GRK 440:  Methods in Asymmetric Synthesis

• Subject Area: Molecular Chemistry
• Term: from 1998 to 2007
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 272409

Various chemistry courses at the RWTH Aachen focus on a Diploma program which besides the basis disciplines also includes subjects like technical chemistry, petrochemistry and macromolecular chemistry. Until recently, the Ph. D. students were predominantly engaged in research issues, only complemented by distinctive, but irregular guest lectures, the GDCh program and the research groups internal education. Then, the collaborative research centre 380 added a monthly seminar delivered by their members, seminars by guest speakers and an international symposium each year. The program of the research training grouop includes many different research groups to promote cooperation not confined to a single research field. The main objective of this program is the deepening of knowledge and capabilities that can only be briefly introduced in the regular graduate program. For instance, organic chemists can now obtain a better command of the spectroscopic and analytical tools that are essential for their research. This does not solely refer to the theoretic fundamentals of the respective method, but also implies practical instructions at NMR/GC/HPLC or other equipment. Likewise a more intimate knowledge of working under an inert gas atmosphere or use of metal-organic techniques can be of great significance for all modern chemist. Such capabilities can best be conveyed in workshops or repetitive courses. Considerable parts of our academic program are arranged independently by the participants of the graduate training program, who also compile their own course scheme, as long as certain basic requirements are met.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Hans-Joachim Gais
• Participating Researchers: Professor Dr. Markus Albrecht; Professor Dr. Carsten Bolm; Professor Dr.-Ing. Jochen Büchs; Professor Dr. Dieter Enders (†); Professor Dr. Ullrich Englert; Professor Dr. Wolfgang F. Hölderich; Professor Dr. Walter Leitner; Privatdozent Dr. Michael Müller; Professor Dr. Jun Okuda; Professor Dr. Gerhard Raabe; Sandra Saladin; Professor Dr. Albrecht Salzer; Professor Dr. Elmar Weinhold