Holger Braunschweig

Prof. Holger Braunschweig is the Chair of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Würzburg. His research focuses on organometallic and main-group element chemistry, emphasizing the synthesis and reactivity of novel molecular species with applications in catalysis, organic synthesis, and materials science.

• Education: PhD and Habilitation at RWTH Aachen (advisor: Prof. P. Paetzold); postdoctoral work at Sussex (Prof. M.F. Lappert); Reader at Imperial College London

Key research themes include low-valent main-group compounds (e.g., borylenes, diborenes, beryllium species), small-molecule activation (N₂, CO₂, CO), and photophysically active boron heterocycles (boroles, alumoles, azaborinines). His work combines sophisticated synthetic protocols with analytical and computational methods.

Recent publications (2025) highlight advances in boron-containing polymers, metal-ligand reactivity, and high-pressure molecular studies. Awards include the 2024 ENI Award, 2024 Frederick Hawthorne Award, and ERC Advanced Grants ('multiBB', 'BORYLENEFUN').

• Scientific Awards: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize (2009), RSC Main Group Chemistry Award (2014), Reinhart Koselleck Grant (2018), etc.

He leads the Institute for Sustainable Chemistry & Catalysis with Boron (ICB) and is affiliated with the Department of Inorganic Chemistry. His group includes senior researchers, postdocs, PhD students, and technicians.