Neil Bartlett (1932–2008) Founder of Noble-Gas Chemistry
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NEWS & VIEWS NATURE|Vol 455|11 September 2008 OBITUARY Neil Bartlett (1932–2008) Founder of noble-gas chemistry. Neil Bartlett, who died on 5 August at the particularly in the area of xenon fluoride age of 75 from an aortic aneurysm, was one cations and molecular adducts of xenon of the foremost chemists of the twentieth fluorides with other molecules. In all of his century. His discovery in the early 1960s publications, the emphasis was on quality UC BERKELEY of xenon fluorides, the first examples of a and not quantity. noble-gas compound, was a sensation. With Later on, he worked on problems such as one stroke of genius, he destroyed the long- the creation of synthetic metals from graphite standing dogma that the ‘noble gases’ (also and graphite-like boron nitride and salts of previously known as the inert or rare gases) perfluoro-aromatic cations. Another are unreactive. major success was his synthesis and Bartlett was born in 1932, in Newcastle characterization of thermodynamically upon Tyne, UK, and studied for both his unstable compounds at the limits of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees oxidation, such as NiF4 and AgF3. These at the University of Durham. Following a compounds are powerful oxidizers and brief spell as a chemistry teacher, in 1958 he are ideal sources for the generation of high emigrated to Canada and took up a position concentrations of fluorine radicals under as a lecturer at the University of British very mild conditions. Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver. In 1964, Bartlett’s achievements were recognized he became a full professor at UBC, but in with 25 international and national awards, 1966 moved to a professorship at Princeton fellowships in 12 different academies and University and also joined the research staff societies, and honorary degrees from at Bell Telephone Laboratories in Murray reduction of PtF4, he purified PtF4 by heating 9 universities. But perhaps because of his Hill, New Jersey. In 1969, he accepted a it in a stream of diluted fluorine in a Pyrex modesty and lack of interest in lobbying for professorship at the University of California, apparatus. He obtained a red sublimate, honours, he did not receive the Nobel Prize in Berkeley, and became a faculty senior which he initially thought was platinum Chemistry — which, in my opinion and those scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National fluoride oxide, PtF4O, but subsequently of many of his peers, was clearly deserved. Laboratory, positions he held until his identified correctly as the ionic salt dioxygen This sentiment is reflected by István Hargittai + – retirements in 1993 and 1999, respectively. hexafluoroplatinate, O2 PtF6 — an oxidation in the chapter “Who did not win” of his book Attempts to prepare compounds of the reaction had occurred. Although the The Road to Stockholm: noble gases date back to the discovery of discovery of this compound was accidental, Significantly, many chemists today assume argon by William Ramsay in 1894. Among as Bartlett himself stated in Volume 9 of that Bartlett has won a Nobel Prize, and the ensuing notable events was Walther the World Scientific Series in 20th Century in this connection the most spectacular Kossel’s 1916 prediction, on the basis of Chemistry, his subsequent reasoning and misconception can be found in Primo Levi’s ionization potentials, that krypton and experiments were brilliant. He recognized book, ‘The Periodic Table’. On the first page xenon fluorides should exist. However, that if PtF6 can oxidize dioxygen, it should of the first chapter, he mentions Bartlett’s attempts to verify that prediction — by also be capable of oxidizing xenon. discovery: ‘As late as 1962 a diligent chemist Andreas von Antropoff and then by His classic experiment in preparing xenon after long and ingenious efforts succeeded Otto Ruff and Walter Menzel — were hexafluoroplatinate, Xe+PtF –, confirmed in forcing the Alien (xenon) to combine 6 fleetingly with extremely avid and lively unsuccessful. Ruff was one of the greatest his reasoning, and gave rise to a worldwide fluorine, and the feat seemed so extraordinary inorganic fluorine chemists of all time, interest in noble-gas chemistry. Since then, that he was given a Nobel prize.’ and had the required experience and thousands of papers have been published experimental skills for the task at hand. on this subject, showing that xenon can The lack of the ultimate scientific Unfortunately, he pursued only argon and form bonds not only to fluorine but also to recognition, the Nobel prize, in no way krypton fluorides, and not those of xenon. many other elements of the periodic table. diminishes the impact Bartlett has had In 1933, Linus Pauling published a paper Moreover, noble-gas chemistry is not limited on chemistry, both directly and through predicting the existence of H4XeO6, and of to xenon — even argon can form compounds, his influence on students and at scientific KrF6 and XeF6. Using electric discharges of such as HArF. Although some of them are meetings. He was an outstanding lecturer, xenon–fluorine mixtures, his colleagues unstable, they nevertheless exist. and at meetings invariably impressed Don Yost and Albert Kaye came close to Bartlett’s discovery of the first noble- participants with his ingenious ability to making xenon fluorides. But they did not gas compound was hailed by Chemical & analyse problems and come up with elegant succeed in isolating measurable amounts. Engineering News as “one of the 10 most solutions. But perhaps his most memorable That failure was taken generally as evidence beautiful experiments in the history of traits were his humbleness, friendliness, that the noble gases are indeed unreactive, chemistry”, and “one of the most important loyalty and concern for others: Neil Bartlett a principle that found its way into essentially developments in inorganic chemistry in was not only a brilliant scholar but also a true all textbooks. modern times”. It was not, however, a one- gentleman. Bartlett, however, was undeterred. In off stroke of luck. Throughout his career, Karl O. Christe 1962, at UBC, he carried out his famous Bartlett continually demonstrated this same Karl O. Christe is at the Loker Research Institute, experiment demonstrating that noble gases keen sense of reasoning and mastery as an University of Southern California, Los Angeles, are not chemically inert. While pursuing the experimentalist. He made many subsequent California 90089-1661, USA. synthesis of platinum difluoride, PtF2, by contributions to the field that he created, e-mail: [email protected] 182.