The History of the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung

The research report includes a historical overview which supplements the chronological data given below.

1912	The Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gesellschaft, representatives of the Rhenish-Westphalian Industries and the town of Mülheim an der Ruhr decide to create the Kaiser-Wilhelm- Institut für Kohlenforschung.
1913	Franz Fischer (Technical Universität Berlin) is appointed as the first Director of the Institute.
1914	Opening and inauguration of the Institute.
1917	The first volume of the "Gesammelte Abhandlungen zur Kenntnis der Kohle" is published.
1925	Franz Fischer und Hans Tropsch file a patent for the synthesis of petroleum at normal pressure ("Verfahren zur Gewinnung mehrgliedriger Paraffinkohlenwasserstoffe aus Kohlenoxyden und Wasserstoff auf katalytischem Wege", DRP 484337).
1925	Gründung der Studien- und Verwertungsgesellschaft mbH.
1926	Construction of a pilot plant to scale up the Fischer-Tropsch-Synthesis.
1939	The Institute becomes an independent Foundation.
1943	Karl Ziegler (University of Halle) succeeds Franz Fischer as Director.
1945	The Institute is occupied by US forces and is temporarily administered by the North German Coal Board.
1947	Herbert Koch becomes Scientific Member (Wissenschaftliches Mitglied).
1.12.1947	Franz Fischer dies in Munich after a long illness.
1949	Karl Ziegler and Hans-Georg Gellert discover the "Aufbau"-reaction with aluminum alkyl compounds.
1949	The Institute is renamed the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung.
1952	The patent for a process to synthesize carboxylic acids from olefins and carbon dioxide is filed (DRP 942987, Herbert Koch, inventor).
1953	First patent application for the low-pressure polyethylene synthesis (DBP 973626, K. Ziegler, H. Breil, E. Holzkamp, H. Martin, inventors).
1954	The patent "Direct Synthesis of Trialkylaluminum Compounds" is filed (DBP 961537, K. Ziegler, H.-G. Gellert, inventors).
1954	The processes for preparing high-molecular weight polyethylene (DBP 1257430) and for preparing copolymers of a-olefins are patented (DBP 1268392, K. Ziegler, H. Martin, E. Holzkamp, H. Breil, inventors).
1954	The basic process for the production of primary alcohols used in biodegradable detergents is patented (DBP 1014088, K. Ziegler, inventor).
1955	The Studien- und Verwertungsgesellschaft mbH is renamed the Studiengesellschaft Kohle mbH.
1956	Patent application for the synthesis of 1,5,9-cylododecatriene (DBP 1050333, G. Wilke, inventor).
1958	An independent department of radiation chemistry is set up under the supervision of Günther O. Schenck.
1959	Patent application for the catalytic di- and trimerization of 1,3-diolefins (DBP 1140569, G.Wilke, E. W. Müller, inventors).
1963	Günther Wilke is appointed as Scientific Member and becomes full professor at the Ruhr-University Bochum, then still under construction.
10.12.1963	The Nobel Prize for Chemistry is awarded to Karl Ziegler and Giulio Natta (Milan).
1964	Patent application for extraction with supercritical gases (DBP 1493190, Method for Separation of Mixtures, K. Zosel, inventor).
1967	Günther Wilke becomes Codirector of the Institute.
1967	The main laboratory building is completed.
1968	Oskar E. Polansky is appointed as Scientific Member.
1968	Karl Ziegler and his wife Maria create the Ziegler Fund to ensure the Institute financial independence.
1969	Günther Wilke succeeds Karl Ziegler as Director of the Institute.
1969	Roland Köster becomes Scientific Member of the Institute.
1970	The process for the decaffeination of green coffee beans is patented (DBP 2005293, K. Zosel, inventor).
1970	Karl Ziegler establishes the Ziegler Foundation.
1972	Reestablishment of a department of coal research.
11.08.1973	Karl Ziegler dies in Mülheim.
1973	Patent application for the electrochemical generation of ferrocene (DBP 2349541, W. Eisenbach, H. Lehmkuhl, G. Wilke, inventors).
1979	Patent application for hydrogen and energy storage using magnesiumhydride (EP 0003564 B1, B. Bogdanovic, inventor).
1981	The Senate of the Max-Planck-Society establishes the department of radiation chemistry as an independent institution named the Max-Planck-Institut für Strahlenchemie.
1991	Manfred T. Reetz (University of Marburg) is appointed as Scientific Member and Codirector of the Institute.
1992	Roland Köster retires.
1993	Manfred T. Reetz succeeds Günther Wilke as Director of the Institute.
1995	Andreas Pfaltz (University of Basel) becomes Scientific Member and Codirector.
1998	Alois Fürstner and Ferdi Schüth are appointed as Scientific Members and Directors.
1998	Andreas Pfaltz returns to the University of Basel.
1999	Walter Thiel (University of Zürich) is appointed as Scientific Member and Director.
2005	Benjamin List is appointed as Scientific Member and Director.