Paolo Chini (1928–1980) was an Italian chemist, known as the "King of the Clusters". He was a pioneer in

metal carbonyl cluster In chemistry, a metal carbonyl cluster is a compound that contains two or more metals linked in part by metal-metal bonds and containing carbon monoxide (CO) as the exclusive or predominant ligand. The area is a subfield of metal carbonyl chemistry ...

syntheses. He developed and improved quantitative methods for the synthesis of large carbonyl clusters, such as

thermal degradation Thermal decomposition, or thermolysis, is a chemical decomposition caused by heat. The decomposition temperature of a substance is the temperature at which the substance chemically decomposes. The reaction is usually endothermic as heat is req ...

and

redox condensation Redox (reduction–oxidation, , ) is a type of chemical reaction in which the oxidation states of substrate change. Oxidation is the loss of electrons or an increase in the oxidation state, while reduction is the gain of electrons or a d ...

. Today these methods are still the main approaches to the synthesis of high nuclearity heterometallic clusters. The synthesis and characterization of the platinum carbonyl dianions t_3n(CO)_6nsup>2− (n = 1–10), also known as Chini clusters or more correctly Chini-Longoni clusters, are recognized by the scientific community as the most spectacular result of Chini's work. He was also assistant of the Nobel laureate

Giulio Natta Giulio Natta (26 February 1903 – 2 May 1979) was an Italian chemical engineer and Nobel laureate. He won a Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1963 with Karl Ziegler for work on high polymers. He also received a Lomonosov Gold Medal in 1969. Biography ...

, together with he took an active part on the development of

polypropylene Polypropylene (PP), also known as polypropene, is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications. It is produced via chain-growth polymerization from the monomer propylene. Polypropylene belongs to the group of polyolefins and ...

polymer synthesis pathway. Every year, as a tribute of his fundamental work, the "Paolo Chini Memorial Lecture" is awarded to a scientist who have excelled in organometallic chemistry and in catalysis. The prize is sponsored and organized by the "Chini Foundation", administered by the

Società Chimica Italiana The Italian Chemical Society ( it, Società Chimica Italiana) is the national association in Italy representing the chemical sciences. Its main aim is to promote and support the development of chemistry and scientific research, spreading the knowle ...

(Italian Chemical Society).

References

1928 births 1980 deaths Italian chemists Scientists from Milan University of Milan alumni {{Chemist-stub