a special focus on organorhenium chemistry. Notable alumni of Hugh's lab include Bernard Meunier (president of the CNRS 2004-2006) and Steve Davies
, Bob Crabtree
.
Born in England on the 18th January 1922, he spent the second world war years in Switzerland studying chemistry. At that time the requirements for a degree were "to show sufficient knowledge in chemistry".
After completing his studies, he went to France to work for the CNRS. In France he met Irène, born Elphimoff, also a research chemist, who became his wife. They had one daughter, Mary, born in 1962.
He was a member of the communist party until the communist coup in Prague in 1948. After this disappointment, his sympathies still firmly inclined towards the left, he read "Le Monde" without which he used to say he didn't know what to think. Other sayings for which he was noted were "Je suis anti-sioniste mais je n'arrive pas a être pro-arabe", and in case of any uncertainty on the part of the presenter in group meetings, "il ne s'agit pas de croire, il s'agit de savoir" .
Hugh Felkin was a quiet and friendly man, who could become icily sarcastic when roused. He enjoyed travelling, good food, and good whisky (usually mixed with citron pressé and cane syrup) in moderation.
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
from 1950 to 1990 and a member of the British Royal Society for Chemistry.
In 1967, he proposed a model to predict the stereochemical outcome of the addition of nucleophiles to carbonylic compounds. This model (now known as the Felkin-Anh model) differs slightly from the Cram's rule and it is one of the most accepted rules to predict the outcome of these reactions.
He finished his career as Directeur de Recherche at the Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles
Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles
The Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles is part of the Centre national de la recherche scientifique, France's most prominent public research organization. It is located at Gif-sur-Yvette, near Paris....
in Gif-sur-Yvette. His laboratory was an outpost of organometallic chemistry there, with a special focus on organorhenium chemistry. Notable alumni of Hugh's lab include Bernard Meunier (president of the CNRS 2004-2006) and Steve Davies
Stephen G. Davies
Stephen Graham "Steve" Davies is a British chemist and the Waynflete Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oxford.- Career :...
, Bob Crabtree
Robert H. Crabtree
Robert Howard Crabtree is a British chemist. He is presently serving as Whitehead Professor of Chemistry at Yale University in the United States. He is a naturalized citizen of the United States...
.
Born in England on the 18th January 1922, he spent the second world war years in Switzerland studying chemistry. At that time the requirements for a degree were "to show sufficient knowledge in chemistry".
After completing his studies, he went to France to work for the CNRS. In France he met Irène, born Elphimoff, also a research chemist, who became his wife. They had one daughter, Mary, born in 1962.
He was a member of the communist party until the communist coup in Prague in 1948. After this disappointment, his sympathies still firmly inclined towards the left, he read "Le Monde" without which he used to say he didn't know what to think. Other sayings for which he was noted were "Je suis anti-sioniste mais je n'arrive pas a être pro-arabe", and in case of any uncertainty on the part of the presenter in group meetings, "il ne s'agit pas de croire, il s'agit de savoir" .
Hugh Felkin was a quiet and friendly man, who could become icily sarcastic when roused. He enjoyed travelling, good food, and good whisky (usually mixed with citron pressé and cane syrup) in moderation.