Neil Bartlett (1932–2008) Founder of Noble-Gas Chemistry
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.
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