| Citation | David Milstein, head of the Kimmel Center for Molecular Design, has earned world recognition for his designs and syntheses of novel catalysts ("pincer complexes"). They are active for the highly selective catalysis of crucial organic transformations, including the direct syntheses of amides from alcohols and amines liberating H2, of polyesters from a,omega-diols, the mild hydrogenation of esters to alcohols, and the selective synthesis of primary amines from ammonia and alcohols. These processes are sustainable; they produce no waste, do not need prior derivatization, or require toxic reagents. The now commercially available Milstein catalysts are employed in laboratories around the world. In 2018, he was elected to the US National Academy of Sciences. |