Fluorine

“The fury of the chemical world is the element fluorine. It exists peacefully in the company with with calcium in fluorspar and also in a few other compounds; but when isolated, as it recently has been, it is a rabid gas that nothing can resist.”

Scientific American, April 1888

“Fluorine leaves nobody indifferent; it inflames emotions be that affections or aversions. As a substituent, it is rarely boring, always good for a surprise, but often completely unpredictable.”

M. Schlosser, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 1998, 37, 1496-1513

Data: “The atmosphere contains high concentrations of methane, carbon monoxide and fluorine...”
Riker: “Life signs?”
Data: “Population approximately nine billion - all Borg.”

Star Trek: The First Contact, 1996

Curriculum Vitae

Prof. Dr. Peer Kirsch

Born in Herford, Germany, in 1965. Study of chemistry at the University of Heidelberg. Ph.D. in 1993 with Prof. Dr. Heinz A. Staab (Max-Planck-Institute for Medical Research) in physical organic chemistry. In 1993, postdoctoral project with Prof. Dr. R. Heiner Schirmer (Heidelberg University) on flavin-based enzyme inhibitors. From 1994 to 1995 on a Feodor Lynen fellowship of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and a fellowship of the Japanese Science and Technology Agency (STA) with Prof. Dr. Tomoya Ogawa at the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN) in Wako, Saitama. From 1995 in the Liquid Crystal Division of Merck KGaA in Darmstadt, Germany. From 2005 at Merck Ltd. Japan, in 2010 return to Darmstadt. In 2001, habilitation in organic chemistry, from 2009-2012 visiting professor at the University of Bremen. Since 2011, he teaches at the University of Freiburg, where he is apl. Professor.

Main research interest is the application of fluoro-organic chemistry, molecular modelling and combinatorial methods for the design and synthesis of liquid crystals and functional materials for organic and molecular electronics, and for organic photovoltaics.

Publications  •  Lectures