George Hermann Büchi (August 1, 1921 – August 28, 1998) was a Swiss
organic chemist
Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, and reactions of organic compounds and organic materials, i.e., matter in its various forms that contain carbon atoms.Clayden, J. ...
and professor at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has played a key role in the development of modern technology and science, and is one of the ...
. "Paternò's reaction", known since the early twentieth century, was renamed to the "
Paternò–Büchi reaction
The Paternò–Büchi reaction, named after Emanuele Paternò and George Büchi, who established its basic utility and form, is a photochemical reaction, specifically a 2+2 photocycloaddition, which forms four-membered oxetane rings from an excit ...
" based on enhancements made to it by Büchi's research group.
Büchi died at the age of 77 of heart failure while hiking with his wife in Switzerland.
References
1921 births
1998 deaths
Organic chemists
Massachusetts Institute of Technology faculty
Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences
Swiss expatriates in the United States
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