John F. Hartwig

Research provided catalytic organometallic reactions which have had a major impact in both fundamental and applied chemistry. Examples of his discoveries include the palladium-catalyzed aminations of haloarenes, palladium-catalyzed alpha-arylation of carbonyl compounds, iridium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic aminations and esterification, the first coupling of ammonia with aryl halides to form primary aryl amines, the coupling of aryl halides with enolates, ketones, esters, and amides, the hydroamination of olefins, and the regiospecific terminal functionalization of alkanes, the latter an especially significant breakthrough. His work reoriented research in the field of homogeneous catalysis and organometallic chemistry.