Dr. David Milstein

David Milstein is a Professor of Chemistry at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, where he was head of the Department of Organic Chemistry, and also founded and headed the Kimmel Center for Molecular Design.

His research interests include the design and development of efficient, environmentally benign and sustainable catalytic reactions for organic synthesis and energy applications. He designed and developed several new reactions catalysed by pincer-type metal complexes such as acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling reactions, including the now well-known, green amide bond formation by coupling of alcohol with amines, liberating hydrogen gas. Recent developments include catalytic reactions which use water as a selective oxidant of organic compounds, liberating hydrogen gas. Energy applications include the development of new, high-capacity, Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers.

David’s awards include the ACS Award in Organometallic Chemistry; the Gold Medal of the Israel Chemical Society; the Israel Prize (Israel’s highest honor); the ENI Environmental Protection Prize; the ACS Somorjai award for Creative Research in Catalysis; and the IUPAC- Zhejiang International Award for Advancements in Green Chemistry. He is a member of the Israel National Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the US National Academy of Sciences, the German National Academy of Sciences-Leopoldina, Foreign Member of the UK Royal Society (ForMemRS), and Member of the European Academy of Sciences.