Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 8, Szeged, H-6720
Born: September 12, 1942
Education: undergraduate studies: 1960-1965, József Attila University
Ph.D. 1979, Hungarian Academy of Sciences
D.Sc. 1990, Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Experience: 1965-1979: assistant
1980-1990: associate professor
1991- professor
Fellowships: visiting researcher with Prof. Gerard V. Smith, Southern Illinois
University, Carbondale, USA, 1982-1983 (15 months)
Moulton Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Loker Hydrocarbon
Research Institute with Prof. George A. Olah, University of
Southern California, Los Angeles, USA, 1992-1994 (2 years)
Research interests
1. Amorphous alloy catalysis. The use of amorphous alloys, prepared by rapid quenching, mechanical alloying (ball milling) or chemical reduction, as catalyst precursors in organic transformations. The reactions studied are dehydrogenation of alcohols, isomerization of cyclic ethers and allylic alcohols, selective hydrogenations (conjugated unsaturated compounds and acetylenes), and the synthesis of methyl isobutyl ketone from acetone and hydrogen. Alloy systems used are Cu-M (M= Ti, Zr, Hf, Mg), Ni-Zr, Pd-Zr, Ni-B and Ni-P. Structural changes induced by activation and chemical reactions are monitored by SEM, XRD, DSC and spectroscopic methods (Auger, XPS). (Publications 1)
2. Electrophilic catalysis of O-containing organic compounds. Use and comparison of electrophilic reagents and catalysts in the transformations of alcohols, diols and cyclic ethers. Mechanistic studies of hydration, dehydration, isomerization, rearrangements and Friedel-Crafts alkylation are included. Traditional agents (acids, oxides, zeolites, triflic acid) and new catalysts (Nafion-H, heteropoly acids) are applied. (Publications 2)
3. Development of new solid catalysts by structural and surface
modification, their characterization and use in organic
transformations. Main interests are the preparation of
supported metal catalysts using nontraditional methods and the
synthesis of new catalysts by the modification of surfaces with organic
functionalities. These are used in the Friedel-Crafts reactions, the
Heck reaction, dehydration, rearrangement and formation and removal of
protecting groups. Mechanistic studies and stereochemistry are also
included.(Publications 3)
Full list of publications since 1995.